I hated Mars Attacks. The entire thing was stupid and extremely non-funny. The only halfway decent parts were the Jack Nicholson bits ("We still have 2 of the 3 branches of government. And that ain't bad!")
In fact, the only reasons I even finished watching it were
1) To see how far they would push the obvious Attack of the Killer Tomato ripoffs 2) Just so I could say I had watched the whole thing --
The only way I'd watch the movie is if they are faithful to the ending: all the characters appear on screen and say to each other "Well....I guess this is the end of the movie. I guess we'll just leave then." --
After nine months at my first position I was laid off (for lack of work). I found another job within a month. My most recent job change took a lot longer, but I wasn't desperate--I was looking for a Linux-related job in a very small radius all the way across the country. It took me less than 6 months to find it.
However, I've also been on the other side. I've interviewed a lot of "candidates" (I use the term loosely) who knew diddly-squat about programming. I had one guy answer the question "What interests you about computer programming?" with "I just follow the money." That interview ended quickly.
But even worse were the people who had taken "All About Visual Basic" at DeVry and thought that qualified them for more than a data-entry position. I handed them a programming test that asked them to implement a "large number multiplication function" in VB. I specifically said that the numbers could be of "arbitrarily large size". I still got bozos trying to use the VB "Long" (or even "Variant") type. *heavy sigh* --
The biggest problem with Junkbuster is that you can't configure it to ACCEPT cookies. There's an option for it, but it doesn't seem to work (at least not the version I'm running--is there a newer one?) --
I can't believe CmdrTaco has the unmitigated gall to even mention this. What has Andover.net done with its IPO money? I've seen two things:
1) A popularity contest that many people didn't know about, know how to use or see the results of. 2) A 40 GB HD for Rob (mentioned a couple of days ago)
When is Slashdot going to start "giving back to the community? --
I can't get to the site because I'm doing a big download.
Is the fish tank digital or just electronic? If the later, you can get the same thing a lot cheaper (probably) here in the States and have been able to for many years. Just pop a tape in your VCR and you can have fish, a fireplace, forest scenes, etc. --
And how does this differ from the view that "Every company must use our license for releasing software?"
How does what differ? Actually, it doesn't matter what you meant, since XFree86 isn't saying this. XF86 is (or should be) saying "Every company that wants to write a module for our server must follow our guidelines. Guideline #1: Make the source available..."
When I (yes, it was I) said "make them play OUR game", I was talking about Open Source users. "Our game" is Open Source. If you are using Linux (or FreeBSD, or whatever) for a reason other than Open Source you are either stupid or deluding yourself.
Wow! That sounded like a flame: it was. A lot of people say "I don't care if it's open--as long as it works". How do you think it came to work, moron? The reason it works so well is that it is Open Source. --
After posting this you probably smiled smugly to yourself and said "I'm such a tolerant and open guy". Actually, you're attempting to force a licensing model on XFree86.
What do I mean? Just this: the XF86 people should be able to pick any licensing they want. Since they apparently don't like binary-only modules, they would probably be wise to choose a license that forbids binary-only (my original question was why didn't they). But if they did that, YOU'D complain about NVIDIA being "forced" to release source or about you being "forced" to use a different card.
You "let's a live and let live" people are largely the same: "Everybody must follow are rules for living in moderation." And if I don't want to, what will your attitude towards me be? --
XFree86 allows binary-only modules. NVIDIA is providing a binary-only module. XFree86 doesn't like binary-only modules, so it doesn't like NVIDIA. Here's a clue: stop allowing binary-only then. Yeah yeah, "we have respect the fact that some companies feel yada yada yada". No we don't. If they want to remain closed-source, there are plenty of OS's for them to support. If they choose to support Linux, make them play OUR game.
Compaq decides to spin of it's Unix/Alpha development: Going to call the new company "Digital Equipment Corporation".
What we really have to watch out for is when Microsoft decides to spin off all the companies *they've* acquired--with all those companies spinning merrily away someone could lose an eye. --
About a month ago (while M13 was current) I switched to Mozilla as my main browser. It wasn't quite as good as Netscape, but the added happiness of "helping" more than made up for it.
Then I tried M14. Holy crap does that browser suck. Sure, a lot of things were fixed--but something (or somethings) fundamental was sure broken: I got crash after crash after crash.
I downloaded a nightly build from a couple of weeks later (later than the branch, not later than the M release) and it had the same problems. This had all better be fixed before "beta". And as someone else points out, change the fscking default theme. --
Plenty of people complain about poorly written, poorly indexed Linux, *BSD, and Open Source documentation.
Then they find deja.com.
But seriously, I think the complaint of "where's the docs" is a little overdone. Sure, you may not have a hefty "Linux Bible" taking up most of your shelf-space, but so what? The OS is a "new paradigm", why shouldn't the documentation of the OS be the same way?
Let's deal with the supposed problems one at a time:
1) Hard for newbies to find help. How about the mailing lists setup for just this purpose? I'm sure I'm going to hear a lot of complaints that "this doesn't work for everyone" or "all I ever got from l-n was 'RTFM'". That leads to points 2 and 3.
2) RTFM is an entirely reasonable response to an unreasonable question. It may not be polite but it IS the correct solution to the user's problem. User wants to know what the "-l" flag to "ls" does. The Right Solution(tm) to this problem is RTFM. In this case, "man ls"
3) Everybody and her dog is setting up a Linux newbie site, visit those. Or search usenet. Or join a users group. There are more Linux help channels than for any other software I could name. Newbies that know what they want and are willing to look around are well-supported. Newbies that don't know what they want and/or aren't willing to look around can't be helped by anyone.
4) How about the claim that "unpopular" software (i.e. not-apache and not-samba) has little documentation? Yep, that's somewhat true. For instance, netatalk (makes Linux talk to Macs) was a bitch to setup. Until I joined the mailing list. For the occasional piece of software that doesn't have a mailing list, read the code.
5) "Read the code"?? I'm not a programmer and I shouldn't need to be understand how to use package XYZ. You are right. For this small subset of software we need better docs. What subset is that:
Hasn't been well-trodden by newbies
Doesn't have a website
Doesn't have a mailing list
Doesn't have a maintainer with a valid email address
Doesn't have a well-documented, viable alternative
How much of the software out there meets these criteria?
SOOOoooo, my question to Deb is: What categories of software do YOU think are most in need of documentation and why do you think that? --
I've never used an censorware before. When a site gets blocked, is the user told why? For instance, I type in "www.nakedcoeds.com", does my browser show a page saying "sorry, this site has nudity"? Or does it just fail?
What I'm getting at is: Does the censorware make specific and explicit claims about a website's content or does it just block? If the former your libel idea would fly like a dream. If the latter it might be tougher (but still workable AFAIAC, though IANAL). --
1) Assume 1 == 0. 2) Then clearly this follows Either 1 == 0 OR N = 4 for all N 3) Obviously 4 is the sum of two primes (2+2) 4) Combining steps 2 and 3 we get For all N, N is the sum of two primes 5) Step 4 states that all numbers are the sum of two primes, therefore all odd numbers are the sum of two primes. QED --
What do you mean "such as this"? The whole point of a proof is that it is deeper than a whole list of numbers with checkmarks beside them. "Yep, 5 is sum of two primes. Yep, 7 is the sum of two primes." is just a demonstration, not a proof.
If the current snail's pace is considered reasonable, then I want to see us get "wildly optimistic". Maybe we'll see put a woman on Mars before my grandchildren are dead of old age. I'm 27. --
The letter claims that MCSEs are the "best trained networking professionals on the planet". But they are using ASP to serve simple text pages. Now THAT'S funny. --
I see a lot of comments about "college is more than a web page" and "what about hackers". Let's give these people a little credit--with $100 million you can do more than:
First of all, there's no reason you can't interact with other students at U of Web--after all, what are we doing right here? Second, a suspected hacker could be easily retested and regraded. And these solutions are just off the top of my head--I'm sure they've got people who are dedicated to the task of figuring this out.
In other words, let's wait until they prove themselves boneheaded before shouting "I told you so". --
Every time we get on a movie or music topic people whine about "when will X port Y" and "how come software Z keeps crashing in Linux but not on Windows", etc.
The slightly more clueful say "we need free software that can handle these codecs, that'll solve ALL our problems".
That solves nothing: What about free codecs? Is there anyone working on this? The advantage would be not only freedom, but then we'd also have a standard (or more likely, several standards). If I was halfway qualified I'd work on this myself, unfortunately this post represents the edges of my knowledge. --
Slashdot Mirror
I hated Mars Attacks. The entire thing was stupid and extremely non-funny. The only halfway decent parts were the Jack Nicholson bits ("We still have 2 of the 3 branches of government. And that ain't bad!")
In fact, the only reasons I even finished watching it were
1) To see how far they would push the obvious Attack of the Killer Tomato ripoffs
2) Just so I could say I had watched the whole thing
--
The only way I'd watch the movie is if they are faithful to the ending: all the characters appear on screen and say to each other "Well....I guess this is the end of the movie. I guess we'll just leave then."
--
After nine months at my first position I was laid off (for lack of work). I found another job within a month. My most recent job change took a lot longer, but I wasn't desperate--I was looking for a Linux-related job in a very small radius all the way across the country. It took me less than 6 months to find it.
However, I've also been on the other side. I've interviewed a lot of "candidates" (I use the term loosely) who knew diddly-squat about programming. I had one guy answer the question "What interests you about computer programming?" with "I just follow the money." That interview ended quickly.
But even worse were the people who had taken "All About Visual Basic" at DeVry and thought that qualified them for more than a data-entry position. I handed them a programming test that asked them to implement a "large number multiplication function" in VB. I specifically said that the numbers could be of "arbitrarily large size". I still got bozos trying to use the VB "Long" (or even "Variant") type. *heavy sigh*
--
The biggest problem with Junkbuster is that you can't configure it to ACCEPT cookies. There's an option for it, but it doesn't seem to work (at least not the version I'm running--is there a newer one?)
--
For the good of all humanity I'm submitting this patch to D&D:
+if(HoursSinceLastShower > 24) {
+ if(Player.Girlfriend)
+   Girlfriend.StormOut;
+ Player.Shower;
+}
--
Now lets see what they do with it ...
I can't believe CmdrTaco has the unmitigated gall to even mention this. What has Andover.net done with its IPO money? I've seen two things:
1) A popularity contest that many people didn't know about, know how to use or see the results of.
2) A 40 GB HD for Rob (mentioned a couple of days ago)
When is Slashdot going to start "giving back to the community?
--
I can't get to the site because I'm doing a big download.
Is the fish tank digital or just electronic? If the later, you can get the same thing a lot cheaper (probably) here in the States and have been able to for many years. Just pop a tape in your VCR and you can have fish, a fireplace, forest scenes, etc.
--
And how does this differ from the view that "Every company must use our license for releasing software?"
How does what differ? Actually, it doesn't matter what you meant, since XFree86 isn't saying this. XF86 is (or should be) saying "Every company that wants to write a module for our server must follow our guidelines. Guideline #1: Make the source available..."
When I (yes, it was I) said "make them play OUR game", I was talking about Open Source users. "Our game" is Open Source. If you are using Linux (or FreeBSD, or whatever) for a reason other than Open Source you are either stupid or deluding yourself.
Wow! That sounded like a flame: it was. A lot of people say "I don't care if it's open--as long as it works". How do you think it came to work, moron? The reason it works so well is that it is Open Source.
--
After posting this you probably smiled smugly to yourself and said "I'm such a tolerant and open guy". Actually, you're attempting to force a licensing model on XFree86.
What do I mean? Just this: the XF86 people should be able to pick any licensing they want. Since they apparently don't like binary-only modules, they would probably be wise to choose a license that forbids binary-only (my original question was why didn't they). But if they did that, YOU'D complain about NVIDIA being "forced" to release source or about you being "forced" to use a different card.
You "let's a live and let live" people are largely the same: "Everybody must follow are rules for living in moderation." And if I don't want to, what will your attitude towards me be?
--
Well then, I better read this interview. Anyone who could write vi *must obviously* know what the future holds.
This is about as stupid as asking Michael Jordan who the next president should be (or even what shoes to wear, for that matter).
--
XFree86 allows binary-only modules. NVIDIA is providing a binary-only module. XFree86 doesn't like binary-only modules, so it doesn't like NVIDIA. Here's a clue: stop allowing binary-only then. Yeah yeah, "we have respect the fact that some companies feel yada yada yada". No we don't. If they want to remain closed-source, there are plenty of OS's for them to support. If they choose to support Linux, make them play OUR game.
--
Compaq decides to spin of it's Unix/Alpha development: Going to call the new company "Digital Equipment Corporation".
What we really have to watch out for is when Microsoft decides to spin off all the companies *they've* acquired--with all those companies spinning merrily away someone could lose an eye.
--
Am I the only one who thinks that you should call a internet-related product "x-bone"? That has censorware-bait written ALL over it.
--
About a month ago (while M13 was current) I switched to Mozilla as my main browser. It wasn't quite as good as Netscape, but the added happiness of "helping" more than made up for it.
Then I tried M14. Holy crap does that browser suck. Sure, a lot of things were fixed--but something (or somethings) fundamental was sure broken: I got crash after crash after crash.
I downloaded a nightly build from a couple of weeks later (later than the branch, not later than the M release) and it had the same problems. This had all better be fixed before "beta". And as someone else points out, change the fscking default theme.
--
Then they find deja.com.
But seriously, I think the complaint of "where's the docs" is a little overdone. Sure, you may not have a hefty "Linux Bible" taking up most of your shelf-space, but so what? The OS is a "new paradigm", why shouldn't the documentation of the OS be the same way?
Let's deal with the supposed problems one at a time:
1) Hard for newbies to find help. How about the mailing lists setup for just this purpose? I'm sure I'm going to hear a lot of complaints that "this doesn't work for everyone" or "all I ever got from l-n was 'RTFM'". That leads to points 2 and 3.
2) RTFM is an entirely reasonable response to an unreasonable question. It may not be polite but it IS the correct solution to the user's problem. User wants to know what the "-l" flag to "ls" does. The Right Solution(tm) to this problem is RTFM. In this case, "man ls"
3) Everybody and her dog is setting up a Linux newbie site, visit those. Or search usenet. Or join a users group. There are more Linux help channels than for any other software I could name. Newbies that know what they want and are willing to look around are well-supported. Newbies that don't know what they want and/or aren't willing to look around can't be helped by anyone.
4) How about the claim that "unpopular" software (i.e. not-apache and not-samba) has little documentation? Yep, that's somewhat true. For instance, netatalk (makes Linux talk to Macs) was a bitch to setup. Until I joined the mailing list. For the occasional piece of software that doesn't have a mailing list, read the code.
5) "Read the code"?? I'm not a programmer and I shouldn't need to be understand how to use package XYZ. You are right. For this small subset of software we need better docs. What subset is that:
How much of the software out there meets these criteria?
SOOOoooo, my question to Deb is: What categories of software do YOU think are most in need of documentation and why do you think that?
--
This is an excellent idea.
I've never used an censorware before. When a site gets blocked, is the user told why? For instance, I type in "www.nakedcoeds.com", does my browser show a page saying "sorry, this site has nudity"? Or does it just fail?
What I'm getting at is: Does the censorware make specific and explicit claims about a website's content or does it just block? If the former your libel idea would fly like a dream. If the latter it might be tougher (but still workable AFAIAC, though IANAL).
--
I would no more install WordPerfect on my Linux box than I would Microsoft Office 2000. Am I the only one who feels this way?
I just don't understand the fascination people have with tools that don't work and/or aren't flexible. Do one thing and do it well.
--
2.5) We all know that 1 != 0
2.75) Combining steps 2 and 2.5, it must be the case that For all N, N=4
--
1) Assume 1 == 0.
2) Then clearly this follows Either 1 == 0 OR N = 4 for all N
3) Obviously 4 is the sum of two primes (2+2)
4) Combining steps 2 and 3 we get For all N, N is the sum of two primes
5) Step 4 states that all numbers are the sum of two primes, therefore all odd numbers are the sum of two primes.
QED
--
What do you mean "such as this"? The whole point of a proof is that it is deeper than a whole list of numbers with checkmarks beside them. "Yep, 5 is sum of two primes. Yep, 7 is the sum of two primes." is just a demonstration, not a proof.
--
Gives new meaning to "setting the sticky bit"...
--
If the current snail's pace is considered reasonable, then I want to see us get "wildly optimistic". Maybe we'll see put a woman on Mars before my grandchildren are dead of old age. I'm 27.
--
The letter claims that MCSEs are the "best trained networking professionals on the planet". But they are using ASP to serve simple text pages. Now THAT'S funny.
--
I see a lot of comments about "college is more than a web page" and "what about hackers". Let's give these people a little credit--with $100 million you can do more than:
/home/httpd/html/index.html
rpm -i apache.rpm
cat encyclopedia_brittanica >
First of all, there's no reason you can't interact with other students at U of Web--after all, what are we doing right here? Second, a suspected hacker could be easily retested and regraded. And these solutions are just off the top of my head--I'm sure they've got people who are dedicated to the task of figuring this out.
In other words, let's wait until they prove themselves boneheaded before shouting "I told you so".
--
Every time we get on a movie or music topic people whine about "when will X port Y" and "how come software Z keeps crashing in Linux but not on Windows", etc.
The slightly more clueful say "we need free software that can handle these codecs, that'll solve ALL our problems".
That solves nothing: What about free codecs? Is there anyone working on this? The advantage would be not only freedom, but then we'd also have a standard (or more likely, several standards). If I was halfway qualified I'd work on this myself, unfortunately this post represents the edges of my knowledge.
--