If God used science to develop man from the carbon in the soil by trial and error, would that be any different from evolution?
If Cain and Abel went out into the world to take their wives from the *people* living elsewhere, where did they come from if not from *failed experiments*?
If God is eternal, then who's to say how long one of his *days* were? Could have been millions, perhaps billions of years.
Until science can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, without any holes in their theories, then Intelligent design is as good of a theory as any.
As far as the Judicial system goes, it is my opinion that it's unconstitutional for the Judicial system to declare anything regarding religion. As it clearly states that religion must be held separate from the state. That would indicate that the state (not government), which is made up of all 3 branches of the government would have NO say in how anyone (or groups) practiced religion. If a community decides to have ID taught in their schools, then the Judicial system CANNOT say that the community can't - they have NO say in the matter. It's up to the people to decide what they will and won't do in regards to religion.
Now, I'm not saying that it's okay for someone to declare that their religion mandates the murder of people, and therefore they cannot be tried for murder. However, deciding what is and isn't taught regarding religion vs. science, is not a murder case, and clearly is not a venue for the Judicial system.
The point that everyone, including the big-name ISPs are missing, is what this will mean to everyone else.
Case in point.
Let's say that a Verizon broadband customer buys service for a new Verizon VOIP product. Let's say that this same customer has a friend across the country, that is also a Verizon customer. They both get the new product, and one decides to call the other.
In todays market, that call will go from one end of the country to the other, with no impediment to it's packets (at least none that isn't applied to all traffic going through a certain subnet).
In the proposed market, let's say that to get from point A to point B, this traffic has to cross subnets owned by Sprint and Qwest.
Both Sprint and Qwest will throttle back the data as it's originated at, and destined for a foreign network.
Even though both customers are on Verizon's network, they get CRAP service due to the way the internet works.
Now, even though both customers paid Verizon for high speed VOIP service, Verizon couldn't deliver the goods because the user didn't pay Sprint and Qwest for that same service. Verizon sure as hell isn't going to pay Qwest and Sprint to speed up these connections as that would minimize their profit margins, so the customer gets shittier service, for a higher cost.
All this idea is, is a way to allow ISPs to charge more, for less service. My guess would be that they won't do anything but throw controls in that throttle foreign network traffic, or traffic that hasn't been paid for by the customer.
It's called patent search, they have tons of lawyers that are hired specifically for that purpose. If the patent is valid, there's bound to be a few heads rolling amongst the swine for missing it.
**Rant** **Soapbox** The problem isn't that we don't have ways to prevent (or reduce) most of these problems already. The problem is that our society has grown too lax in prosecution of the existing laws. I mean come on folks. 3 Strikes to get locked away for life?
Someone who rapes someone should be locked away for life. Someone who beats or sexually abuses children should be locked away for life. Someone who drinks and drives, should have their license revoked for life, and their vehicle crushed and deposited on their front lawn. (as long as there wasn't an accident involved) If there was an accident, and someone was killed, then life in prison, no chance of early out.
Now, any of these people who are given life sentences, will now, no longer be eligible for training, classes or re-education. What's the point? They'll never leave prison. Give them no priveleges. No books, no TV, no work-out time.
They get put to work, and the income produced from their labor is used to pay for their keep, and anything left over sent to the victim, or the victim's family(ies).
Now, will these types of enforcements cause a swell in prison populations? Only initially. Once the idiots realize that they'll never get to leave, or never get to drive, they'll stop. The remainder would be considered to be *sick* individuals and society would be better off with them locked up and forgotten. **Soapbox** **Rant**
As long as there is a web-site where I can sign up for the opt-out option, I'm okay with that... =D
j/k
It's dis-heartening to read about the daily decreases in our freedoms, rights and priveleges that are being announced all in the name of the "war against terrorism".
Let's just take the fight to them, as opposed to turning the US into a militarized zone.
LOL - I can just about imagine the "Business Requirements" document.
#1 Windows Server #2 Crap software written to only run on Windows. #3 Make it work on Linux, by spending weeks talking to the business unit, and figuring out that what they really wanted was a stripped down apache install on Linux.
The reason it takes longer to implement on Linux, is the fact that someone who manages a UNIX variant typically has to check out all software before it's loaded onto a server that is being used to server some number of other applications. That way, the admin will know whether or not the new software will cause a conflict with the old software.
Whereas the windows admin just goes out and purchases a new box, plops the software on it's own dedicated server and voila - instant mess to be dealt with by the firewall security managers.
Of course, I'm partial to UNIX variants (Linux included), and somewhat cynical, so YMMV.
Heh - but isn't a CD - digital audio -ie a stream of bits (just like a program), and isn't a CD/DVD player just a computer, designed to *run* the program (ie play the audio / movie)?
Are you going to tear apart a laptop that isn't there?
Are you going to bunk with bios settings that are locked via password, with a chassis that is locked so that you cannot open the case?
No, the systems are not configured to boot from CD-ROM, who the fuck do you think you're dealing with, your ignorant mother?
Did you know that most corporate networks have workstations that have USB DISABLED? so external drives never work... Obviously, you didn't.
So, the only way you're going to get the data, is if you physically STEAL the computer.
Pull your head out of your ass, and go work for Radio Shack, where you can pretend you know something.
Old hard drives are not thrown out - they are sent through an industrial chipper / shredder then sent to be melted down for scrap. And why, oh why would you *WHIP* your old hard drives. (i'll assume you meant wipe, but hell, I don't know)
Now, I don't know how much you spent on your *EDUKASHUN* (intentionally mis-spelled, so that you would UNDUHSTAND me), but you overpaid.
However, I consider it to be a necessary evil, so I just deal with it - or just spin the trackball every so often to prevent locking. BTW, you can adjust the grace period from screen-lock start til you have to enter a password to unlock. Mine is currently tuned to 8 seconds. If I am deep in thought, I let it go, if not, I nudge the trackball to *unlock* it.
You don't think that most administrators aren't going to notice something different about their workstation?
Couple that with the fact that only part of the authentication process is done via keyboard?
Each employee is given a small unit that we carry that has to be close enough to the workstation to be read, then we enter the remainder of our authentication tokens. It's part hardware, part manual entry. So even if they did read the keystrokes, they're not going to be able to *login* as an administrator. They would have to *mug* the admin, take their fob, and then attempt to log in as the admin while the admin is *unconcious*.
Quite a risky proposition.
Oh well, maybe not every company can afford all that lovely tech.
Of course, that should mean that the employees cannot afford the lovely, untraceable, unnoticeable keyboard logging dongle that you describe.
If someone is rich enough to be able to afford these, and can gain access to the premises in order to install them, then there is more at stake than some admin's PC.
Actually, all that has to be done, is to follow a clean desk policy.
Monitors need to be faced in such a way so that they cannot be viewed from the walkways. I also run mine at maximum resolution (1400x1150 for the laptop and 1600x1200 for the 20" second display) with small fonts so that my eyes are the only ones that can read anything displayed (unless someone looks directly over my shoulder).
Important papers have to be stored in locking cabinets/file drawers.
No sensitive information should be stored on the workstations. All sensitive information should be stored in a protected data-center type environment. File servers, host systems, database servers should all be protected. Workstations should be set to lock within a few minutes (mine is set for 2 minutes). I also have gotten into the habit of locking my workstation before I stand up for anything.
With no locally stored sensitive information, then the administrators PC is unable to be used as a tool to gain said information.
Cubicles are not necessarily evil, they are however, a fact of corporate life.
Don't be lazy, keep the information secure, rather than trusting a simple "door-lock" to keep unsecured data secure.
How many car manufacturers, or garages offer "free tuneups"? How many dealers would be allowed to stay in business if they were to install "tracking devices" during maintenance?
The problems we are dealing with, is that software (and hardware) can be supplied by almost anyone.
The less scrupulous the vendor, the more likely to offer "free" or "seriously discounted" prices on software, most of which are either old versions or hacked up software that is barely capable of doing the job they are being advertised for.
How many websites do you hit that say "click here for free computer checkup" or "your computer is infected, click here to clean up"?
What about cell phones and PDAs? these items are vulnerable to the latest classes of viruii being released into the wild.
None of the "software" manufacturers offer anti-virus software for cell phones and PDAs(at least to my knowledge) - which could cause the cell phones to be infected (due to security flaws in tools like blue-tooth) which are supposed to make cell phones and PDAs more interactive.
I guess what I'm getting at, is that today's society is all about "passing the buck" when it comes to being responsible.
Let's say that someone who isn't knowledgeable about computers, goes out and purchases the latest and greatest computer. Let's say that this same someone plugs this new, out of the box computer directly into their broadband connection (let's face it, ISPs do not really like you to put your own firewalls between them and you, so that they know exactly how many PCs are using the service). Now, within minutes of powering up, the PC is compromised and is now being used as a bot.
Where, in that analogy, does the customer have a chance to *patch* the security holes? At that time, it would truly be the manufacturers fault (and responsibility) to clean-up the problem and offer a better solution.
Now, we who spend a lot of time around slashdot all know better than to run a PC directly off of broad-band without some kind of firewall between our comps and the internet. We also know about which links not to click on the web.
Not everyone is as informed or has the proper aptitude that it comes to dealing with computers.
To take your driving analogy a little further.
To be allowed to "legally" drive, you have to have some form of drivers education before having a license issued. Then you have to have insurance as well as a license. Without a license and insurance (in case you do damage to yours or another's vehicle) you cannot legally drive (at least in most states).
It does NOT require any kind of instruction, nor license, nor insurance in order to operate a computer (or run software of most types). This would seem to imply that there are going to be uninformed computer owners doing all sorts of what we would term *stupid* human tricks.
Is this because the people are stupid? Or are they just uninformed? Some of the problems can be attributed to just plain laziness. However, to imply that every problem with computers such as viruii and bots are fully the responsibility of the computer owners is ridiculous.
I don't see public service broadcasts out there informing people that they need to "update" their software. I sure as hell don't see large "WARNING" stickers on their computers and laptops informing them of the dangers of NOT updating.
Before anyone can start deciding to "fine" people for ignorance, they need to make certain that everyone is informed of the risks and dangers in a clear and consistant manner.
How many *computer shops* build systems with no protection enabled, or without the latest updates already installed before the computer is delivered? How many spend little or no time informing their customers of the risks and dangers associated with the internet?
If we are going to fine people for ignorance, let's start with our congressmen. They are obviously ignorant for the most part, if they are actually considering this kind of legistlation.
"Negligence is a crime, and negligent computer users are quite responsible for the botnets/internet congestion/virus outbreaks which affect us all in some way (though some, but certainly not all, of that blame can be directed at vendors). We won't see any changes until we hold users responsible for their (in)actions."
BULLSHIT.
The writers of bots and viruses are responsible for those outbreaks!
The writers of the host operating systems that were *shipped* with obscene numbers of security holes are responsible for those outbreaks!
The users who are uninformed (ie - the box/manual doesn't say the software comes with security holes) are NOT responsible for the spread of malicious activity.
That's like saying the people who ride public transportation are responsible for the negligent amounts of polutants that city buses put into the air.
Let's start enforcing the laws we have.
Jail time for those who write viruses and bots.
Every time a new virus or bot hits the net, fine the company that sold the bug filled software that enabled the bot to run. Make the manufacturer responsible for the problems their incompetance (or negligence) caused.
If a car manufacturer sells vehicles that crash all the time, they are forced to do a recall.
If a hardware manufacturer sells computers / laptops that have a material defect that can cause harm or property damage, they are forced to recall.
If a software company releases software that causes (through bugs, incompetence, negligence) damage, financial harm, or physical harm (ie bad software controls for automatic equipment) they are somehow held NOT responsible?
If I write a piece of software designed to do a specific task, then state in the EULA that it may not be suitable for that purpose, and that in the end, it's the users responsibility to determine suitable (and in some cases, safe) functionality in that task, I get off with no responsibility or accountability?
I believe that any member of government who says that people in general should be fined because they take a product and use it by just plugging it in and running it as it was shipped by the manufacturer is, to put it bluntly, bull shit. It's just another ploy by less than intelligent, power hungry law makers blindly trying to find a culprit (in all the wrong places - as usual) and make some money off of it.
"pry my analog hole from my cold, dead hands" as there are only two forms of the word.
pry, or pried - I had assumed that the pries was an actual proper verb form, alas, it appears to be a slang form for "to pry" as in "try to pry" or "attempts to pry"
"While pouring over message board posts, you should have come to the conclusion that for all intents and purposes, the battle you are fighting is hopeless."
And no, it's not hopeless. As long as there are those who still have the drive and the will to correct the errors as they see them, there is still hope. =D
Let's roll out Internet II in the US alone, with edge tie-ins for the "internet", capped at sub T1 speed for the foreigners.. =D
I'm only partially joking of course. Not sure what the cap would / should be, however, within the US, there's really no "big" reason other than communications companies not wanting to bring all that dark fibre that they've buried to life (due to costs or worries that they won't recoupe their expenses on the older tech still in use now).
If you think of something, and don't let anyone else know what it is, then it can be considered to be your intellectual property.
Once someone else knows of the idea, then by rights, they also have an image of the item / topic being discussed.
This mental image is by and large different than the one that you have imagined. This would mean that the 2 people having the discussion (or reading the book, etc) have differing mental images of said topic. With differing mental images of the item in question, this would also mean that the two people have different views of what said object is. With these differing views, comes different "intellectual property". As there is no way for two individuals to take something that is ambiguous, like a description "It was a dark and stormy night", or "place resistor M1 across connections C23 and C25" and come up with the exact same physical object.
With this ambiguity comes a disconnect from the idea and the physical implementation.
To say that someone *owns* an idea is absurd. To say that someone owns the way the idea was implemented in a physical manifestation is not.
To paraphrase a common quote "There is nothing new under the sun". This would seem to imply that there are no new ideas, only new ways to physically implement them.
It's the implementation of the idea that can be owned, patended, copywrited, not the idea itself.
This is why the original patent office would not allow patents on software. It was only the "device" which implemented the software that could be patented.
Now, it seems to me that most *software* patents use terms like "device" to indicate the whole of the application as opposed to a physical device designed to run the application.
Depending on what it was that was patented (or copywritten) it could be akin to stating that you own the patent for the "method of highly oxygenating a carbon based material in a manner that induces heat and light to be released, while converting the original carbon based material to another carbon based material" to indicate that you've patented fire.
But hey, that's just my own opinion, which now that I've shared it, no longer belongs as an idea to just myself.
Slashdot Mirror
And you know that how? Were you here?
If God used science to develop man from the carbon in the soil by trial and error, would that be any different from evolution?
If Cain and Abel went out into the world to take their wives from the *people* living elsewhere, where did they come from if not from *failed experiments*?
If God is eternal, then who's to say how long one of his *days* were? Could have been millions, perhaps billions of years.
Until science can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, without any holes in their theories, then Intelligent design is as good of a theory as any.
As far as the Judicial system goes, it is my opinion that it's unconstitutional for the Judicial system to declare anything regarding religion. As it clearly states that religion must be held separate from the state. That would indicate that the state (not government), which is made up of all 3 branches of the government would have NO say in how anyone (or groups) practiced religion. If a community decides to have ID taught in their schools, then the Judicial system CANNOT say that the community can't - they have NO say in the matter. It's up to the people to decide what they will and won't do in regards to religion.
Now, I'm not saying that it's okay for someone to declare that their religion mandates the murder of people, and therefore they cannot be tried for murder. However, deciding what is and isn't taught regarding religion vs. science, is not a murder case, and clearly is not a venue for the Judicial system.
Oh, I forgot another item.
What happens when a Vonage user tries to call 911 where the 911 service is operated by Qwest?
If it's blocked by Qwest, aren't we talking SERIOUS law-suit time? That is, if the person calling 911 lives to sue them.
The point that everyone, including the big-name ISPs are missing, is what this will mean to everyone else.
Case in point.
Let's say that a Verizon broadband customer buys service for a new Verizon VOIP product.
Let's say that this same customer has a friend across the country, that is also a Verizon customer.
They both get the new product, and one decides to call the other.
In todays market, that call will go from one end of the country to the other, with no impediment to it's packets (at least none that isn't applied to all traffic going through a certain subnet).
In the proposed market, let's say that to get from point A to point B, this traffic has to cross subnets owned by Sprint and Qwest.
Both Sprint and Qwest will throttle back the data as it's originated at, and destined for a foreign network.
Even though both customers are on Verizon's network, they get CRAP service due to the way the internet works.
Now, even though both customers paid Verizon for high speed VOIP service, Verizon couldn't deliver the goods because the user didn't pay Sprint and Qwest for that same service. Verizon sure as hell isn't going to pay Qwest and Sprint to speed up these connections as that would minimize their profit margins, so the customer gets shittier service, for a higher cost.
All this idea is, is a way to allow ISPs to charge more, for less service.
My guess would be that they won't do anything but throw controls in that throttle foreign network traffic, or traffic that hasn't been paid for by the customer.
It will be the end of the Internet as we know it.
It's called patent search, they have tons of lawyers that are hired specifically for that purpose.
If the patent is valid, there's bound to be a few heads rolling amongst the swine for missing it.
Until you are the one under constant surveilance.
Then you'll cry "foul" and raise holy hell.
**Rant**
**Soapbox**
The problem isn't that we don't have ways to prevent (or reduce) most of these problems already.
The problem is that our society has grown too lax in prosecution of the existing laws.
I mean come on folks. 3 Strikes to get locked away for life?
Someone who rapes someone should be locked away for life.
Someone who beats or sexually abuses children should be locked away for life.
Someone who drinks and drives, should have their license revoked for life, and their vehicle crushed and deposited on their front lawn. (as long as there wasn't an accident involved) If there was an accident, and someone was killed, then life in prison, no chance of early out.
Now, any of these people who are given life sentences, will now, no longer be eligible for training, classes or re-education. What's the point? They'll never leave prison. Give them no priveleges.
No books, no TV, no work-out time.
They get put to work, and the income produced from their labor is used to pay for their keep, and anything left over sent to the victim, or the victim's family(ies).
Now, will these types of enforcements cause a swell in prison populations?
Only initially. Once the idiots realize that they'll never get to leave, or never get to drive, they'll stop. The remainder would be considered to be *sick* individuals and society would be better off with them locked up and forgotten.
**Soapbox**
**Rant**
As long as there is a web-site where I can sign up for the opt-out option, I'm okay with that... =D
j/k
It's dis-heartening to read about the daily decreases in our freedoms, rights and priveleges that are being announced all in the name of the "war against terrorism".
Let's just take the fight to them, as opposed to turning the US into a militarized zone.
LOL - I can just about imagine the "Business Requirements" document.
#1 Windows Server
#2 Crap software written to only run on Windows.
#3 Make it work on Linux, by spending weeks talking to the business unit, and figuring out that what they really wanted was a stripped down apache install on Linux.
The reason it takes longer to implement on Linux, is the fact that someone who manages a UNIX variant typically has to check out all software before it's loaded onto a server that is being used to server some number of other applications. That way, the admin will know whether or not the new software will cause a conflict with the old software.
Whereas the windows admin just goes out and purchases a new box, plops the software on it's own dedicated server and voila - instant mess to be dealt with by the firewall security managers.
Of course, I'm partial to UNIX variants (Linux included), and somewhat cynical, so YMMV.
Especially if the confuse Blu-Ray with Ray-Ban and decide that the Blu-Rays are bad for their eyesight
The user thought they were defining their own new acronym.
Those funny acronym guys.
So what it seems like you are saying (or at least implying) is this.
If it only FUCKS over the little guy, then fuck it - it's okay.
However, if it fucks over a big fish - then shit - we have to prosecute.
There's something distinctly wrong with that, and I really hope that that was not your intent.
Code 1: 1A
Code 2: 1A2B
Code 3: 1A2B-3
What's the final code?
Heh - but isn't a CD - digital audio -ie a stream of bits (just like a program), and isn't a CD/DVD player just a computer, designed to *run* the program (ie play the audio / movie)?
So, spend $30.00 to $100.00 and get a nice set of noise-cancelling headphones.
They work relatively well, and can often be used to put out relaxing white noise as well.
Cough! Bull-shit! Cough!
Are you going to tear apart a laptop that isn't there?
Are you going to bunk with bios settings that are locked via password, with a chassis that is locked so that you cannot open the case?
No, the systems are not configured to boot from CD-ROM, who the fuck do you think you're dealing with, your ignorant mother?
Did you know that most corporate networks have workstations that have USB DISABLED? so external drives never work... Obviously, you didn't.
So, the only way you're going to get the data, is if you physically STEAL the computer.
Pull your head out of your ass, and go work for Radio Shack, where you can pretend you know something.
Old hard drives are not thrown out - they are sent through an industrial chipper / shredder then sent to be melted down for scrap. And why, oh why would you *WHIP* your old hard drives. (i'll assume you meant wipe, but hell, I don't know)
Now, I don't know how much you spent on your *EDUKASHUN* (intentionally mis-spelled, so that you would UNDUHSTAND me), but you overpaid.
LOL - Yes, actually I do.
However, I consider it to be a necessary evil, so I just deal with it - or just spin the trackball every so often to prevent locking. BTW, you can adjust the grace period from screen-lock start til you have to enter a password to unlock. Mine is currently tuned to 8 seconds. If I am deep in thought, I let it go, if not, I nudge the trackball to *unlock* it.
And that would be done how?
You don't think that most administrators aren't going to notice something different about their workstation?
Couple that with the fact that only part of the authentication process is done via keyboard?
Each employee is given a small unit that we carry that has to be close enough to the workstation to be read, then we enter the remainder of our authentication tokens. It's part hardware, part manual entry. So even if they did read the keystrokes, they're not going to be able to *login* as an administrator. They would have to *mug* the admin, take their fob, and then attempt to log in as the admin while the admin is *unconcious*.
Quite a risky proposition.
Oh well, maybe not every company can afford all that lovely tech.
Of course, that should mean that the employees cannot afford the lovely, untraceable, unnoticeable keyboard logging dongle that you describe.
If someone is rich enough to be able to afford these, and can gain access to the premises in order to install them, then there is more at stake than some admin's PC.
Actually, all that has to be done, is to follow a clean desk policy.
Monitors need to be faced in such a way so that they cannot be viewed from the walkways.
I also run mine at maximum resolution (1400x1150 for the laptop and 1600x1200 for the 20" second display) with small fonts so that my eyes are the only ones that can read anything displayed (unless someone looks directly over my shoulder).
Important papers have to be stored in locking cabinets/file drawers.
No sensitive information should be stored on the workstations. All sensitive information should be stored in a protected data-center type environment. File servers, host systems, database servers should all be protected. Workstations should be set to lock within a few minutes (mine is set for 2 minutes). I also have gotten into the habit of locking my workstation before I stand up for anything.
With no locally stored sensitive information, then the administrators PC is unable to be used as a tool to gain said information.
Cubicles are not necessarily evil, they are however, a fact of corporate life.
Don't be lazy, keep the information secure, rather than trusting a simple "door-lock" to keep unsecured data secure.
How many car manufacturers, or garages offer "free tuneups"?
How many dealers would be allowed to stay in business if they were to install "tracking devices" during maintenance?
The problems we are dealing with, is that software (and hardware) can be supplied by almost anyone.
The less scrupulous the vendor, the more likely to offer "free" or "seriously discounted" prices on software, most of which are either old versions or hacked up software that is barely capable of doing the job they are being advertised for.
How many websites do you hit that say "click here for free computer checkup" or "your computer is infected, click here to clean up"?
What about cell phones and PDAs? these items are vulnerable to the latest classes of viruii being released into the wild.
None of the "software" manufacturers offer anti-virus software for cell phones and PDAs(at least to my knowledge) - which could cause the cell phones to be infected (due to security flaws in tools like blue-tooth) which are supposed to make cell phones and PDAs more interactive.
I guess what I'm getting at, is that today's society is all about "passing the buck" when it comes to being responsible.
Let's say that someone who isn't knowledgeable about computers, goes out and purchases the latest and greatest computer. Let's say that this same someone plugs this new, out of the box computer directly into their broadband connection (let's face it, ISPs do not really like you to put your own firewalls between them and you, so that they know exactly how many PCs are using the service). Now, within minutes of powering up, the PC is compromised and is now being used as a bot.
Where, in that analogy, does the customer have a chance to *patch* the security holes? At that time, it would truly be the manufacturers fault (and responsibility) to clean-up the problem and offer a better solution.
Now, we who spend a lot of time around slashdot all know better than to run a PC directly off of broad-band without some kind of firewall between our comps and the internet. We also know about which links not to click on the web.
Not everyone is as informed or has the proper aptitude that it comes to dealing with computers.
To take your driving analogy a little further.
To be allowed to "legally" drive, you have to have some form of drivers education before having a license issued. Then you have to have insurance as well as a license. Without a license and insurance (in case you do damage to yours or another's vehicle) you cannot legally drive (at least in most states).
It does NOT require any kind of instruction, nor license, nor insurance in order to operate a computer (or run software of most types). This would seem to imply that there are going to be uninformed computer owners doing all sorts of what we would term *stupid* human tricks.
Is this because the people are stupid? Or are they just uninformed? Some of the problems can be attributed to just plain laziness. However, to imply that every problem with computers such as viruii and bots are fully the responsibility of the computer owners is ridiculous.
I don't see public service broadcasts out there informing people that they need to "update" their software. I sure as hell don't see large "WARNING" stickers on their computers and laptops informing them of the dangers of NOT updating.
Before anyone can start deciding to "fine" people for ignorance, they need to make certain that everyone is informed of the risks and dangers in a clear and consistant manner.
How many *computer shops* build systems with no protection enabled, or without the latest updates already installed before the computer is delivered? How many spend little or no time informing their customers of the risks and dangers associated with the internet?
If we are going to fine people for ignorance, let's start with our congressmen. They are obviously ignorant for the most part, if they are actually considering this kind of legistlation.
"Negligence is a crime, and negligent computer users are quite responsible for the botnets/internet congestion/virus outbreaks which affect us all in some way (though some, but certainly not all, of that blame can be directed at vendors). We won't see any changes until we hold users responsible for their (in)actions."
BULLSHIT.
The writers of bots and viruses are responsible for those outbreaks!
The writers of the host operating systems that were *shipped* with obscene numbers of security holes are responsible for those outbreaks!
The users who are uninformed (ie - the box/manual doesn't say the software comes with security holes) are NOT responsible for the spread of malicious activity.
That's like saying the people who ride public transportation are responsible for the negligent amounts of polutants that city buses put into the air.
Let's start enforcing the laws we have.
Jail time for those who write viruses and bots.
Every time a new virus or bot hits the net, fine the company that sold the bug filled software that enabled the bot to run. Make the manufacturer responsible for the problems their incompetance (or negligence) caused.
If a car manufacturer sells vehicles that crash all the time, they are forced to do a recall.
If a hardware manufacturer sells computers / laptops that have a material defect that can cause harm or property damage, they are forced to recall.
If a software company releases software that causes (through bugs, incompetence, negligence) damage, financial harm, or physical harm (ie bad software controls for automatic equipment) they are somehow held NOT responsible?
If I write a piece of software designed to do a specific task, then state in the EULA that it may not be suitable for that purpose, and that in the end, it's the users responsibility to determine suitable (and in some cases, safe) functionality in that task, I get off with no responsibility or accountability?
I believe that any member of government who says that people in general should be fined because they take a product and use it by just plugging it in and running it as it was shipped by the manufacturer is, to put it bluntly, bull shit. It's just another ploy by less than intelligent, power hungry law makers blindly trying to find a culprit (in all the wrong places - as usual) and make some money off of it.
hmmm...
It appears that I was mistaken.
"pry my analog hole from my cold, dead hands" as there are only two forms of the word.
pry, or pried - I had assumed that the pries was an actual proper verb form, alas, it appears to be a slang form for "to pry" as in "try to pry" or "attempts to pry"
oh well
What? The statement about hole from cold, dead hands?
Or the statement that your hole is a prize?
pries my analog hole from my cold, dead hands if I read your intent correctly...
"While pouring over message board posts, you should have come to the conclusion that for all intents and purposes, the battle you are fighting is hopeless."
And no, it's not hopeless. As long as there are those who still have the drive and the will to correct the errors as they see them, there is still hope. =D
Give them control over the Internet I say.
Let's roll out Internet II in the US alone, with edge tie-ins for the "internet", capped at sub T1 speed for the foreigners.. =D
I'm only partially joking of course. Not sure what the cap would / should be, however, within the US, there's really no "big" reason other than communications companies not wanting to bring all that dark fibre that they've buried to life (due to costs or worries that they won't recoupe their expenses on the older tech still in use now).
Hmmm...
If not intellectual property, then what?
Data
Information
Body of work
If you think of something, and don't let anyone else know what it is, then it can be considered to be your intellectual property.
Once someone else knows of the idea, then by rights, they also have an image of the item / topic being discussed.
This mental image is by and large different than the one that you have imagined. This would mean that the 2 people having the discussion (or reading the book, etc) have differing mental images of said topic. With differing mental images of the item in question, this would also mean that the two people have different views of what said object is. With these differing views, comes different "intellectual property". As there is no way for two individuals to take something that is ambiguous, like a description "It was a dark and stormy night", or "place resistor M1 across connections C23 and C25" and come up with the exact same physical object.
With this ambiguity comes a disconnect from the idea and the physical implementation.
To say that someone *owns* an idea is absurd. To say that someone owns the way the idea was implemented in a physical manifestation is not.
To paraphrase a common quote "There is nothing new under the sun". This would seem to imply that there are no new ideas, only new ways to physically implement them.
It's the implementation of the idea that can be owned, patended, copywrited, not the idea itself.
This is why the original patent office would not allow patents on software. It was only the "device" which implemented the software that could be patented.
Now, it seems to me that most *software* patents use terms like "device" to indicate the whole of the application as opposed to a physical device designed to run the application.
Depending on what it was that was patented (or copywritten) it could be akin to stating that you own the patent for the "method of highly oxygenating a carbon based material in a manner that induces heat and light to be released, while converting the original carbon based material to another carbon based material" to indicate that you've patented fire.
But hey, that's just my own opinion, which now that I've shared it, no longer belongs as an idea to just myself.
No, we should not be managed, watch-dogged or even monitored by our property.
If we don't own it, then don't bother *selling* it.
If you wish to call it renting, or leasing, then call it that.
FYI- there is *NO* such thing as Intellectual Property. It doesn't exist. It's not a material object.