After I posted the parent, I remembered this discussion recently here about Castle using the Linux kernel in their ROMS.
Similar but different, since Castle doesn't seem to want to release their source, even though they are using Linux code and linked to proprietary code.
Maybe that's why conservatives out of power talk about freedom, peace, and a smaller role for government (in addition to Bill Clinton's sexual escapades),
I am not quibbling with your point (and pretty much agree with general point), but this more accurately describes REPUBLICANS as an organization, not Conservatism as a political philosophy.
"it is impossible to reach T=0 in a finite number of steps".
A bit out of my league, but isn't it also impossible to reach absolute zero because of the uncertainty principal? As I understand it, a molecule can "borrow" energy and exist in a given space for a bried period of time, including this "absolute zero" area.
As I understand it, the uncertainty principal is what determined that black holes "do have hair" (sorry Steven H.) and thus can dissipate, but at a rate that exceeds the entire history of the universe. In theory, this would prevent any given space from maintaining a mean temperature of exactly 0 for any given time, or more properly, it means that a given area with a temperature of 0 has a probability of not being 0.
Hell, if we want disproportionate comparisons, throw in the Quantum Rushmore solid state drives.
Kinda like the old days when Microsoft would compare NT to Sun, where NT was was on a box that was twice as fast. Stacking the deck to make sure you win, and hoping no one reads the fine print....
By the way, I come from a conservative background. I've already resolved that my votes from here on out will be going to the Libertarians whenever possible. I've always been a loyal Republican until now, but they've forgotten what being Conservative really means. Conservative != pandering to evangelical Christians. It means striving for limited government.
Amen. I don't think we need to discriminate against religions either. Although I am not a Christian, I realize most christians are pretty good people, just like most non-christians are. But pandering to any group is not converatism.
TRUE Conservatism is neutral to everyone, rich, poor, black, white, muslim, jews, old or young.
As to my vote, I have never been loyal to any party. I vote for Dems and Repubs. I have tended to vote for more republicans ONLY because that is where most of the conservatives are.
I would recommend that you inform those who you politically support that conservatives don't support this any more than liberals. And quite honestly, watching congress go like a bunch of sheep to pass this atrocity, it's clear that it's not just a left/right issue.
Absolutely agree.
Nonetheless, the self-proclaimed conservatives have draped themselves in the flag and put this abomination forth to begin with
Agree again. Lets be sure we dont confuse those who SAY they are conservative, and those who really are. The Patriot Act was a knee-jerk overreaction to a real problem.
let's hear it for Johnny Ashcroft, who is getting his revenge for being beaten out of his senate seat by a dead man
I wouldn't agree with this on one point only. I do think John Ashcroft is doing what he thinks is best, and has the best of intentions, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. He has the right goals, to rid us of terrorism, but we both agree that he has the WRONG approach. You can't protect freedom by limiting it. I don't believe he taking any revenge, I just think he is ill suited for the job he has.
Until KDE or Gnome gets easier to install and setup, I don't have a choice but to continue to use Windows on the desktop. I know lots of you will say "Yea, but its easy, just do this...." but thats not the point. I get paid to make the company money while reducing costs, period. Since I am very familiar with Linux, and have run it on servers for years, I am a perfect candidate to switch once it is more cost effective. Because I am a bonified capitolist, I'm not interested in changing from MS to OSS purely for political reasons. It has to be for financial reasons. I don't mind learning how to setup Apache, sendmail, ftpd and other daemons that are directly related to generating sales, but I don't have the time or inclination to become an expert on setting up KDE, when I can just pop a copy of winblozes on our staff's computers.
Right now, it would cost me more to install a free OS, train, configure and maintain it, than to just use Windows to begin with. We do use Star Office instead of MS Office on most boxes that need it, saving us a wad now. That was an easy transition. We have switched most of the servers over to Linux servers, because they offer better performance on lower end machines, allowing us to recycle machines effectively. The problem isn't the Linux kernel, or supporting programs. The problem is the GUI. Since we don't use the GUI on servers, its not relevent. Since the users depend on the GUI on the desktop, it is very relevent.
Eventually, Linux will be more cost effective, and I will be the first to change every machine. Once the GUI doesn't have 1000 options to dig through and the applications don't all work with different hotkeys, that will be the time to switch. And while I am not a MS fan, the fact is they make a pretty damn good GUI. Give me a bonified Windows 95 (not 98+) interface on a Linux kernel, not just one that kinda looks like it, but one that WORKS like it, and I will give you a wad of cash happily.
no, not trying to be touchy, its just how can I take your opinion of the US Constitution seriously when you havn't read it?
It has been the inspiration for many other nations. The US is the longest standing democratic republic. Perhaps there are some pearls of wisdom in that "piece of paper". It should be important to more than Americans, it should be worthwhile reading to anyone that loves freedom, simply because it was the first of it's kind.
I have a deep respect for the Constitution not because of just what it says, but what it stands for. We American's aren't perfect. We make mistakes. But we have shed alot of blood to help others discover the same freedoms outlined in that document. For us to be willing to die for it, it must contain some powerful stuff.
So, I haven't read your prized constitution, but, before you go and rely upon it for your well-being, you might all want to have another wee glance at it again.:o/
Then go read it before you express an opinion on it.
I was under the impression that on the left-to-right scale we went from communism to liberalism to centrism to conservatism to fascism.
You have been taught incorrectly, but don't worry, you are in good company. The media has spread this kind of thinking because its easy to put into a sound byte. True conservatism, (not Rupublican) is based upon the theory that Govt. should only do for others what they can not do for themselves. This would include paving roads, setting up basic rules for commerce, and providing the defense.
True conservatism believes that the Govt. has no right to interfere where there is not a overriding interest by the public. This means they can't tell you how to raise your kids (short of beating them senseless), pot would be legal too.
IE: they can punish you for driving drunk because it affects others, but not for smoking pot in your living room. You still have to pay your taxes (flat) but they can't make you put your kids in public schools. Most zoning laws are against conservatism, limiting your rights to use your land as you see fit (as long as it doesnt affect others). Environmental laws are fine, if reasonable, because they affect others. Libratarians are more conservative than Republicans, for instance.
The next step (if there was one) from conservatism would not be FASCISM, it would be ANARCHY. The original American flag, inscribed with "Don't Tread On Me" is a very conservative concept. As you go farther right, the Govt. SHOULD get weaker. Less taxes, less control, less restrictions. As you go left, you get more taxes, more regulations, more social programs. Some prefer the safety net of the left, some don't.
Conservatism says that you should not be forced to financially support things you dont emotionally support. Your taxes are not used for general welfare. Helping the homeless and drug addicts is left to the private sector, industry and charity. I know this freaks out some of my European friends, but the simple fact is: The best organizations in the US for helping others ARE private charities, Salvation Army, Goodwill, St. Jude's Childrens Hospital, etc. Whether I want to help others should be my choice, and the amount should be my choice, NOT mandentory.
Forcing me to pay for housing and food for someone who is capable but has made bad life choices is fascism to me. Those who can't help themselves? I gladly give to non profit charities, but I don't trust a desk jockey in DC to handle the money properly.
I believe that the lower the taxes, the less control the govt. can have because they don't have the resources to oppress. The less that we allow the govt. to control (welfare, schools, etc) then the more power we have as a people.
The REAL reason be have the 2nd amendment was added was NOT to protect us from the King of England. It was to insure our own Govt. could not act in dominating way. The founders of the US has a well documented mistrust of anyone who seeked power. If you read the Federalist and other papers written by the Founding Fathers, you will find they were quite conservative.
Remember: Income taxes were ILLEGAL in the United States until the early 1900s. It took a new Constitutional Amendment to allow them. They literally had to change what the Founding Fathers intended, to give the federal govt. more power and control.
Conservatives believe in total individual freedom as along as it doens't hurt others. In this respect there are similarities to some of the social concepts of liberalism and conservatism. The difference is how its obtained. Liberals believe the Govt. gives you these rights and must protect them. Conservatives believe these rights are inherent to every human and any govt. action can only serve to limit them.
Centrists, on the other hand believe in nothing. Despite the media's attempts to make centrists look so great, so reasonable, they are the most dangerous. They stand for nothing, simply populists. They change their opinions according to how the wind blows. These are the ones who vote a certain way only to get votes, not to do what they think is RIGHT.
If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything (ty Aaron Tippin). I can happily debate a Liberal, who believes what he does. You can't debate a Centrist, because he does't believe in anything.
The Patriot Act is a violation of what my father fought for in Korea and Vietnam, and what I stood for while in the military.
I am upset that people are associating the Patriot Act with conservatism. Violation of my rights isn't conservative, its facism. Fellow conservatives need to speak up. We DO need some stronger laws and enforcement tools, and I do believe this is a passing problem, but only if we speak up.
Some may compare our current situation to that during the Civil War (oxymoron if there ever was one) when Lincoln suspended Habius Corpus, but I don't feel the two events can be compared in this way. The threat is real, more real than that era, but not as localized.
Until then, destroying sales records is a legal way to not comply with this over reaching Act. Hopefully, others will follow their lead.
Here is an interesting link that ties into this
on
Understanding Moore's Law
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
These show the history, compare die sizes, etc. and add some context to this article. Had to dig a bit, but I love this kinda stuff. Bet Im not the only one.
When you sign up to participate on Ebay, you are choosing to allow greater access to your information. You are not required to give any information to Ebay, unless you want to buy or sell there.
Once you decide to participate in commerce within any community, you should have a lower expectation of privacy than if you didn't participate, as long as the lower privacy is directly relative to protecting the integrity of the community. You can't compare this to the privacy you expect from your ISP, just releasing your browsing habits to the feds with a simple request.
As a seller: You are knowingly trading a small amount of privacy in exchange for a less fraudulent environment to trade in. You must provide a credit card for verification and for billing. In the real world, you still have to go downtown and give proof of who you are to get a business license. The police can legally watch who goes in and out of your business, without a warrant, just as they get info from ebay about transactions.
As a buyer, you still have to provide certain information in order to complete a purchase. This is true in any enviroment where you are not standing there, with currency in hand. Even then, any police officer can legally WATCH you make this transaction within plain view.
This bring online and offline into parity, thats all. Bringing public transactions (the auctions) within plane view. Personally, I have no problem with ebay releasing information to the feds to assist with investigations, with proper notification to me via the privacy policy.
Since I am asking people all over the globe to give me money, it should be my DUTY to do so in a very open manner, not being able to "hide" just because I am using a computer network to do my selling. It is this transparency that makes capitolism work fairly for everyone.
Up to now Ma & Pa haven't needed to mess with sales taxes at all for selling online.
Most legitimate mom and pop shops HAVE paid sales tax for their own states. If not, they have been operating illegally.
If they would consider every sales LOCAL to the seller, for instance, I would charge everyone I sell to the same tax. Or if the states agreed to a flat 5% sales tax for all internet sales. Either way, it would be easy to implement, and several software solutions would be quickly developed, since it is easier to figure one or two rates than thousands (county by county).
I absolutely agree taxes are too high, but parity may help bring them down. Also, if I have to charge everyone the sales tax here in North Carolina, 7%, it gives me more reason to bitch to the state govt. States may have to lower sales tax, or risk loosing ecommerce to other states. I can re-incorporate in another state to get the lower tax.
And if China implements a tax on everything sold online,
No jurisdiction. Enough said.
A lot of companies get to keep a portion of the taxes they collect from their customers.
I don't know what planet you are from, but I have been collecting sales tax from customers, from several business, in several states, and I have never been able to keep one penny.
Meanwhile Ma & Pa Shop get to deal with more redtape that ends up costing them more and making them less likely to successfully launch a new business and thus hurting the economy.
You obviously don't own a business. Currently, there are 50 different laws for sales tax, and we have to collect in different ones. Some states tax services, some don't. In most states, the sales tax varies county to county, and sometimes city to city. We have to record the COUNTY for each sale in Virginia, where we are NOT located. This is just one example of how fudged up current law is.
The current method of collecting taxes is extremely expensive and time consuming. WE can afford this due to our sales volume, smaller companies can't, and get fined out of business when caught. Simplifying this would ALLOW small owners to sell online, not the other way around.
I understand why XBox Linux Project wants a digital signature from Microsoft.
I understand why people use hacked chips to run Linux on their XBox.
I even understand why Microsoft won't do it.
What I don't understand is why so many people are jumping on this "lets run Linux on xbox!" bandwagon. Be honest, 99% of you would not go buy the box just to run linux on it (the other 1% fall under the catagories of fools or too damn rich). You aren't gonna go sell your P2, and change to microsoft products.
There is no practical purpose to run Linux on the Xbox, but its fun if you have to either hack your way into it, or buy and install the mod chips. Granted. But if its just a matter of buying "Linux for Xbox", then what the HELL is the attraction? The walmart $200 pc is a better option if you just want a cheap linux box. If you don't feel like your screwing Bill G, its just not worth the effort. Admit it.
Once you take the "I'm sticking it to microsoft" out of it, there really is no purpose to run it, even for acedemic purposes. If they get the signature, fine, but the folks in here who are trying to explain WHY they would want it to run Linux are fooling themselves, but not me.
When you receive spam about a fresh company, you could buy in quickly and then unload it after a certain period of time before the 'dump' phase kicks in.
What if you are the last one that received the email, the price has jumped by the time you "jump" to buy it, and 1 day later the scammer sells, driving the price down?
Trying to do what you say is akin to trying to catch an arrow in mid flight.
They've come quite a ways in 5 years. So has Linux.
Oh I absolutely agree, NT is way better as well. But IMHO, Linux wasn't nearly as usable 5 years ago compared to NT. Im just saying Linux would get the award for "biggest improvement" in this period, partially because it was further behind then. (no flames please, just my opinion) My first install was RH4.something, and I have installed every NT since 3.1., and using that as a basis to compare. Maybe closer to 8 years ago, NT was easy to install, and Linux was a bitch, for me.
Your folkloric description of Linux programmers sounds a little eggagerated, by the way...
Yea, perhaps, but it sounded good. Maybe just Karma whoring;)
After reading this interesting, but somewhat cheerleading article, one thing struck me:
Microsoft has 10,000 programmers who must meet strick deadlines, secracy rules, and put up with hard ass project leaders in order to make NT. It requires ungodly amounts of investment and centralized leadership to incrementally improve the final product.
Linux also has thousands of programmers, but they contribute code in between downloading porn, drinking beer, eating pizza and playing online games. This is generally done on computers ranging from low end pentiums to state of the art servers, scattered all over the globe, for virtually free.
Then I compare how far each has come in the last 5 years.......
Perhaps MS needs to install a pizza oven and keg with tap in their war room.
So, given my ficticious monitor can go 85Hz at 1600x1200, does it matter if my card dishes out 101fps all day long?
The other reply has it right on. I game alot, and most games have the capability to show the frame rate while you play (usually typing in a command in the console).
For instance: I have a 2.53gz w/ a g4/4200/64mb, way under spec for playing half life mods, but if I run into a room with with half a dozen dudes, its not uncommon for the frame rate to drop to 30fps. As a matter of fact, the frame rate is CONSTANTLY changing, its never fixed, even in an empty server, just standing there, it will fluxuate some.
This is one reason I don't run at 1600x1200, (1280x1024 is plenty) because it will occasionally turn into a slide show, and if its going to turn into a slide show, just type KILL in your console so at least the bad guys don't get 1 point.
Which is it? Is Google a big brother monopolist or a scrappy underdog? I'm confused.
Exactly. Given enough time, capitolism works every time its tried. Thats why I don't get too worried about 'big bad' companies. They generally shoot themselves in the foot or are too big to adapt fast enough.
Case in point: The weak ass anti-trust case with Microsoft has make a difference in how they conduct business (ask Opera). However, several thousand programmers doing it for free, will.
If women just gave it away, there would be no need to hookers. (wait, did I just compare programmers with prostitutes?)
Slashdot Mirror
After I posted the parent, I remembered this discussion recently here about Castle using the Linux kernel in their ROMS.
Similar but different, since Castle doesn't seem to want to release their source, even though they are using Linux code and linked to proprietary code.
I guess free just ain't cheap enough sometimes.
Maybe that's why conservatives out of power talk about freedom, peace, and a smaller role for government (in addition to Bill Clinton's sexual escapades),
I am not quibbling with your point (and pretty much agree with general point), but this more accurately describes REPUBLICANS as an organization, not Conservatism as a political philosophy.
Your principal [reference.com] should have taught you how to spell principle [reference.com] if the teachers couldn't manage it.
I wish I was as kewl as you. After all, speling is the most importent part of particepating on slashdot.
I would have to think that correcting spelling on slashdot has to be the lowest form of llamaism.
You know, when you steal something that is free to begin with, you have a problem.
"it is impossible to reach T=0 in a finite number of steps".
A bit out of my league, but isn't it also impossible to reach absolute zero because of the uncertainty principal? As I understand it, a molecule can "borrow" energy and exist in a given space for a bried period of time, including this "absolute zero" area.
As I understand it, the uncertainty principal is what determined that black holes "do have hair" (sorry Steven H.) and thus can dissipate, but at a rate that exceeds the entire history of the universe. In theory, this would prevent any given space from maintaining a mean temperature of exactly 0 for any given time, or more properly, it means that a given area with a temperature of 0 has a probability of not being 0.
Of course, I could be completely wrong....
Hell, if we want disproportionate comparisons, throw in the Quantum Rushmore solid state drives.
Kinda like the old days when Microsoft would compare NT to Sun, where NT was was on a box that was twice as fast. Stacking the deck to make sure you win, and hoping no one reads the fine print....
By the way, I come from a conservative background. I've already resolved that my votes from here on out will be going to the Libertarians whenever possible. I've always been a loyal Republican until now, but they've forgotten what being Conservative really means. Conservative != pandering to evangelical Christians. It means striving for limited government.
Amen. I don't think we need to discriminate against religions either. Although I am not a Christian, I realize most christians are pretty good people, just like most non-christians are. But pandering to any group is not converatism.
TRUE Conservatism is neutral to everyone, rich, poor, black, white, muslim, jews, old or young.
As to my vote, I have never been loyal to any party. I vote for Dems and Repubs. I have tended to vote for more republicans ONLY because that is where most of the conservatives are.
I would recommend that you inform those who you politically support that conservatives don't support this any more than liberals. And quite honestly, watching congress go like a bunch of sheep to pass this atrocity, it's clear that it's not just a left/right issue.
Absolutely agree.
Nonetheless, the self-proclaimed conservatives have draped themselves in the flag and put this abomination forth to begin with
Agree again. Lets be sure we dont confuse those who SAY they are conservative, and those who really are. The Patriot Act was a knee-jerk overreaction to a real problem.
let's hear it for Johnny Ashcroft, who is getting his revenge for being beaten out of his senate seat by a dead man
I wouldn't agree with this on one point only. I do think John Ashcroft is doing what he thinks is best, and has the best of intentions, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. He has the right goals, to rid us of terrorism, but we both agree that he has the WRONG approach. You can't protect freedom by limiting it. I don't believe he taking any revenge, I just think he is ill suited for the job he has.
Until KDE or Gnome gets easier to install and setup, I don't have a choice but to continue to use Windows on the desktop. I know lots of you will say "Yea, but its easy, just do this...." but thats not the point. I get paid to make the company money while reducing costs, period. Since I am very familiar with Linux, and have run it on servers for years, I am a perfect candidate to switch once it is more cost effective. Because I am a bonified capitolist, I'm not interested in changing from MS to OSS purely for political reasons. It has to be for financial reasons. I don't mind learning how to setup Apache, sendmail, ftpd and other daemons that are directly related to generating sales, but I don't have the time or inclination to become an expert on setting up KDE, when I can just pop a copy of winblozes on our staff's computers.
Right now, it would cost me more to install a free OS, train, configure and maintain it, than to just use Windows to begin with. We do use Star Office instead of MS Office on most boxes that need it, saving us a wad now. That was an easy transition. We have switched most of the servers over to Linux servers, because they offer better performance on lower end machines, allowing us to recycle machines effectively. The problem isn't the Linux kernel, or supporting programs. The problem is the GUI. Since we don't use the GUI on servers, its not relevent. Since the users depend on the GUI on the desktop, it is very relevent.
Eventually, Linux will be more cost effective, and I will be the first to change every machine. Once the GUI doesn't have 1000 options to dig through and the applications don't all work with different hotkeys, that will be the time to switch. And while I am not a MS fan, the fact is they make a pretty damn good GUI. Give me a bonified Windows 95 (not 98+) interface on a Linux kernel, not just one that kinda looks like it, but one that WORKS like it, and I will give you a wad of cash happily.
no, not trying to be touchy, its just how can I take your opinion of the US Constitution seriously when you havn't read it?
It has been the inspiration for many other nations. The US is the longest standing democratic republic. Perhaps there are some pearls of wisdom in that "piece of paper". It should be important to more than Americans, it should be worthwhile reading to anyone that loves freedom, simply because it was the first of it's kind.
I have a deep respect for the Constitution not because of just what it says, but what it stands for. We American's aren't perfect. We make mistakes. But we have shed alot of blood to help others discover the same freedoms outlined in that document. For us to be willing to die for it, it must contain some powerful stuff.
Here is a copy of the constitution Please bookmark it and read it sometime. It has links to the Bill of Rights, plus other Amendments.
sorry, incorrect. Please see reply above.
So, I haven't read your prized constitution, but, before you go and rely upon it for your well-being, you might all want to have another wee glance at it again. :o/
Then go read it before you express an opinion on it.
I was under the impression that on the left-to-right scale we went from communism to liberalism to centrism to conservatism to fascism.
You have been taught incorrectly, but don't worry, you are in good company. The media has spread this kind of thinking because its easy to put into a sound byte. True conservatism, (not Rupublican) is based upon the theory that Govt. should only do for others what they can not do for themselves. This would include paving roads, setting up basic rules for commerce, and providing the defense.
True conservatism believes that the Govt. has no right to interfere where there is not a overriding interest by the public. This means they can't tell you how to raise your kids (short of beating them senseless), pot would be legal too.
IE: they can punish you for driving drunk because it affects others, but not for smoking pot in your living room. You still have to pay your taxes (flat) but they can't make you put your kids in public schools. Most zoning laws are against conservatism, limiting your rights to use your land as you see fit (as long as it doesnt affect others). Environmental laws are fine, if reasonable, because they affect others. Libratarians are more conservative than Republicans, for instance.
The next step (if there was one) from conservatism would not be FASCISM, it would be ANARCHY. The original American flag, inscribed with "Don't Tread On Me" is a very conservative concept. As you go farther right, the Govt. SHOULD get weaker. Less taxes, less control, less restrictions. As you go left, you get more taxes, more regulations, more social programs. Some prefer the safety net of the left, some don't.
Conservatism says that you should not be forced to financially support things you dont emotionally support. Your taxes are not used for general welfare. Helping the homeless and drug addicts is left to the private sector, industry and charity. I know this freaks out some of my European friends, but the simple fact is: The best organizations in the US for helping others ARE private charities, Salvation Army, Goodwill, St. Jude's Childrens Hospital, etc. Whether I want to help others should be my choice, and the amount should be my choice, NOT mandentory.
Forcing me to pay for housing and food for someone who is capable but has made bad life choices is fascism to me. Those who can't help themselves? I gladly give to non profit charities, but I don't trust a desk jockey in DC to handle the money properly.
I believe that the lower the taxes, the less control the govt. can have because they don't have the resources to oppress. The less that we allow the govt. to control (welfare, schools, etc) then the more power we have as a people.
The REAL reason be have the 2nd amendment was added was NOT to protect us from the King of England. It was to insure our own Govt. could not act in dominating way. The founders of the US has a well documented mistrust of anyone who seeked power. If you read the Federalist and other papers written by the Founding Fathers, you will find they were quite conservative.
Remember: Income taxes were ILLEGAL in the United States until the early 1900s. It took a new Constitutional Amendment to allow them. They literally had to change what the Founding Fathers intended, to give the federal govt. more power and control.
Conservatives believe in total individual freedom as along as it doens't hurt others. In this respect there are similarities to some of the social concepts of liberalism and conservatism. The difference is how its obtained. Liberals believe the Govt. gives you these rights and must protect them. Conservatives believe these rights are inherent to every human and any govt. action can only serve to limit them.
Centrists, on the other hand believe in nothing. Despite the media's attempts to make centrists look so great, so reasonable, they are the most dangerous. They stand for nothing, simply populists. They change their opinions according to how the wind blows. These are the ones who vote a certain way only to get votes, not to do what they think is RIGHT.
If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything (ty Aaron Tippin). I can happily debate a Liberal, who believes what he does. You can't debate a Centrist, because he does't believe in anything.
The Patriot Act is a violation of what my father fought for in Korea and Vietnam, and what I stood for while in the military.
I am upset that people are associating the Patriot Act with conservatism. Violation of my rights isn't conservative, its facism. Fellow conservatives need to speak up. We DO need some stronger laws and enforcement tools, and I do believe this is a passing problem, but only if we speak up.
Some may compare our current situation to that during the Civil War (oxymoron if there ever was one) when Lincoln suspended Habius Corpus, but I don't feel the two events can be compared in this way. The threat is real, more real than that era, but not as localized.
Until then, destroying sales records is a legal way to not comply with this over reaching Act. Hopefully, others will follow their lead.
There were a link on pages linked off of that story. Found it at http://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/quickrefyr.htm and also links to History of the Microprocessor.
These show the history, compare die sizes, etc. and add some context to this article. Had to dig a bit, but I love this kinda stuff. Bet Im not the only one.
I believe Moore's Theory would be a better name tho.
Oh, and is it me, or does that article jump around way too much? A bit to read when it does that...
When you sign up to participate on Ebay, you are choosing to allow greater access to your information. You are not required to give any information to Ebay, unless you want to buy or sell there.
Once you decide to participate in commerce within any community, you should have a lower expectation of privacy than if you didn't participate, as long as the lower privacy is directly relative to protecting the integrity of the community. You can't compare this to the privacy you expect from your ISP, just releasing your browsing habits to the feds with a simple request.
As a seller: You are knowingly trading a small amount of privacy in exchange for a less fraudulent environment to trade in. You must provide a credit card for verification and for billing. In the real world, you still have to go downtown and give proof of who you are to get a business license. The police can legally watch who goes in and out of your business, without a warrant, just as they get info from ebay about transactions.
As a buyer, you still have to provide certain information in order to complete a purchase. This is true in any enviroment where you are not standing there, with currency in hand. Even then, any police officer can legally WATCH you make this transaction within plain view.
This bring online and offline into parity, thats all. Bringing public transactions (the auctions) within plane view. Personally, I have no problem with ebay releasing information to the feds to assist with investigations, with proper notification to me via the privacy policy.
Since I am asking people all over the globe to give me money, it should be my DUTY to do so in a very open manner, not being able to "hide" just because I am using a computer network to do my selling. It is this transparency that makes capitolism work fairly for everyone.
Up to now Ma & Pa haven't needed to mess with sales taxes at all for selling online.
Most legitimate mom and pop shops HAVE paid sales tax for their own states. If not, they have been operating illegally.
If they would consider every sales LOCAL to the seller, for instance, I would charge everyone I sell to the same tax. Or if the states agreed to a flat 5% sales tax for all internet sales. Either way, it would be easy to implement, and several software solutions would be quickly developed, since it is easier to figure one or two rates than thousands (county by county).
I absolutely agree taxes are too high, but parity may help bring them down. Also, if I have to charge everyone the sales tax here in North Carolina, 7%, it gives me more reason to bitch to the state govt. States may have to lower sales tax, or risk loosing ecommerce to other states. I can re-incorporate in another state to get the lower tax.
And if China implements a tax on everything sold online,
No jurisdiction. Enough said.
A lot of companies get to keep a portion of the taxes they collect from their customers.
I don't know what planet you are from, but I have been collecting sales tax from customers, from several business, in several states, and I have never been able to keep one penny.
Meanwhile Ma & Pa Shop get to deal with more redtape that ends up costing them more and making them less likely to successfully launch a new business and thus hurting the economy.
You obviously don't own a business. Currently, there are 50 different laws for sales tax, and we have to collect in different ones. Some states tax services, some don't. In most states, the sales tax varies county to county, and sometimes city to city. We have to record the COUNTY for each sale in Virginia, where we are NOT located. This is just one example of how fudged up current law is.
The current method of collecting taxes is extremely expensive and time consuming. WE can afford this due to our sales volume, smaller companies can't, and get fined out of business when caught. Simplifying this would ALLOW small owners to sell online, not the other way around.
Please indulge me while I make an observation....
I understand why XBox Linux Project wants a digital signature from Microsoft.
I understand why people use hacked chips to run Linux on their XBox.
I even understand why Microsoft won't do it.
What I don't understand is why so many people are jumping on this "lets run Linux on xbox!" bandwagon. Be honest, 99% of you would not go buy the box just to run linux on it (the other 1% fall under the catagories of fools or too damn rich). You aren't gonna go sell your P2, and change to microsoft products.
There is no practical purpose to run Linux on the Xbox, but its fun if you have to either hack your way into it, or buy and install the mod chips. Granted. But if its just a matter of buying "Linux for Xbox", then what the HELL is the attraction? The walmart $200 pc is a better option if you just want a cheap linux box. If you don't feel like your screwing Bill G, its just not worth the effort. Admit it.
Once you take the "I'm sticking it to microsoft" out of it, there really is no purpose to run it, even for acedemic purposes. If they get the signature, fine, but the folks in here who are trying to explain WHY they would want it to run Linux are fooling themselves, but not me.
When you receive spam about a fresh company, you could buy in quickly and then unload it after a certain period of time before the 'dump' phase kicks in.
What if you are the last one that received the email, the price has jumped by the time you "jump" to buy it, and 1 day later the scammer sells, driving the price down?
Trying to do what you say is akin to trying to catch an arrow in mid flight.
They've come quite a ways in 5 years. So has Linux.
;)
Oh I absolutely agree, NT is way better as well. But IMHO, Linux wasn't nearly as usable 5 years ago compared to NT. Im just saying Linux would get the award for "biggest improvement" in this period, partially because it was further behind then. (no flames please, just my opinion) My first install was RH4.something, and I have installed every NT since 3.1., and using that as a basis to compare. Maybe closer to 8 years ago, NT was easy to install, and Linux was a bitch, for me.
Your folkloric description of Linux programmers sounds a little eggagerated, by the way...
Yea, perhaps, but it sounded good. Maybe just Karma whoring
After reading this interesting, but somewhat cheerleading article, one thing struck me:
Microsoft has 10,000 programmers who must meet strick deadlines, secracy rules, and put up with hard ass project leaders in order to make NT. It requires ungodly amounts of investment and centralized leadership to incrementally improve the final product.
Linux also has thousands of programmers, but they contribute code in between downloading porn, drinking beer, eating pizza and playing online games. This is generally done on computers ranging from low end pentiums to state of the art servers, scattered all over the globe, for virtually free.
Then I compare how far each has come in the last 5 years.......
Perhaps MS needs to install a pizza oven and keg with tap in their war room.
So, given my ficticious monitor can go 85Hz at 1600x1200, does it matter if my card dishes out 101fps all day long?
The other reply has it right on. I game alot, and most games have the capability to show the frame rate while you play (usually typing in a command in the console).
For instance: I have a 2.53gz w/ a g4/4200/64mb, way under spec for playing half life mods, but if I run into a room with with half a dozen dudes, its not uncommon for the frame rate to drop to 30fps. As a matter of fact, the frame rate is CONSTANTLY changing, its never fixed, even in an empty server, just standing there, it will fluxuate some.
This is one reason I don't run at 1600x1200, (1280x1024 is plenty) because it will occasionally turn into a slide show, and if its going to turn into a slide show, just type KILL in your console so at least the bad guys don't get 1 point.
Exactly. Given enough time, capitolism works every time its tried. Thats why I don't get too worried about 'big bad' companies. They generally shoot themselves in the foot or are too big to adapt fast enough.
Case in point: The weak ass anti-trust case with Microsoft has make a difference in how they conduct business (ask Opera). However, several thousand programmers doing it for free, will.
If women just gave it away, there would be no need to hookers. (wait, did I just compare programmers with prostitutes?)