Uncommonly smart but undereducated street urchin finds "McGuffin" (see Hitchcock if you don't recognize this term). Said McGuffin has the power to "transform the world". McGuffin falls into the wrong hands and is accidentally triggered. World is transformed. Urchin remains unshowered.
Now throw in a few keywords (enviro-, cyber- and techno- seem to work) and character development (underage smoking, uncomprehending and/or used-to-be rebel parental figure and music groups [names only] are common) and you've got yourself another novel! -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
but it doesnt sound like "real" Virtual Reality. The really initeresting thing about Gibsons use of the idea was that he postulated an abstract virtual representation, basically a fully 3D GUI.
Huh? Mike (a computer) built a fully-realized, real-time, sight and sound presentation of a false reality. That's virtual reality, period. The only difference between what Mike did and what we call "virtual reality" today is the donning of goggles. But there's nothing in the definition of "virtual reality" that specifies "immersion".
In any case, I doubt Gibson came up with THAT either. Johnny Mnemonic is the only movie that I've preferred (as dumb as it was) to the story. -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
Just thinking off the top of my head I already came up with "prior art" for virtual reality: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
Remember how Mike presented a false image of himself and the "room" he was in? I'm sure other people can come up with other examples, possibly even pre-dating mine.
AFAIC, Gibson couldn't write himself out of a paper bag, let alone invent anything novel. -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
Saying Intel is "open sourcing" Itantium because they are releasing architecture and programming info is like saying Black and Decker is "open sourcing" their toasters because they posted instructions on how to put the bread in.
At MOST this makes Intel "Open Source friendly", but I would argue that it just makes them pragmatic. How else am I going to create devices and compilers for a platform except if I have the specs? Duh. -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
And if only we could all "just get along" we'd have no more war and all our tummies would be full.
Reality Check: If there is money to be made, there will be scam artists. This is a fact and no amount of putting programmers on pedestals and demonizing business people will change it.
Take, for instance, RedHat. They are a company in the "new model". Do they have non-programmers working there? Yes. Do they ever release buggy software? Yes. Well, there goes that argument.
This is not to say that OS software is "as bad as" the other kind--but it is to say "OS is no panacea".
A much bigger revolution (IMHO) is the sudden restoration of freedom that OS (or FS [Free Software]) brings. Suddenly we can share software! We can modify our own software! The pool of talent expands by orders of magnitude once you can include people who can't code but CAN document, bug report and test.
BTW, new/. server report: The front page says I'm logged in, but the story and reply pages say I'm not. -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
...you end up spending hours, weeks, months, writing your code, improving it, fixing it, promoting it, and still no patches come in.
As long as all these improvements and fixes are to scratch YOUR itches, how is this different from what I said? As for "promoting it", what does that mean in the context of a non-business?
As for critical mass: I don't think it's a size issue, at least not entirely. I wrote a less-than-300 line program and put it on freshmeat on Sunday. On Monday I had a patch in my inbox. -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
There are actually 3 options for B to understand A's code. Option #3 is: the code is so simple that anyone can understand it. This is actually very common in the real world for itches that start out small.
Anyway, #3 doesn't apply to Slashcode. CmdrTaco tried Option #2 already: only it didn't take weeks, it tooks months. In fact, it was nearly "years". AND there were people clamoring for the code and volunteering to do Option #1. Why wasn't that route at least tried?
On a totally unrelated sidenote: I'm very interested in the LML33 for a home project I'd like to do, but I'm having trouble figuring some things out (pre-purchase). I was actually at your page last night and downloaded your paper. Would it be OK if I emailed you and asked some questions? (I know you aren't the official spokesbeast, but the official spokesbeast seems to have a little trouble with English) -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
My point is that its hard to maintain open source packages.
Which is why YOU shouldn't. Here's how Open Source works:
1) Programmer A has an itch. 2) Programmer A scratches until the itch stops. 3) Programmer B tries to use the same program to scratch his itch, but finds himself only half-scratched. He patches until the itch is fully scratched. 4) Programmer C tries to use the program and finds himself 90% scratched. He patches until the itch is scratched. 5) Etc
As more people use the software, it magically grows more features to cover all their needs. So in your example (CmdrTaco), you don't need packaging--so don't do it. If someone else needs packaging they'll do it. If no one needs it, it doesn't need to be done.
In any case, do only what you need done. Then release. When people submit changes, roll them in and re-release. It's really very easy.
It's a very very bad mistake to try to run an Open Source project just like a closed source one with the occasional "public code review". -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
If only there were some way to find out. Like, if the FSF had a website we could go to. Or if there were a prominent person involved with the FSF we could ask.
Oh well, I guess since there isn't such a thing we'll have to endure miles and miles of flames and incorrect information (not to mention Portman's Complaint). -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
First you make the totally specious comparison between food poisoning and virus spreading. As if I could "accidentally" create a virus by leaving some code on my desk for a while the same way mayonaise can go bad.
Then you try to get the/. "Down With Da Man" Kiddies up in arms by using "what if MY system had been compromised" argument. Your system is one system. Thousands if not MILLIONS of computers were affected by this virus. Simple cost-analysis says getting the ILOVEYOU guy is more worth it than laboriously tracking down the person who hacked you.
Moderators: Please moderate based on post content, not name recognition. CmdrTaco: Maybe there should be an additional restriction on moderators so they can't see the name of the poster. -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
When the huge-galactic black-hole is found, the astronomers are going to say to the Australian outback searchers: That's not a black hole. THIS is a black hole. -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
It's really very simple and if marketing gurus weren't deluding themselves about their profession they'd understand this perfectly:
Marketing is mostly lies and obfuscation. But you can't lie to people who already know the truth. Therefore marketing to people who are familiar with an industry is useless (unless you have a message with real content).
-- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
You don't have anything to post? How about this? It's a description written by those responsible of how they cracked apache.org.
What? apache.org was cracked?? Yep--yet another story Slashdot apparently declined to post. (those who submitted respond to this post so we know you're out there) -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
This was all bizspeak ("remain to be seen", "product space", "ISV", "relationships") except for the first answer. That one answer alone made this interview worthwhile, I think. SCO Gets It.
That answer indicates they clearly aren't trying to be like Netscape (*gasp* he's about to drag the queen through the mud!) and get free development and bugtesting but continue to reap the commercial profits solely for themselves*. "Current project maintainers" and "code available as a reference not as competition" sounds like exactly what we like: Make your IP available to us because a rising tide lifts all boats.
*As I understand it, the biggest difference between the MPL and the GPL is that with the MPL you have to assign the changes back to Netscape. As I further understand it, this is because Netscape wants to make money from your work (if it was to "benefit the community" they would let you distribute your own copy of Moz). If I'm wrong, let me know. In any case, my above point about SCO remains the same. -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
I am a big science fiction fan (and I mean REAL science fiction, not Terry Brooks crap). Many people told me how good Dune was, so I picked it up. It had a lot of good ideas in it, but
1) The story itself left something to be desired 2) The characters were more wooden than Pinocchio (pre-fairy)
The whole thing read like an excerpt from the Congressional Record. As for the further books in the series: forget about it.
I even tried to watch the movie, but if I made it through the whole thing I don't remember any of it. -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
"My column could generate revenue if I syndicated it or charged for reprinting..but I don't."
No. It wouldn't. People don't pay for ill-informed, half-assed punditry.
"I give it away all over the place and never charge for linking."
Nobody's talking about linking. Metallica doesn't charge for linking either. What if we made actual physical copies of your books and resold them (or gave them away). Would you allow it? -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
"This is good because it will make people a little nervous about using gnutella and similar distributed file systems to spread around questionable material."
Right, so they'll start using anonymous remailers and the like, spoiling THOSE for everyone else also.
There is only one way to make someone not do something: Make it against the person's interest to do it. This takes many forms:
1) Money (charge more for products you want to discourage, like cigarettes) 2) Shame (make fun of the person who broke the rule, like the Wall o' Shame in this article) 3) Punishment (typical method of law enforcement, tickets, fines, prison, etc).
#1 works very well because it applies to every instance. #2 is pretty rare because not everyone has any shame and other people want to be "polite" and "nice" (in quotes because real etiquette has no problem with punishing miscreants). #3, if spottily applied, loses its effectiveness. To me, this is the best argument in the world against creation of new laws (and removal of many existing laws). Having unenforced or unenforcable laws weakens the power of ALL laws. With the Internet's current technology, there is no reliable way to link an act to an individual. Making laws that assume there is only makes things worse. -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
Nothing spreads like an email virus. So why not spread some "innoculation" the same way? VirusEdu.exe: Shows you splash screens (a la Microsoft installers) on the evils of opening unsolicited, executable attachments while infecting your computer. "Tell me more" button has a list of email clients that don't automagically execute unknown programs.
-- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
This virus follows the same pattern of "send to everyone in the address book", but ALSO appends the senders name to a data file included with the virus.
The recipient then falls into one of three classes:
1) Can't get/read virus. 2) Can get/read virus and gets stung (and appended to list). 3) Can get/read virus, doesn't get stung, recieved handy list of idiot coworkers.
This list can be used in a multitude of ways:
1) Reduce headcount 2) List of gullible fools who will buy $2 candy bars "to send the Girl Scouts to the Moon" 3) Identify users who need "training" (sit in a small hot room with each other and an instructor who does nothing but taunt them for their hunt-n-pecking)
-- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
First, what's the deal with Linuxcare not getting any money? They're the only (dedicated) Linux support company. Is it that people don't need support, aren't buying support they DO need (because they are getting it elsewhere) or that they are getting support "from their vendor" (RedHat, IBM, etc)?
Second, what ever become of LinuxOne? All I ever heard about for around 6 months was the evils of LinuxOne and their IPO. Did they have it? Did they fall off the face of the earth? -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
1) This is such an excellent point I'd pay $5 to be able to moderate it up a point.
2) Even if we can't post the text of every book with Katz's name on it, can we at least post the text of the book WE wrote? (follow.sig link for details) -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
The review says "wearable" every 3rd sentence, but then cautions that it has no battery. So what am I supposed to do? Have an operation to install 120 V outlet in my chest? -- Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
Slashdot Mirror
Here's an entire Gibson novel:
Uncommonly smart but undereducated street urchin finds "McGuffin" (see Hitchcock if you don't recognize this term). Said McGuffin has the power to "transform the world". McGuffin falls into the wrong hands and is accidentally triggered. World is transformed. Urchin remains unshowered.
Now throw in a few keywords (enviro-, cyber- and techno- seem to work) and character development (underage smoking, uncomprehending and/or used-to-be rebel parental figure and music groups [names only] are common) and you've got yourself another novel!
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
Dont know that particular story (Heinlein?)...
Book, yes.
but it doesnt sound like "real" Virtual Reality. The really initeresting thing about Gibsons use of the idea was that he postulated an abstract virtual representation, basically a fully 3D GUI.
Huh? Mike (a computer) built a fully-realized, real-time, sight and sound presentation of a false reality. That's virtual reality, period. The only difference between what Mike did and what we call "virtual reality" today is the donning of goggles. But there's nothing in the definition of "virtual reality" that specifies "immersion".
In any case, I doubt Gibson came up with THAT either. Johnny Mnemonic is the only movie that I've preferred (as dumb as it was) to the story.
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
Just thinking off the top of my head I already came up with "prior art" for virtual reality: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
Remember how Mike presented a false image of himself and the "room" he was in? I'm sure other people can come up with other examples, possibly even pre-dating mine.
AFAIC, Gibson couldn't write himself out of a paper bag, let alone invent anything novel.
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
Saying Intel is "open sourcing" Itantium because they are releasing architecture and programming info is like saying Black and Decker is "open sourcing" their toasters because they posted instructions on how to put the bread in.
At MOST this makes Intel "Open Source friendly", but I would argue that it just makes them pragmatic. How else am I going to create devices and compilers for a platform except if I have the specs? Duh.
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
And if only we could all "just get along" we'd have no more war and all our tummies would be full.
/. server report: The front page says I'm logged in, but the story and reply pages say I'm not.
Reality Check: If there is money to be made, there will be scam artists. This is a fact and no amount of putting programmers on pedestals and demonizing business people will change it.
Take, for instance, RedHat. They are a company in the "new model". Do they have non-programmers working there? Yes. Do they ever release buggy software? Yes. Well, there goes that argument.
This is not to say that OS software is "as bad as" the other kind--but it is to say "OS is no panacea".
A much bigger revolution (IMHO) is the sudden restoration of freedom that OS (or FS [Free Software]) brings. Suddenly we can share software! We can modify our own software! The pool of talent expands by orders of magnitude once you can include people who can't code but CAN document, bug report and test.
BTW, new
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
How is he going to fork the hardware and bandwidth?
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
...you end up spending hours, weeks, months, writing your code, improving it, fixing it, promoting it, and still no patches come in.
As long as all these improvements and fixes are to scratch YOUR itches, how is this different from what I said? As for "promoting it", what does that mean in the context of a non-business?
As for critical mass: I don't think it's a size issue, at least not entirely. I wrote a less-than-300 line program and put it on freshmeat on Sunday. On Monday I had a patch in my inbox.
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
There are actually 3 options for B to understand A's code. Option #3 is: the code is so simple that anyone can understand it. This is actually very common in the real world for itches that start out small.
Anyway, #3 doesn't apply to Slashcode. CmdrTaco tried Option #2 already: only it didn't take weeks, it tooks months. In fact, it was nearly "years". AND there were people clamoring for the code and volunteering to do Option #1. Why wasn't that route at least tried?
On a totally unrelated sidenote: I'm very interested in the LML33 for a home project I'd like to do, but I'm having trouble figuring some things out (pre-purchase). I was actually at your page last night and downloaded your paper. Would it be OK if I emailed you and asked some questions? (I know you aren't the official spokesbeast, but the official spokesbeast seems to have a little trouble with English)
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
My point is that its hard to maintain open source packages.
Which is why YOU shouldn't. Here's how Open Source works:
1) Programmer A has an itch.
2) Programmer A scratches until the itch stops.
3) Programmer B tries to use the same program to scratch his itch, but finds himself only half-scratched. He patches until the itch is fully scratched.
4) Programmer C tries to use the program and finds himself 90% scratched. He patches until the itch is scratched.
5) Etc
As more people use the software, it magically grows more features to cover all their needs. So in your example (CmdrTaco), you don't need packaging--so don't do it. If someone else needs packaging they'll do it. If no one needs it, it doesn't need to be done.
In any case, do only what you need done. Then release. When people submit changes, roll them in and re-release. It's really very easy.
It's a very very bad mistake to try to run an Open Source project just like a closed source one with the occasional "public code review".
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
If only there were some way to find out. Like, if the FSF had a website we could go to. Or if there were a prominent person involved with the FSF we could ask.
Oh well, I guess since there isn't such a thing we'll have to endure miles and miles of flames and incorrect information (not to mention Portman's Complaint).
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
...this really takes the cake.
/. "Down With Da Man" Kiddies up in arms by using "what if MY system had been compromised" argument. Your system is one system. Thousands if not MILLIONS of computers were affected by this virus. Simple cost-analysis says getting the ILOVEYOU guy is more worth it than laboriously tracking down the person who hacked you.
First you make the totally specious comparison between food poisoning and virus spreading. As if I could "accidentally" create a virus by leaving some code on my desk for a while the same way mayonaise can go bad.
Then you try to get the
Moderators: Please moderate based on post content, not name recognition.
CmdrTaco: Maybe there should be an additional restriction on moderators so they can't see the name of the poster.
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
When the huge-galactic black-hole is found, the astronomers are going to say to the Australian outback searchers: That's not a black hole. THIS is a black hole.
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
It's really very simple and if marketing gurus weren't deluding themselves about their profession they'd understand this perfectly:
Marketing is mostly lies and obfuscation. But you can't lie to people who already know the truth. Therefore marketing to people who are familiar with an industry is useless (unless you have a message with real content).
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
"from the finally-something-to-post dept"
You don't have anything to post? How about this? It's a description written by those responsible of how they cracked apache.org.
What? apache.org was cracked?? Yep--yet another story Slashdot apparently declined to post. (those who submitted respond to this post so we know you're out there)
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
This was all bizspeak ("remain to be seen", "product space", "ISV", "relationships") except for the first answer. That one answer alone made this interview worthwhile, I think. SCO Gets It.
That answer indicates they clearly aren't trying to be like Netscape (*gasp* he's about to drag the queen through the mud!) and get free development and bugtesting but continue to reap the commercial profits solely for themselves*. "Current project maintainers" and "code available as a reference not as competition" sounds like exactly what we like: Make your IP available to us because a rising tide lifts all boats.
*As I understand it, the biggest difference between the MPL and the GPL is that with the MPL you have to assign the changes back to Netscape. As I further understand it, this is because Netscape wants to make money from your work (if it was to "benefit the community" they would let you distribute your own copy of Moz). If I'm wrong, let me know. In any case, my above point about SCO remains the same.
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
It was posted yesterday. How about reading the front page before complaining?
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
I am a big science fiction fan (and I mean REAL science fiction, not Terry Brooks crap). Many people told me how good Dune was, so I picked it up. It had a lot of good ideas in it, but
1) The story itself left something to be desired
2) The characters were more wooden than Pinocchio (pre-fairy)
The whole thing read like an excerpt from the Congressional Record. As for the further books in the series: forget about it.
I even tried to watch the movie, but if I made it through the whole thing I don't remember any of it.
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
"My column could generate revenue if I syndicated it or charged for reprinting..but I don't."
No. It wouldn't. People don't pay for ill-informed, half-assed punditry.
"I give it away all over the place and never charge for linking."
Nobody's talking about linking. Metallica doesn't charge for linking either. What if we made actual physical copies of your books and resold them (or gave them away). Would you allow it?
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
"This is good because it will make people a little nervous about using gnutella and similar distributed file systems to spread around questionable material."
Right, so they'll start using anonymous remailers and the like, spoiling THOSE for everyone else also.
There is only one way to make someone not do something: Make it against the person's interest to do it. This takes many forms:
1) Money (charge more for products you want to discourage, like cigarettes)
2) Shame (make fun of the person who broke the rule, like the Wall o' Shame in this article)
3) Punishment (typical method of law enforcement, tickets, fines, prison, etc).
#1 works very well because it applies to every instance. #2 is pretty rare because not everyone has any shame and other people want to be "polite" and "nice" (in quotes because real etiquette has no problem with punishing miscreants). #3, if spottily applied, loses its effectiveness. To me, this is the best argument in the world against creation of new laws (and removal of many existing laws). Having unenforced or unenforcable laws weakens the power of ALL laws. With the Internet's current technology, there is no reliable way to link an act to an individual. Making laws that assume there is only makes things worse.
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
Nothing spreads like an email virus. So why not spread some "innoculation" the same way? VirusEdu.exe: Shows you splash screens (a la Microsoft installers) on the evils of opening unsolicited, executable attachments while infecting your computer. "Tell me more" button has a list of email clients that don't automagically execute unknown programs.
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
This virus follows the same pattern of "send to everyone in the address book", but ALSO appends the senders name to a data file included with the virus.
The recipient then falls into one of three classes:
1) Can't get/read virus.
2) Can get/read virus and gets stung (and appended to list).
3) Can get/read virus, doesn't get stung, recieved handy list of idiot coworkers.
This list can be used in a multitude of ways:
1) Reduce headcount
2) List of gullible fools who will buy $2 candy bars "to send the Girl Scouts to the Moon"
3) Identify users who need "training" (sit in a small hot room with each other and an instructor who does nothing but taunt them for their hunt-n-pecking)
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
First, what's the deal with Linuxcare not getting any money? They're the only (dedicated) Linux support company. Is it that people don't need support, aren't buying support they DO need (because they are getting it elsewhere) or that they are getting support "from their vendor" (RedHat, IBM, etc)?
Second, what ever become of LinuxOne? All I ever heard about for around 6 months was the evils of LinuxOne and their IPO. Did they have it? Did they fall off the face of the earth?
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
1) This is such an excellent point I'd pay $5 to be able to moderate it up a point.
.sig link for details)
2) Even if we can't post the text of every book with Katz's name on it, can we at least post the text of the book WE wrote? (follow
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
So this thing weighs around .5 kg.
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?
The review says "wearable" every 3rd sentence, but then cautions that it has no battery. So what am I supposed to do? Have an operation to install 120 V outlet in my chest?
--
Have Exchange users? Want to run Linux? Can't afford OpenMail?