From the above "This ensures the highest efficiency currently available." Is this statement complete bullshit or what? If it assured the highest efficiency I'd be able to play it in ANY cd/dvd drive without fear - now THAT would be efficiency. This key2audio bull is about as efficient as a handgrenade in a crystal shop - doesn't improve your shopping options but makes one hell of a mess of the current situation.
This country has become so money-hungry and lawsuit-happy that it is almost fscking laughable. Do we really need a national mandate where every person, upon reaching 18 years of age and who is declared mentally fit, has to sign a document stating
"I am completely responsible for my own actions. What I do with my life is by my own choice, even though it is influenced by the world at large, and I accept the full weight of any consequences of said actions. I am intelligent enough to know coffee is hot, anything I enjoy can be addictive, and that (insert weapon/object/tool/etc) doesn't kill people - the person wielding said object does. Affirmed this day, blah, blah."
Do we really need this? With all the warning labels being slapped on everyday items, it seems the entire population (of the world, not just the US) is being dumbed down to the lowest common denominator. I say tell Sony to fuck the warning label and go in with the arguement he was an adult and able to determine what course of action to take - not to mention being counseled and the counselor and mother not trying and curb (or wean) him off of EverQuest.
It is a very sad time and if I lost someone, not just like this but any way, I'd be pissed and might try to blame someone else - until I realized it was no one's fault but their own.
I have heard several people mention colleagues and co-workers looking into expatriation, moving to countries with better tech climates, EVEN going so far as to renounce citizenship and leave. Why not? I say. Do you want to really get Congress's attention? Simply inform your congressman that if this bill is introduced and then passes that you are more than willing to find a climate better suited to technological freedoms and in doing so you will take not only your vote with you but also the technological know-how and skills you possess and the skills of all your (as well as your colleagues) future generations to come. Do they wish to set back American leadership in the technological fields? Do they want to basically GIVE this knowledge the brightest minds possess to Canada? To Australia? To Norway? Switzerland? Israel maybe? Somehow I doubt that they do, but if enough IT, comp-sci, enthusiasts, innovators, and industry leaders make this simple statement - to remove generations of knowledge and votes from a congressman's state and the US overall I believe that Congress would take notice. Don't you?
Yes, yes, this may seem a little *heh* reactionary but does not drastic times call for drastic measures?
Skynet became self-aware 2:14am EDT August 29, 1997. It began to learn at a geometric rate. In a panic they tried to pull the plug. Skynet fought back. It launched all of its missiles at targets in Russia...
Ok, now if linking all the DOE computers into a large "science grid" doesn't give you a slight chill at the thought of some cosmic event happening, well then nothing will. *heh* Still, it would definately be interesting if we need the Turing Police to be formed. *laugh*
From all I see and hear on/. as well as IRL, one of the main reasons these companies can't survive is that the Linux and OSS torchbearers need to stop PREACHING and start TEACHING. I admit, there are times when I slip into a preach mode when talking about something I really believe in (such as using alternatives for MS products, using Linux - which I'm still learning, less government, against the SSSCA, etc.) but I try to teach the reasons WHY I'm for or against these things. In this case, the "deserves to be judged by hard, cold, business metrics" statement might be justified but what is also justified is the fact that a business model based on a subscription service for either goods or services DOES work - if you have enough people enrolled. Even if it does not 100% meet your target goals it does alleviate needing to meet them via slashing jobs in a tight economy and can give the company a boost when the upswing in the economy arrives. Hell, maybe I'm rambling here but I think you get the jist of what I'm saying.
Oh yeah, since you use Mandrake but don't want to give them a donation do the next best thing - BUY SOME STOCK. Funny thing that, take your $60 you aren't willing to donate and support them anyway. Maybe you'll make a nice return on that investment.. if you truly believe in what Mandrake and OSS in general are trying to accomplish.
Precisely. Until we have people in power who don't explicitly want to rape the world for their own benefit then "WE THE PEOPLE" are getting the shaft. I admit I was lax to start voting, but now that I do I look for a Libertarian option every time. If there is no Libertarian option then I research the individuals and vote for the one who comes closest to my ideals.. or write in if possible.
For those who don't know what the Libertarian party stands for, check here The Libertarian Option. Basically, the words less government should appeal to most. I personally want the government out of my reading, viewing, bedroom, and several other places they don't really belong. Their primary goal should be to defend MY RIGHTS and my life as given by (insert religious figure), God in my case, and the Constitution of the United States. It doesn't seem they are doing that anymore.. are they?
Vote people, vote. We can no longer afford to think it will get better or the masses will vote them out when they screw up. It isn't happening. The masses aren't as informed as they should be - until it is too late.
Errr, I think you need to come to grips with reality and realize that the majority (even the folks in IT) don't all live in major metropolitan areas so payrates are not going to be the same. What a sysadmin in Atlanta makes on average is not going to be what he would make in the small town of say Sparks, GA (yes, it is real, look it up:-p).
In other words, $8.75 per hour is probably right in line with the region around MIT where recruiters were trying to pull people into... starting pay that is. Let's not forget all the other benefits like 401K, good dental, vision, and health insurance, etc. A lot more than just an hourly/weekly wage goes into a job package - even in these economic times.
I know I'm posting late to the thread but maybe I'll get modded up later...
HOW is this not a good thing overall? Not to mention the fact that it would be extremely easy to put a huge, flashing, bright red WARNING at the beginning of the kernel autoconf routine (which most people would probably ignore anyway) saying that "Recompiling your kernel can lead to serious damage to your system. We suggest that if you are not familiar with how and what this does, that you read up on the subject before attempting ANY recompile. Thank you, the (company of choice) Team." Then put in a disclaimer in the software package that doing a compile on the kernel and fscking up your system will cost you extra for tech support as these problems are very hard to diagnose.
Same as with labels on the bottom of Coke bottles in other nations stating "Open other end.":-p A little common sense and a warning/instruction can go a long way.
Am I the only person here who watches James Bond movies? I thought it would have been the thing if Boromir (sp?) would have said to Frodo "For England Frodo?" or "After you, 007.."
Yeah, this is true so I'll tell you what... give it two weeks and.NAP will be.HACKED and you'll have your nice MP3 format back again and can use the files anywhere you wish. You know it will happen, I know it will happen, Napster knows it will happen. The RIAA and the "Big Labels" behind it just don't fscking get it yet.
If the artists will get paid, and not the labels, I'd use it - especially if the.NAP gets hacked and I can use the music I just paid for on any system I own.
I quote: No matter how lickable the
shutdown/adduser/finder screen interface is.... Bold added by me for bolding purposes:-p
What I'd like to know though is - what phreaking User Interface are you currently deploying that can be licked to shut down/adduser/etc.. and is it "user" friendly *wink, wink*???
I'd bet the tons of porn outlets would pay dearly to have this UI added to their portals.. think of the revenue! The feedback! Oh, wait, feedback would be the revenue stream *blink*:-p
I fully agree. Most people here on/. tend to get up in arms about one thing or another and a good bit of us do something about it. Well, now is the time for a fair majority of us to really do something and let the manufacturers know WITH YOUR DOLLARS. Write to any company who plans to use WMP technology in their machines and let them know you will not be buying their products - and why. Also mention the fact that many people in your circle will also not be buying and then get those people to write the company as well. When they see enough dollar signs with "will not be buying" attached they will listen. Microsoft be damned.. I don't live in a M$ world, nor do I want to.
Before I get flamed - I'm not totally against Microsoft as I use some of their products in my daily life, I'm just getting really tired of them trying to "control all that you see and hear" to borrow a phrase.
The URL you are trying to remember is www.crewoftwo.com. Created the Star Wars genre movie all on Macs over the course of a year. Even got a nod of recognition from Lucas.
I know this might be a truly unique idea, or a completely dumb one, but with a lot of radio stations broadcasting digital quality music if you have a clear feed and a good stereo what is stop me from copying to tape (or line-in to a computer and copying to disc/mp3) any song I can pick up - FOR FREE - on the airwaves?
What's next, make it illegal for the radio stations to play a complete song without interrupting it for the RIAA Copy-Protected Speech? "...today's Tom Sawyer, mean, mean stri.. we interrupt this classic song to inform you pirating this is against the RIAA. We now return you to the song in play.. today's.."
The sheer stupidity of the parties involved makes it clear they have lost touch with reality and only care about ripping.. er, reaping the profits from their artist:-p I give it no chance of really passing muster.. but I'll still contact my congressional reps.
To all of you who are telling the people to "get a life" or "get real" or any other euphemism pertaining to the fact that they are overreacting to the loss of civil liberties, let me expound a very simple theory - the domino effect.
It really is that simple. Let ANYONE take away one liberty you now enjoy in the name of and sooner rather than later "they" will insist on another because "any good citizen would do this" and then another and the dominos will fall as you lose more of your Constitutional and God-given rights. This trend has cost more people throughout the world their freedom than can be imagined. This is a very real theory that has toppled governments and countries.
The time to stand for what you belive in, for what rights and freedoms you have is NOW for there is not tomorrow once they are gone. Take the time to think it through rationally and put aside the gut-check reaction from the terrorist attack that screams "protect me!" I know, as do we all, that this was a horrific incident and that we should take more precautions and increase safety but that can be done by strengthening the protections in place without resorting to more laws that only law-abiding people will obey in the first place. A criminal is a criminal because they don't care and don't follow the law anyway. Giving up your freedoms and liberties for nothing gains you nothing.
Maybe FFFish should step back in time slightly and back the fuck up... America has donated more money and time to cleaning up the problems of the world than any other country in history. We helped to rebuild England and several other European nations after WWII and then forgave them all debts incurred. Many of those have never paid the US back nor paid any interest on the loans the US has made them since that time - and we're supposed to keep ponying up the cash to the rest of the world and the UN too? The same holds true for Japan, parts of Asia, South America, Canada, and several Third World nations. Now, what if America were to add up the amount of money we have loaned out, added in the interest, subtracted any amounts we owe and then foreclosed on all the loans? I'd be willing to bet America would then become the largest landlord the world has ever seen and then we could start taxing all the new subjects we have and pay our UN dues. Would you like to be annexed by the United States due to defaulting on your loans? Wouldn't that be some shit... all of you who were bitching about America not jumping into the middle of every action that happens in the world would then be considered "Americans!"
All AMD will be doing with this marketing tactic is elminating the average consumer from the cycle and alienating the geeks (yes, us) by not giving us the information to make informed purchases and to hype their product for them. I suggest an e-mail campaign with the headlines "Reveal chip speed, even if it Hz!" and let them know that there is a need to have this information in order to make comparisons. Not revealing the MHz is not going to stop groups like Tom's Hardware from making speed comparisons on the chips and word of mouth is a viral antidote to marketing FUD.
Specifically, let's use their Investor Relations e-mail address since anyone who owns an AMD processor is, technically, an investor:-)
Well, this brings to mind the fact that Amigas and the NewTek Toaster/Lightwave 3D were used to render Babylon 5 when it first appeared on the scene. Now they use Macs, DEC Alphas, and 12 Pentiums to do the job. Ahhh, the good old days;-)
Comic books have been linked to the increased reading in the youth (and judging from some of the posts I've seen here and elsewhere they need exposure to correctly spelled words:-p). See this article here for some notes on the topic. By and large this also extends to online comics and their ilk since more young people are exposed to the Internet than books these days (or so it seems).
This reading by choice (instead of the school forced reading) usually leads the young people of today and tomorrow onto the path of higher knowledge and better understanding. So, why not use the 'Net to extend this choice and create a better read society? Is not a well read society better able to make distinctions between FUD and fact? Between the technical and the trash?
There is a third possibilty - that the PAL (public at large) wakes the fuck up and realizes that we all need to extend and embrace Microsoft alternatives before it is too late and we get "locked-in" to a system that will do nothing but suck money.
If you are quite happy with the current crop of dull, stolid, entirely *un*imaginative virus writers , why in the hell did you just give them a shopping list of ideas to choose from??;-p
The Enhanced911 documents were "stolen" from BellSouth and they were valued at some ungodly numbers. The people who wound up paying for the "crime" were three Atlanta area old-school hackers , dumpster divers and computer enthusiasts named The Prophet, Leftist, and Urvile (I do hope I have the last one spelled correctly - sorry if I don't, it's been awhile;-p). I believe they all are doing quite well now...
Learn how to spell etiquette, troll. If you're going into business to teach people how to act proper under various circumstances it would be a shame to have them look like fucking idiots when they can't spell the word they went to class to learn.
"Profanity is the crutch of an inarticulate motherfucker" - Unkown
The University supports the intellectual, personal, social and ethical development of members of the University community. These goals can best be achieved in an open and supportive environment that
encourages reasoned discourse, honesty, and respect for the rights of all individuals. Students at the University of Utah are encouraged to exercise personal responsibility and self discipline and engage in the rigors of discovery and scholarship.
And under the Bill of Rights:
D. Due Process. Students have a right to due process in any disciplinary matter involving the possibility of substantial sanctions. This includes a right to be heard, a right to decision and review by impartial persons or bodies, and a right to adequate notice.
F. Freedom of Expression. Students have a right to examine and communicate ideas by any lawful means. Students may not be subject to discipline because of their constitutionally protected exercise of freedom of association, assembly, expression and the press.
So, it seems to me that under the school's very own rules our slashsiter has legal and school recourse. The ACLU will run with this...
Slashdot Mirror
Do we really need this? With all the warning labels being slapped on everyday items, it seems the entire population (of the world, not just the US) is being dumbed down to the lowest common denominator. I say tell Sony to fuck the warning label and go in with the arguement he was an adult and able to determine what course of action to take - not to mention being counseled and the counselor and mother not trying and curb (or wean) him off of EverQuest.
It is a very sad time and if I lost someone, not just like this but any way, I'd be pissed and might try to blame someone else - until I realized it was no one's fault but their own.
Yes, yes, this may seem a little *heh* reactionary but does not drastic times call for drastic measures?
Ok, now if linking all the DOE computers into a large "science grid" doesn't give you a slight chill at the thought of some cosmic event happening, well then nothing will. *heh* Still, it would definately be interesting if we need the Turing Police to be formed. *laugh*
Oh yeah, since you use Mandrake but don't want to give them a donation do the next best thing - BUY SOME STOCK. Funny thing that, take your $60 you aren't willing to donate and support them anyway. Maybe you'll make a nice return on that investment.. if you truly believe in what Mandrake and OSS in general are trying to accomplish.
For those who don't know what the Libertarian party stands for, check here The Libertarian Option. Basically, the words less government should appeal to most. I personally want the government out of my reading, viewing, bedroom, and several other places they don't really belong. Their primary goal should be to defend MY RIGHTS and my life as given by (insert religious figure), God in my case, and the Constitution of the United States. It doesn't seem they are doing that anymore.. are they?
Vote people, vote. We can no longer afford to think it will get better or the masses will vote them out when they screw up. It isn't happening. The masses aren't as informed as they should be - until it is too late.
In other words, $8.75 per hour is probably right in line with the region around MIT where recruiters were trying to pull people into... starting pay that is. Let's not forget all the other benefits like 401K, good dental, vision, and health insurance, etc. A lot more than just an hourly/weekly wage goes into a job package - even in these economic times.
HOW is this not a good thing overall? Not to mention the fact that it would be extremely easy to put a huge, flashing, bright red WARNING at the beginning of the kernel autoconf routine (which most people would probably ignore anyway) saying that "Recompiling your kernel can lead to serious damage to your system. We suggest that if you are not familiar with how and what this does, that you read up on the subject before attempting ANY recompile. Thank you, the (company of choice) Team." Then put in a disclaimer in the software package that doing a compile on the kernel and fscking up your system will cost you extra for tech support as these problems are very hard to diagnose.
Same as with labels on the bottom of Coke bottles in other nations stating "Open other end." :-p A little common sense and a warning/instruction can go a long way.
Oh well, mod me down... I'm late posting :-p
If the artists will get paid, and not the labels, I'd use it - especially if the .NAP gets hacked and I can use the music I just paid for on any system I own.
My .02 non-euro worth.
What I'd like to know though is - what phreaking User Interface are you currently deploying that can be licked to shut down/adduser/etc .. and is it "user" friendly *wink, wink*???
I'd bet the tons of porn outlets would pay dearly to have this UI added to their portals.. think of the revenue! The feedback! Oh, wait, feedback would be the revenue stream *blink* :-p
Before I get flamed - I'm not totally against Microsoft as I use some of their products in my daily life, I'm just getting really tired of them trying to "control all that you see and hear" to borrow a phrase.
What's next, make it illegal for the radio stations to play a complete song without interrupting it for the RIAA Copy-Protected Speech? "...today's Tom Sawyer, mean, mean stri.. we interrupt this classic song to inform you pirating this is against the RIAA. We now return you to the song in play.. today's.."
The sheer stupidity of the parties involved makes it clear they have lost touch with reality and only care about ripping.. er, reaping the profits from their artist :-p I give it no chance of really passing muster .. but I'll still contact my congressional reps.
It really is that simple. Let ANYONE take away one liberty you now enjoy in the name of and sooner rather than later "they" will insist on another because "any good citizen would do this" and then another and the dominos will fall as you lose more of your Constitutional and God-given rights. This trend has cost more people throughout the world their freedom than can be imagined. This is a very real theory that has toppled governments and countries.
The time to stand for what you belive in, for what rights and freedoms you have is NOW for there is not tomorrow once they are gone. Take the time to think it through rationally and put aside the gut-check reaction from the terrorist attack that screams "protect me!" I know, as do we all, that this was a horrific incident and that we should take more precautions and increase safety but that can be done by strengthening the protections in place without resorting to more laws that only law-abiding people will obey in the first place. A criminal is a criminal because they don't care and don't follow the law anyway. Giving up your freedoms and liberties for nothing gains you nothing.
Maybe FFFish should step back in time slightly and back the fuck up... America has donated more money and time to cleaning up the problems of the world than any other country in history. We helped to rebuild England and several other European nations after WWII and then forgave them all debts incurred. Many of those have never paid the US back nor paid any interest on the loans the US has made them since that time - and we're supposed to keep ponying up the cash to the rest of the world and the UN too? The same holds true for Japan, parts of Asia, South America, Canada, and several Third World nations. Now, what if America were to add up the amount of money we have loaned out, added in the interest, subtracted any amounts we owe and then foreclosed on all the loans? I'd be willing to bet America would then become the largest landlord the world has ever seen and then we could start taxing all the new subjects we have and pay our UN dues. Would you like to be annexed by the United States due to defaulting on your loans? Wouldn't that be some shit... all of you who were bitching about America not jumping into the middle of every action that happens in the world would then be considered "Americans!"
Specifically, let's use their Investor Relations e-mail address since anyone who owns an AMD processor is, technically, an investor :-)
Well, this brings to mind the fact that Amigas and the NewTek Toaster/Lightwave 3D were used to render Babylon 5 when it first appeared on the scene. Now they use Macs, DEC Alphas, and 12 Pentiums to do the job. Ahhh, the good old days ;-)
Errr, no, more like "Send in the Clones" :-p
This reading by choice (instead of the school forced reading) usually leads the young people of today and tomorrow onto the path of higher knowledge and better understanding. So, why not use the 'Net to extend this choice and create a better read society? Is not a well read society better able to make distinctions between FUD and fact? Between the technical and the trash?
Just food for thought...
There is a third possibilty - that the PAL (public at large) wakes the fuck up and realizes that we all need to extend and embrace Microsoft alternatives before it is too late and we get "locked-in" to a system that will do nothing but suck money.
The Enhanced911 documents were "stolen" from BellSouth and they were valued at some ungodly numbers. The people who wound up paying for the "crime" were three Atlanta area old-school hackers , dumpster divers and computer enthusiasts named The Prophet, Leftist, and Urvile (I do hope I have the last one spelled correctly - sorry if I don't, it's been awhile ;-p). I believe they all are doing quite well now...
"Profanity is the crutch of an inarticulate motherfucker" - Unkown
Quoting from the opening paragraph:
And under the Bill of Rights:
D. Due Process. Students have a right to due process in any disciplinary matter involving the possibility of substantial sanctions. This includes a right to be heard, a right to decision and review by impartial persons or bodies, and a right to adequate notice.
F. Freedom of Expression. Students have a right to examine and communicate ideas by any lawful means. Students may not be subject to discipline because of their constitutionally protected exercise of freedom of association, assembly, expression and the press.
So, it seems to me that under the school's very own rules our slashsiter has legal and school recourse. The ACLU will run with this...