I wouldn't feel safe not answering all of the "Out of Area" and "Unknown" calls... who knows maybe it's your wife from a pay phone after her car broke down.
Just out of curiosity...don't most people have an answering machine that lets them screen their calls? I mean, if my wife actually has trouble in her car and calls me from a payphone, I'd guess she'd leave a message that starts out, "Pick up, it's me."
Why would you not feel safe not answering calls? Just screen them.
I have an uncle who has been screening-only all his calls for 15 years. They simply don't answer the phone. It rings once, the answering machine picks up, and you start rambling some witty shit about them never answering their phone.
Works like a charm, and those who don't know them don't leave messages. Those who do, and with whom they want to talk, get an answer. They shut off the machine during meals and movies. I think it was smart, and saves them enough to buy a pizza once a year for what they'd have spent on Caller ID.
All just to set a few bits in your record in the switch. And it takes hours, if not days, for those bits to get flipped.
Slightly OT, I know, but I noticed this a coupla months ago.
When we got a call with an offer to join Comcast's Platinum Ultra-Cool MegaSuperGiant digital cable plan for $60 a month, we went for it. It was a pain, and even though we already had the digital cable box, it took 9 days to get it turned on. No call by a professional, nothing like that. Just flip the damned switch, right? I called several times and said, "Can't you just TURN IT ON?!" They said "We can't do that. It has to go through corporate, and THEY have to do it. We have no control over your service."
We were cutting costs at home to save some dough, and figured we'd shut off the now $90 a month cable - turn it back to just basic. So, I made the phone call one evening at about 9:30 while my wife and I were watching a show. I relayed my reasons to the lady, not enough time to watch it all, bad for the kids, blah blah, and she said, "Ok, sir, I can take care of *CLICK**FLASH* that. Anything else I can do for you?"
Excuse me? "What was...? Did you just turn off our cable?" "Yes, sir. I submitted the cancellation just a second ago. It shouldn't take too long."
WTF?!?! "You turned of my fucking cable with a tap of a key but it took me NINE GODDAMNED DAYS to get it turned ON?!?!"
"Well, uhhh, sir, uhhh, it's a much more complex process to get it turned on - it's got to be routed, programmed, and uhhhh..." So, I said, as calmly as possible, "Bullshit. Turn it off. All of it. Absolute bullshit." and I hung up loudly.
Well, I agree 100%, in that light. The larger software companies could well go to a training-based model, and make lots of money by giving away "educational" or "training-only" versions.
The only problem I see is that they _don't_ do it currently, so the fact that they don't but should shouldn't be a reason for unauthorized software copies. I personally think that the bank should give me a loan because I have a great business idea, and I know I'd make them lots of money and repay the loan with interest. But if they don't give it to me, I don't have the right to go in and take it, on the premise that they "should" or "it makes business sense - you just can't see it". That's my only problem. I also have registered Premier and Photoshop and AfterEffects. They cost me a bundle, and their use is on my resume. I used to steal software, but when I realized that my career stability could be based on my dishonesty, and that I made the same sorts of stuff I didn't want other people stealing, I stopped, threw away my backups, and actually started paying for it all.
But I agree, your plan is an excellent one. Just wait until it gets implemented, so you're not accused of theft.:)
If I were to download Photoshop with Kazaa, spend time learning how to use it, and enhancing my job prospects I would quite likely end up joining a company who would buy a Photoshop license for me to use. So my Piracy would have directly resulted in economic gain for Adobe, why the hell they should be bothered about the everyday Joe dling it I don't know.
Out of curiosity, what if the opposite were true? What if you were looking for a job and didn't steal the software just to enhance your skills? What if you went out and bought a copy, THEN learned how to use it in order to _get_ a job with which you could display your skills?
I know it probably wouldn't happen in today's world of "Hey, it's free, and I'm not really STEALING anything, just copying it!" but if you couldn't get a copy off of any fileshare, and had to purchase it, would you switch careers or forego the job? Or simply pony up the cash and buy the damned thing?
I guess I see a lot of the ends justifying the means around here. If you buy the thing to learn it, Adobe's made their money, and will probably make more. If you steal the thing the learn it and then talk your company into buying it, is that your justification? Is it alright, then?
If I steal $100k from my bank because I think I can get them $200k next week with my investment, and I do, is it then right? Or am I just making excuses for not paying for it? If I end up making $250k instead (which is what happens when you steal and learn Photoshop - you still retain that knowledge after you leave the job) do you give that back, too? And, God forbid, what if you don't get the job? Do you write a letter to Adobe apologizing and sending them a check for the license fees?
Thought not.
Re:Y'all don't seem to understand.
on
P2P Meets Push
·
· Score: 3, Funny
I've got all this pr0n, and all this bandwidth... but no IPs to share it with.
*hands shaking...*
Ok, write this down. 12.225.189.24
I love you.
Re:No, you're not retarded
on
Making Change
·
· Score: 2, Funny
Oh, yeah, I also want the only jangling sound when I walk to be from my big brass ones.
I don't think those Sacagaweas "ones" are really brass - they just look it.
In fact, that tactic was something I think I read here on/. - something about a guy calling the cops for fraud or something.
Yes, though, it was a complete bluff, and I wouldn't really bother a 911 dispatcher with something pissy like this. If I caused even one person in pain or injury a second more of suffering, I would regret it. Besides, I think I would have sauntered away from the counter pretending to talk to them if she'd called my bluff, but I saw the look on her face as I was dialing. Not a chance she would have called me on it.
:)
But as far as real rights, I would guess that fraud would be the only thing I'd have a leg to stand on, legally. It says DVD but won't play on my DVD player. How do I know my DVD player isn't out of spec? Or broken? I guess it wouldn't even be something I'd pursue, except maybe to small claims court for my money back. And in that case, a letter of filing would probably be enough for Walmart to drop the whole thing.
No, I don't have a set top player anymore since my 5-year-old one died a miserable death. In fact, the errors I got in each were something like "Due to a problem with Digital Rights, this media cannot be played at this time". So, it could have been my own damn fault for something, but seeing as I have a 100+ DVDs that play fine (haven't purchsed one in a year or two, though) that SOMEthing has to be wrong with it... It could sincerely have been a bad DVD, but the copyright data of 2003 and the Digital Rights warning were enough for me.
I bought a re-released DVD the other day from Walmart made by MGM. It was an 80's movie, but re-released under some new profit scam, I'm sure, in 2003.
I took it home, and...you guessed it. It wouldn't play with WMP 8, Real, or WinDVD in any of 4 drives I tried on two machines. I did find some old shareware player that would play it, but it was a crap player, and I couldn't stand the jumpiness, digital blocking, and other fine artifacts whilst I watched.
So, I trotted it's little shiny ass right back to Walmart, stood in line for 20 minutes, and, after reading the "no refunds on opened CDs, DVDs or Software" about 412 times, I got to the front of the line. I handed the 17 year old girl my DVD, which she inspected closely.
"Yeah, it's been opened," I said. "It's ok. I just need a refund." "Uhhhh, sir? We don't really...ummm...do refunds...on...ummm...opened...uhhh...stuff like this."
I grinned, and said, "That's ok. Just need my money back, thanks. It doesn't work." I was thinking to myself, how do I explain DVD copy protection to this girl without making her head explode or having her gnaw her arm off to escape?
"Well, I can't really...ummm...give a refund on this. Would you like to exchange it for another one?" "Nope," I said with a smile. "Just my money back. Thanks."
She pointed to the tiny sign about no refunds on DVDs and said "Well, we have a policy..." I interrupted her with my best Fargo-esque Minnesota accent, "Hey, you betcha. Y'know...Yeah, I see your big sign right there...yeah, that one. Hey, that's great. 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' Wow. That sign's gotta be 12 feet tall, huh? Dontcha figure that sorta makes this little one here not really all that important?" She stared at me blankly (We're in Portland, not Minnesota, and I don't think she got it.)
"Yeah, ummm...I'm gonna have to call my manager." "Not a problem," says I, with a chorus of groans from the people in line behind me...So, the manager shows up, and she's gotta be at LEAST 19, with a cool ring of keys around her wrist. GOTTA be important stuff, huh? The clerk hands her the DVD with a conspiratorial look at me..."it's been opened..." she whispers quietly to the manager.
So, after a 5 minute diatribe about the horrors of this copy protection crap, she just shook her head, "We can't return this." At which point I pulled out my cell phone (which was off), punched 911 so she could see me, and said, "Are you suure? I've got nothing else to do tonight."
So, I got my money back.
Return your DEFECTIVE DVDs and CDs. If we don't, all we're doing is encouraging them!
Well, not to beat the dead horse back to life, but WOW. 'Cloistered' I haven't heard for years, much less being _called_ it. But, thanks. I think.
But goddamnit, you HAVE to argue this one, don't you? I'm not arguing my credentials with you. I'm not getting into some stupid flame war over this. I made ONE statement of obvious fact. That is : Recent versions of windows are EASIER TO UPDATE than recent versions of Linux. Any distro, any flavor. I've used RECENT versions of Redhat and Suse, and older versions of Slackware, Debian and Redhat and I consistently find that, through the Windows lifetime, it's gotten easier to update a single copy of windows, to the point that it's now as simple as point and click. Not hunt and point and click. Not >man dpkg, not >apt-get --help or >apropos update or any of that happy horseshit. Simply click on a box that pops up and asks you to update Windows.
Now, argue THAT. Not anything else. Argue to me that for the average idiot user, let's say Redhat Linux 7.x or Windows 2000, it is HARDER TO CLICK A SINGLE BUTTON TO UPDATE than it is to type a SINGLE FUCKING LETTER ON THE KEYBOARD. Don't criticize me, don't argue about whether or not I know Linux or how to set up ipchains to allow your downstream folks to get ppm to work through your firewall, or about how WinDOS is such a shitty piece of software. I don't care. I have better things to do than argue about those. My original point was that it's easier to update a Windows box, with their automated notification and GUI than it is to use apt-get or dpkg or even some GUI tool in Linux. When the OS pops up a window asking you to update, that's just plain stupid simple. That's still my point, and if you still don't see it, don't reply. We have differing opinions on this one.
Seriously, it DOES work that way. I use Linux, BSD and Windows all day long. I see how the Windows machines update. I see how the Linux boxes update. I see the kernel recompiles and the command line updates. I see all this crap that other people come to ME for to get done. And then I see the Windows idiots, happily cranking away with their word docs and DevStudio projects and Outlook, with nary a complaint about updates. They happen automagically as long as they're doing them when they pop up. I didn't say Windows couldn't be cryptic. It can be, ridiculously so. But I think you should give credit to them for designing a sometimes-working, usually simple interface for updates that your grandma can do without calling you.
Anytime any "joe schmoe" tries to upgrade a WinDOS box, they go crying to their local Linux zealot for rescue.
Yeah, you're completely right, there. Except for what you said.
"nasty cryptic commandlines" Don't misquote me, I didn't say anything about "nasty cryptic commandlines", as I am a Linux developer, thanks. I don't think they're nasty or cryptic. But to a Windows idiot, admit it, it's easier to click yes and reboot than to figure out some command line.
That's odd. I didn't see ANY commandline switches in that example.
So, what would you call dpkg -i? A cl "option"? Sorry for my poor discrimination between / and -. But give me a break. Windows is made so any Joe Schmoe can upgrade it. Intentionally. And so it's easy and won't break. Nothing was said about administration or anything else. Trust me...to the average user, who doesn't want a headache, clicking yes and rebooting is MUCH easier than trying to figure out some text-only update command with options. I think it's a breeze, myself, but it's far more complex, and thus, a headache to the regular user. It's made to be stupid easy. Not powerful, or configurable, or anything a./'er would expect from an OS, but updating is EASY in the newer Windows products.
I probably messed that up, but in Windows it's much more of a headache
Yeah, gotta admit, remembering some cryptic commands and command line switches that you don't even know and will probably fuck your machine up if you goober them is MUCH more of a headache then a little popup that says, "Updates are available and have been downloaded for you. Would you like to install them now?"
Furthermore,.m4a at 128 kbps is so much better than MP3 at 128 kbps that I'm reripping my whole library of 400+ CD's.
Huh? (Sorry, it's hard to pull an Ellen in text)
What are you talking about? What sort of encoder are you using? MP4 and MP3 both can use multiple audio encoders...the MP4 is just a wrapper and presentation. There's no reason (that I'm aware of, I could be a moron) that it should sound different. Or be a different size.
Where's Ben Wagonner when you need him to set you straight? I'm confused.
...consider using your favourite P2P app any time you want to download a Paint Shop Pro trial or whatever; ie, any file you'd automatically turn to the web to download. This is a small thing that everyone can do to help, and means that no-one can make the "no legitimate use" case.
I'm not trolling here, but...If we have to go out of the way to try and make it look legitimate, isn't its primary use fairly illegitimate? I mean, if I know I'm going to get better download speed and reliability downloading PSP demos from the software manufacturer, why would I try to "con" anyone into thinking that P2P was legit by doing it otherwise? To try and beef up the appearance of real, fair use?
Sounds like a pretty weak argumentative leg to stand on, to me...
I completely approve of P2P, but I'm not going to try and make it look more legal. Let them get a real scenario, instead of padding it with crap downloads...
Do people get to live nomal lives after coming out of prison? No. They get 20 bucks or whatever they came in with, and kicked out, and given no time to adjust to society.
Gotta call bullshit on this. You've been watching too much Shawshank or Magnum yourself.
In actuality, the majority of people coming out of prison _DO_ get time to adjust to a normal life. They aren't put on a bus and told to get out. That's only for people who have filled out their entire prison term. Most people don't fill out their entire prison term. They are released early on parole to save money and beds in prison. Most, if not all (that I'm aware of) violent prisoners and "hard" felons - assaults, robbery, rape, murder, etc. - are not even released immediately. They're put into a facility or halfway house. They have to follow a "level" program that requires that they follow some rules - these are things like 1) get a stable job (yes, they help) - 2) save some money with a budget and a bank account - 3) live by the rules - 4) see your PO consistently to make sure you're on track.
The quickest way to get out into society again via these halfway houses is to follow the rules - you get a job, buy your groceries, stay out of trouble, get some furloughs, and then, you "graduate" to full release, on conditions of parole or probation. If you don't follow the rules, you can get busted back down to your entrance level, or sent back to prison to fill out more of your term.
So, don't simply assume that prisoners are put back on the streets. There's a complex and well-organized program of supervision and rules to follow, unless you fill out your entire term. Which, in this economy, is nearly impossible. What they mean when they say "20 years, out in 7", is that you are sentenced to 20 years, commit no felonies _in_ prison, are released in 6.5 years to a halfway house, spend 4 - 6 months in the halfway house, then, assuming you're still following the rules of society, you are released into a parole program for 4 more years so someone can keep tabs on you - weekly visits, random drug tests, can't leave the county , that sort of thing - stricter rules than normal citizens - THEN you can be released back into society to try to live out your normal life.
So, it's not a simple, "Here's your $20 - get the fuck out." Prison systems do a thankless and difficult job of trying to get convicts back on the streets in the sanest and safest manner they can.
And yes, I was put in prison when I was 18 - convicted of felony assault for attacking a 35-year-old guy who hit my girlfriend. I've been through the program. It works. I was a violent kid. I've been in no trouble for 15 years, and I have had a good, stable career and a Masters in CS/BS in Math for about 8 years, now. It doesn't ruin your life. It SUCKS, but doesn't destroy you if you don't let it. I've got a wife, 7-year-old child, a nice house in an old neighborhood, a moderately stable job...
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Just out of curiosity...don't most people have an answering machine that lets them screen their calls? I mean, if my wife actually has trouble in her car and calls me from a payphone, I'd guess she'd leave a message that starts out, "Pick up, it's me."
Why would you not feel safe not answering calls? Just screen them.
I have an uncle who has been screening-only all his calls for 15 years. They simply don't answer the phone. It rings once, the answering machine picks up, and you start rambling some witty shit about them never answering their phone.
Works like a charm, and those who don't know them don't leave messages. Those who do, and with whom they want to talk, get an answer. They shut off the machine during meals and movies. I think it was smart, and saves them enough to buy a pizza once a year for what they'd have spent on Caller ID.
Slightly OT, I know, but I noticed this a coupla months ago.
When we got a call with an offer to join Comcast's Platinum Ultra-Cool MegaSuperGiant digital cable plan for $60 a month, we went for it. It was a pain, and even though we already had the digital cable box, it took 9 days to get it turned on. No call by a professional, nothing like that. Just flip the damned switch, right? I called several times and said, "Can't you just TURN IT ON?!" They said "We can't do that. It has to go through corporate, and THEY have to do it. We have no control over your service."
We were cutting costs at home to save some dough, and figured we'd shut off the now $90 a month cable - turn it back to just basic. So, I made the phone call one evening at about 9:30 while my wife and I were watching a show. I relayed my reasons to the lady, not enough time to watch it all, bad for the kids, blah blah, and she said, "Ok, sir, I can take care of *CLICK**FLASH* that. Anything else I can do for you?"
Excuse me? "What was...? Did you just turn off our cable?" "Yes, sir. I submitted the cancellation just a second ago. It shouldn't take too long."
WTF?!?! "You turned of my fucking cable with a tap of a key but it took me NINE GODDAMNED DAYS to get it turned ON?!?!"
"Well, uhhh, sir, uhhh, it's a much more complex process to get it turned on - it's got to be routed, programmed, and uhhhh..." So, I said, as calmly as possible, "Bullshit. Turn it off. All of it. Absolute bullshit." and I hung up loudly.
So, we're not getting charged for cable anymore.
But it's still turned on.
Well, that sucks...
The only problem I see is that they _don't_ do it currently, so the fact that they don't but should shouldn't be a reason for unauthorized software copies. I personally think that the bank should give me a loan because I have a great business idea, and I know I'd make them lots of money and repay the loan with interest. But if they don't give it to me, I don't have the right to go in and take it, on the premise that they "should" or "it makes business sense - you just can't see it". That's my only problem. I also have registered Premier and Photoshop and AfterEffects. They cost me a bundle, and their use is on my resume. I used to steal software, but when I realized that my career stability could be based on my dishonesty, and that I made the same sorts of stuff I didn't want other people stealing, I stopped, threw away my backups, and actually started paying for it all.
But I agree, your plan is an excellent one. Just wait until it gets implemented, so you're not accused of theft. :)
If I were to download Photoshop with Kazaa, spend time learning how to use it, and enhancing my job prospects I would quite likely end up joining a company who would buy a Photoshop license for me to use. So my Piracy would have directly resulted in economic gain for Adobe, why the hell they should be bothered about the everyday Joe dling it I don't know.
Out of curiosity, what if the opposite were true? What if you were looking for a job and didn't steal the software just to enhance your skills? What if you went out and bought a copy, THEN learned how to use it in order to _get_ a job with which you could display your skills?
I know it probably wouldn't happen in today's world of "Hey, it's free, and I'm not really STEALING anything, just copying it!" but if you couldn't get a copy off of any fileshare, and had to purchase it, would you switch careers or forego the job? Or simply pony up the cash and buy the damned thing?
I guess I see a lot of the ends justifying the means around here. If you buy the thing to learn it, Adobe's made their money, and will probably make more. If you steal the thing the learn it and then talk your company into buying it, is that your justification? Is it alright, then?
If I steal $100k from my bank because I think I can get them $200k next week with my investment, and I do, is it then right? Or am I just making excuses for not paying for it? If I end up making $250k instead (which is what happens when you steal and learn Photoshop - you still retain that knowledge after you leave the job) do you give that back, too? And, God forbid, what if you don't get the job? Do you write a letter to Adobe apologizing and sending them a check for the license fees?
Thought not.
*hands shaking...*
Ok, write this down. 12.225.189.24
I love you.
I don't think those Sacagaweas "ones" are really brass - they just look it.
Sorry. Couldn't resist.
I just tried to picture a penny...is it round or would my head explode if I could actually picture it?
Uhhh...did anyone else have to use a calculator or pencil for this one and go, "Oh, I get it. Those idiot cashiers."?
...snicker...
Uhhh, can I have the sucky card?
Please?
Yes, though, it was a complete bluff, and I wouldn't really bother a 911 dispatcher with something pissy like this. If I caused even one person in pain or injury a second more of suffering, I would regret it. Besides, I think I would have sauntered away from the counter pretending to talk to them if she'd called my bluff, but I saw the look on her face as I was dialing. Not a chance she would have called me on it.
:)
But as far as real rights, I would guess that fraud would be the only thing I'd have a leg to stand on, legally. It says DVD but won't play on my DVD player. How do I know my DVD player isn't out of spec? Or broken? I guess it wouldn't even be something I'd pursue, except maybe to small claims court for my money back. And in that case, a letter of filing would probably be enough for Walmart to drop the whole thing.
No, I don't have a set top player anymore since my 5-year-old one died a miserable death. In fact, the errors I got in each were something like "Due to a problem with Digital Rights, this media cannot be played at this time". So, it could have been my own damn fault for something, but seeing as I have a 100+ DVDs that play fine (haven't purchsed one in a year or two, though) that SOMEthing has to be wrong with it... It could sincerely have been a bad DVD, but the copyright data of 2003 and the Digital Rights warning were enough for me.
I took it home, and...you guessed it. It wouldn't play with WMP 8, Real, or WinDVD in any of 4 drives I tried on two machines. I did find some old shareware player that would play it, but it was a crap player, and I couldn't stand the jumpiness, digital blocking, and other fine artifacts whilst I watched.
So, I trotted it's little shiny ass right back to Walmart, stood in line for 20 minutes, and, after reading the "no refunds on opened CDs, DVDs or Software" about 412 times, I got to the front of the line. I handed the 17 year old girl my DVD, which she inspected closely.
"Yeah, it's been opened," I said. "It's ok. I just need a refund." "Uhhhh, sir? We don't really...ummm...do refunds...on...ummm...opened...uhhh...stuff like this."
I grinned, and said, "That's ok. Just need my money back, thanks. It doesn't work." I was thinking to myself, how do I explain DVD copy protection to this girl without making her head explode or having her gnaw her arm off to escape?
"Well, I can't really...ummm...give a refund on this. Would you like to exchange it for another one?" "Nope," I said with a smile. "Just my money back. Thanks."
She pointed to the tiny sign about no refunds on DVDs and said "Well, we have a policy..." I interrupted her with my best Fargo-esque Minnesota accent, "Hey, you betcha. Y'know...Yeah, I see your big sign right there...yeah, that one. Hey, that's great. 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' Wow. That sign's gotta be 12 feet tall, huh? Dontcha figure that sorta makes this little one here not really all that important?" She stared at me blankly (We're in Portland, not Minnesota, and I don't think she got it.)
"Yeah, ummm...I'm gonna have to call my manager." "Not a problem," says I, with a chorus of groans from the people in line behind me...So, the manager shows up, and she's gotta be at LEAST 19, with a cool ring of keys around her wrist. GOTTA be important stuff, huh? The clerk hands her the DVD with a conspiratorial look at me..."it's been opened..." she whispers quietly to the manager.
So, after a 5 minute diatribe about the horrors of this copy protection crap, she just shook her head, "We can't return this." At which point I pulled out my cell phone (which was off), punched 911 so she could see me, and said, "Are you suure? I've got nothing else to do tonight."
So, I got my money back.
Return your DEFECTIVE DVDs and CDs. If we don't, all we're doing is encouraging them!
But goddamnit, you HAVE to argue this one, don't you? I'm not arguing my credentials with you. I'm not getting into some stupid flame war over this. I made ONE statement of obvious fact. That is : Recent versions of windows are EASIER TO UPDATE than recent versions of Linux. Any distro, any flavor. I've used RECENT versions of Redhat and Suse, and older versions of Slackware, Debian and Redhat and I consistently find that, through the Windows lifetime, it's gotten easier to update a single copy of windows, to the point that it's now as simple as point and click. Not hunt and point and click. Not >man dpkg, not >apt-get --help or >apropos update or any of that happy horseshit. Simply click on a box that pops up and asks you to update Windows.
Now, argue THAT. Not anything else. Argue to me that for the average idiot user, let's say Redhat Linux 7.x or Windows 2000, it is HARDER TO CLICK A SINGLE BUTTON TO UPDATE than it is to type a SINGLE FUCKING LETTER ON THE KEYBOARD. Don't criticize me, don't argue about whether or not I know Linux or how to set up ipchains to allow your downstream folks to get ppm to work through your firewall, or about how WinDOS is such a shitty piece of software. I don't care. I have better things to do than argue about those. My original point was that it's easier to update a Windows box, with their automated notification and GUI than it is to use apt-get or dpkg or even some GUI tool in Linux. When the OS pops up a window asking you to update, that's just plain stupid simple. That's still my point, and if you still don't see it, don't reply. We have differing opinions on this one.
Well, thanks!
Seriously, it DOES work that way. I use Linux, BSD and Windows all day long. I see how the Windows machines update. I see how the Linux boxes update. I see the kernel recompiles and the command line updates. I see all this crap that other people come to ME for to get done. And then I see the Windows idiots, happily cranking away with their word docs and DevStudio projects and Outlook, with nary a complaint about updates. They happen automagically as long as they're doing them when they pop up. I didn't say Windows couldn't be cryptic. It can be, ridiculously so. But I think you should give credit to them for designing a sometimes-working, usually simple interface for updates that your grandma can do without calling you.
Yeah, you're completely right, there. Except for what you said.
"nasty cryptic commandlines" Don't misquote me, I didn't say anything about "nasty cryptic commandlines", as I am a Linux developer, thanks. I don't think they're nasty or cryptic. But to a Windows idiot, admit it, it's easier to click yes and reboot than to figure out some command line.
No, don't argue. Just admit it.
Good boy.
So, what would you call dpkg -i? A cl "option"? Sorry for my poor discrimination between / and -. But give me a break. Windows is made so any Joe Schmoe can upgrade it. Intentionally. And so it's easy and won't break. Nothing was said about administration or anything else. Trust me...to the average user, who doesn't want a headache, clicking yes and rebooting is MUCH easier than trying to figure out some text-only update command with options. I think it's a breeze, myself, but it's far more complex, and thus, a headache to the regular user. It's made to be stupid easy. Not powerful, or configurable, or anything a ./'er would expect from an OS, but updating is EASY in the newer Windows products.
I probably messed that up, but in Windows it's much more of a headache
Yeah, gotta admit, remembering some cryptic commands and command line switches that you don't even know and will probably fuck your machine up if you goober them is MUCH more of a headache then a little popup that says, "Updates are available and have been downloaded for you. Would you like to install them now?"
Click 'yes'. Reboot(maybe). Done.
OOOOH, my fuckin HEAD!
I'm going to shoot in the dark here...
How about this formatting :
being a bit more Maclike
and
locking Linux out of the desktop market.
THAT was my point...dude.
Huh? (Sorry, it's hard to pull an Ellen in text)
What are you talking about? What sort of encoder are you using? MP4 and MP3 both can use multiple audio encoders...the MP4 is just a wrapper and presentation. There's no reason (that I'm aware of, I could be a moron) that it should sound different. Or be a different size.
Where's Ben Wagonner when you need him to set you straight? I'm confused.
I'm not trolling here, but...If we have to go out of the way to try and make it look legitimate, isn't its primary use fairly illegitimate? I mean, if I know I'm going to get better download speed and reliability downloading PSP demos from the software manufacturer, why would I try to "con" anyone into thinking that P2P was legit by doing it otherwise? To try and beef up the appearance of real, fair use?
Sounds like a pretty weak argumentative leg to stand on, to me...
I completely approve of P2P, but I'm not going to try and make it look more legal. Let them get a real scenario, instead of padding it with crap downloads...
Uhhh...I think we're there already, aren't we? I mean, this is HP we're talking about, right?
Oh...Point Of Sale. Duh.
Y'know, that's a pretty poor attempt at a troll, but lemme tell ya, once I fucked Bubba up the ass with the chainsaw, they pretty much left me alone.
Gotta call bullshit on this. You've been watching too much Shawshank or Magnum yourself.
In actuality, the majority of people coming out of prison _DO_ get time to adjust to a normal life. They aren't put on a bus and told to get out. That's only for people who have filled out their entire prison term. Most people don't fill out their entire prison term. They are released early on parole to save money and beds in prison. Most, if not all (that I'm aware of) violent prisoners and "hard" felons - assaults, robbery, rape, murder, etc. - are not even released immediately. They're put into a facility or halfway house. They have to follow a "level" program that requires that they follow some rules - these are things like 1) get a stable job (yes, they help) - 2) save some money with a budget and a bank account - 3) live by the rules - 4) see your PO consistently to make sure you're on track.
The quickest way to get out into society again via these halfway houses is to follow the rules - you get a job, buy your groceries, stay out of trouble, get some furloughs, and then, you "graduate" to full release, on conditions of parole or probation. If you don't follow the rules, you can get busted back down to your entrance level, or sent back to prison to fill out more of your term.
So, don't simply assume that prisoners are put back on the streets. There's a complex and well-organized program of supervision and rules to follow, unless you fill out your entire term. Which, in this economy, is nearly impossible. What they mean when they say "20 years, out in 7", is that you are sentenced to 20 years, commit no felonies _in_ prison, are released in 6.5 years to a halfway house, spend 4 - 6 months in the halfway house, then, assuming you're still following the rules of society, you are released into a parole program for 4 more years so someone can keep tabs on you - weekly visits, random drug tests, can't leave the county , that sort of thing - stricter rules than normal citizens - THEN you can be released back into society to try to live out your normal life.
So, it's not a simple, "Here's your $20 - get the fuck out." Prison systems do a thankless and difficult job of trying to get convicts back on the streets in the sanest and safest manner they can.
And yes, I was put in prison when I was 18 - convicted of felony assault for attacking a 35-year-old guy who hit my girlfriend. I've been through the program. It works. I was a violent kid. I've been in no trouble for 15 years, and I have had a good, stable career and a Masters in CS/BS in Math for about 8 years, now. It doesn't ruin your life. It SUCKS, but doesn't destroy you if you don't let it. I've got a wife, 7-year-old child, a nice house in an old neighborhood, a moderately stable job...
I'd say I'm living a "normal life".