What don't you support exactly? I respect that you don't support state funded research, nor embryonic stem cell science. However, the main issue of his "proposal" is to lay the groundwork for an "open source" science system whereby IP is open to build upon and to expand. Do you at least support that premise?
Although I respect your opinions, I don't share your opinion on state funded science. At least with it coming into fray, we can make an impact now on how IP is handled--a bottom up approach that may be easier to implement. Whereas if we had to change the current funding system now, it would be much more difficult to supplant it with a new set of standards.
I thought about the tools to audio blog and have devised a free solution utilising a telephone, but haven't had the chance to do a proof-of-concept yet. It requires you to sign up for a free SIPphone.com account (via their free softphone download). To do a quick audioblog (or a voice memo for that matter): 1) you dial the SIPphone number---if you're on a PSTN network, you dial one of the access numbers and then your sipphone number; 2) you leave a voice mail; 3) under your sipphone settings, the voicemail is sent to a specific email address; 4) similar to blogging by email, you can setup your receiving email address to accept the wav files from SIPphone.com and have your server convert it to mp3 (or keep it as a wav) and publish it on your blog automatically. I also have a tip on how to record your sipphone conversations using Linux on my blog---it's a great way to do phone interviews that you want to publish.
Some of us running the older DOCSIS 1 compliant cable modems can only get a max of 3Mbps download. This move could also mean more money for Comcast with more people wanting to rent their cable modem to capitalize on this increase in bandwidth.
Took a look at your software--I'm impressed. Now, referring back to the prior post, I also thought the same thing when I read the article--namely a company can't be a "real" company without an official mailing address. However, I'm assuming that for official mail, you're receiving it either via one of the creators' home, via PO box, or via a box at Mailboxes, etc. (well, formerly mailboxes, etc., now "The UPS Store"). Also, I don't know about Seattle's laws, but here in MD you are required to have a non-PO box address to incorporate. How did you get around that?
It's once again time to review the winners of the annual Stella Awards. The Stellas' are named! after 81 year old Stella Liebeck who spilled coffee on herself and successfully sued McDonald's.
That case inspired the Stella Awards for the most frivolous successful lawsuits in the United States. Unfortunately the most recent lawsuit implicating McDonald's, the teens who allege that eating at McDonald's has made them fat, was filed after the 2003 award voting was closed. This suit will top the 2004 awards list without question. THIS YEAR'S AWARDS GO TO...
I agree...it sounds like the bogus life insurance policies you see on TV geared towards senior citizens---looks good on the surface, but not much substance in it when viewed with a magnifying glass.
Those of you who'd rather watch satellite programming, don't forget to check out VDR. Add a cheap PCI card to your PC and you can be time-shifting satellite programming in no time.
I wonder if the programmers will program in algorithms to weigh the cost and benefit of executing foul play in certain situations. I can see where machines with "360 degree" view can have a "leg up" (pun intended) on human players---they know when the official is not watching. Even if the official is watching, I can see certain situations where fouling a player would be advantageous.
The growth of monitoring has also been fueled by the advent of Internet phone technology, which has substantially cut the cost of long-distance calls and made call monitoring as easy as clicking a mouse. Sophisticated software that automatically records conversations has increased the number of calls monitors can assess.
We've outlined a process on how one can easily record phone conversations of VoIP calls made through a SIPphone.com softphone in Linux. Linda Tripp would have had it easy with a VoIP account with SIPphone.com and Linux---imagine if she was savvy enough to do this, i.e. digitize her phone conversations and made it public years later?
Although this will come out as sounding elitist, you don't deserve to be called a slashdot geek if you can't run your own cable and crimp your own connectors. Heck, the kit from Computer Geeks is so cheap, you can subsidize the cost by crimping patch cables to sell to your friends for cheap. I know you live in an apartment, but there are plenty of ways to consolidate and conceal the cable (local hardware store has lots of goodies). Because of the small diameter of the cable, you can run it along baseboards or under carpet and not have it glaringly obvious. Going through drywall won't be a problem---and if you worry about doing it in an apartment, make the hole as small as possible and patch it up before the final walkthrough inpection when you're ready to move out. You can use surface mount keystone jacks that can be easily removed and holes patched up when you're done with them---they're as damaging to the wall as hanging mirrors and picture frames. At times like this, dealing with supposed "easier" technology like wifi can actually end up costing you more time and headache. Why not just say to heck with it all and go "low-tech" with wires?
This is just speculation, but I suspect that Jobs looked at Shuttle XPC devices and said to himself, "I'll make it cheaper and smaller, and better" and poof! intro the Mac Mini. No doubt Shuttle is wondering whether or not their shift away from making motherboards and selling just XPCs was a prudent move. Most likely Shuttle will still shine in PC sales, but you will wonder if they'll still do well with this Mac Mini being available.
I'm assuming he'll be gallivanting about in Omaha, Nebraska. Sorry, but how much of an impact will he make there? I'd much rather hire a person in New York, DC, LA---any of the big cities on the east or west coast. Call me cheap, but I get the best bang for the buck that way.
Points of failure for PCs in dusty environments are the hard drives and fans. I'm looking to build a similar unit like you're describing that is completely void of moving parts (aside from the fan in the power supply, but power supplies are cheap to replace). What parts am I looking for? Mini-itx, VIA EPIA motherboard with a built-in VIA C3 processor that runs without the need of a processor fan (heat-sink still needed, obviously). CompactFlash to IDE adapter that allows me to install a compactflash card as the media storage device. Due to budget issues, I'm restricted to maybe 1GB or 2GB of disk space, but that's plenty for me to install linux with X and fluxbox or enlightenment. I'll also be running VNC or NX client in order to remotely control a desktop on a server safely sitting on my desk in the home office---essentially making the computer a thin client. Since I'm reusing my monitor (if it goes bad, I won't care), keyboard, and mouse, the total cost could feasibly fall under $600.
As blogging and website development gets more and more popular, there are a number of "webmasters" who get in over there heads when stuff like comment spam and referral link spam start bogging down their systems and hogging bandwidth and diskspace. I realize that the discussion is in regards to email spam, but I would like to expand it to blog comment spam and referral link spam---group them all together.
For instance, for those of us who use wordpress to blog, a certain spammer had initiated a large broad attack on Christmas Eve. It has the markings of a possible worm since in the referral URI properties there is code for saving and running perl code. How do webmasters who are on top of their sites report such activity? And more importantly, there are so many people running wordpress who don't know anything beyond their admin PHP pages and have no idea that their system might be compromised.
Another point that I'd like to make is that referral log spam is on the rise the past 3 years. It's easy to find out more information about some of these referral spam sites---for example try:
whois popwow.com
or
whois tmsathai.org
You can easily find who owns them (their names, addresses, phone numbers), but what can we do with that information?
There was a very interesting discussion on the Diane Rehm show about West Nile virus and mosquitoes. One interesting topic of discussion was the issue of mosquitoes in the environment. One argument is that mosquitoes have no ecological benefit and that the world will be better off without them. Sure birds may eat the larvae, but most if not all birds' diets can consist of other insect larvae and other adult insects.
I say we should concentrate on robots that feed on mosquitoes and its larvae. Not only will it be good for robots, but we'll reduce the burden of the diseases that mosquitoes carry such as malaria and West Nile.
Possible iPod-to-iPod file transfer. This is currently under development, and is very possible. Not only will the iPod be able to access other iPods, running Linux or not, but it will be able to read from and write to Firewire and USB 2.0 mass storage devices.
Sounds like the iPod will trump the USB external master storage device that slashdot just recently mentioned to us. Wouldn't it be cool to be able to move media from a USB all-in-one media reader to the iPod directly without the need of a computer? You could be taking pictures with a 16megapixel Canon and not worry about storage space as long as you have your iPod around. I'm gonna keep my eye on the development of this program. On top of that, recording audio with the left earphone bud is also another cool feature.
Add remote-control hunting and you have one interesting park to visit (or not). Texas, the state that innovates. I could be sitting in this park, and remotely hunt in another part of Texas.
This article written by Tom Yager of InfoWorld seems to corroborate your argument. What I find interesting is his emphasis in his article about the move towards 64-bit processors, their production by manufacturers, and their adoption by OS developers. Excerpt:
Apple drove IBM to create the 64-bit home runs PowerPC 970 and 970FX, chips that, similar to the 601, appeared in Apple hardware in record time. Power Mac G5, Xserve G5, and OS X did for Mac users what even the brilliant AMD can't do without Microsoft's help: migrate users to a 64-bit platform without one bump. Just as intriguing, Apple, IBM, and the public partners that sign IBM's open license could carry Mac users all the way to Power without the suffering that blocked users' migration from x86 to Itanium.
[emphasis is mine]
So those of you who argue that people want commodity hardware (i.e. x86) and commodity software are living in the past models of this economy. Wait until 64-bit is the norm and we will see the shakedown of what processor is king. Tom Yager makes the argument that x86 (to 64-bit Itanium) is too butt-tied to MS that consumers will be fed up and will buy IBM PowerPC with an OS smorgasbord (Linux, Mac OS X, etc.)
The nice thing about open-source software is that you don't have to spend precious time and money re-inventing the wheel---you could at least improve upon an already existing design. That said, at least check out GnuMed. It doesn't have the backend that you're looking for, but at least will give you ideas. It's a system developed by physicians. Won't you consider contributing to a open-source project? It'll make the world better---at least with a unified open-source system, patients will be better-off due to ease of document transfer from clinic to clinic.
I thought about this after having read a similar proposal a year ago on a blogger's post. For people who wardrive, couldn't this very feature be added on netstumbler quite easily? Mac-heads running iChat and Rendezvous have been reaping the benefits of zeroconf and ad-hoc networks for years now, the same can easily be done for wifi devices such as PDA's with a wardriving kit (GPS, high power antenna, etc.).
One of the reasons, I surmise, that this rent-a-bike concept may not work here in the US is because of local mandatory helmet laws. I don't know about the European laws. However, I can see why in Europe, helmet use is less of a concern---less cars on the street, more pedestrians, more public transportation-friendly, shorter distances needed to travel from point A to point B. But here in the US, with the SUVs sharing the streets, helmets are a must. And to implement a rent-a-bike system would also mean co-implementation of rent-a-helmet program. But that adds the difficulty of renting the right helmet size, and putting on a helmet that a previous (sweaty) biker was using. So how is the use of helmets handled in Europe anyway?
Slashdot Mirror
What don't you support exactly? I respect that you don't support state funded research, nor embryonic stem cell science. However, the main issue of his "proposal" is to lay the groundwork for an "open source" science system whereby IP is open to build upon and to expand. Do you at least support that premise?
Although I respect your opinions, I don't share your opinion on state funded science. At least with it coming into fray, we can make an impact now on how IP is handled--a bottom up approach that may be easier to implement. Whereas if we had to change the current funding system now, it would be much more difficult to supplant it with a new set of standards.
I thought about the tools to audio blog and have devised a free solution utilising a telephone, but haven't had the chance to do a proof-of-concept yet. It requires you to sign up for a free SIPphone.com account (via their free softphone download). To do a quick audioblog (or a voice memo for that matter): 1) you dial the SIPphone number---if you're on a PSTN network, you dial one of the access numbers and then your sipphone number; 2) you leave a voice mail; 3) under your sipphone settings, the voicemail is sent to a specific email address; 4) similar to blogging by email, you can setup your receiving email address to accept the wav files from SIPphone.com and have your server convert it to mp3 (or keep it as a wav) and publish it on your blog automatically. I also have a tip on how to record your sipphone conversations using Linux on my blog---it's a great way to do phone interviews that you want to publish.
Some of us running the older DOCSIS 1 compliant cable modems can only get a max of 3Mbps download. This move could also mean more money for Comcast with more people wanting to rent their cable modem to capitalize on this increase in bandwidth.
Took a look at your software--I'm impressed. Now, referring back to the prior post, I also thought the same thing when I read the article--namely a company can't be a "real" company without an official mailing address. However, I'm assuming that for official mail, you're receiving it either via one of the creators' home, via PO box, or via a box at Mailboxes, etc. (well, formerly mailboxes, etc., now "The UPS Store"). Also, I don't know about Seattle's laws, but here in MD you are required to have a non-PO box address to incorporate. How did you get around that?
How about identification via fingerprint with this reader? Anyone used it and are there any good hacks with it?
I agree...it sounds like the bogus life insurance policies you see on TV geared towards senior citizens---looks good on the surface, but not much substance in it when viewed with a magnifying glass.
How about drink more coffee, less likely to suffer from Parkinson's or sleep less, live longer? This is just a few cursory findings on the surface, I'm sure you could find more.
Those of you who'd rather watch satellite programming, don't forget to check out VDR. Add a cheap PCI card to your PC and you can be time-shifting satellite programming in no time.
I wonder if the programmers will program in algorithms to weigh the cost and benefit of executing foul play in certain situations. I can see where machines with "360 degree" view can have a "leg up" (pun intended) on human players---they know when the official is not watching. Even if the official is watching, I can see certain situations where fouling a player would be advantageous.
Perhaps millions have made a living for a small period of time over the last 10 years, but I gather few have been doing it consistently for over 2 or 3 years. Hell, selling ad space on my forehead or selling an image of a woman's face on my grilled cheese would have been sufficient for me to "make a living" for a year.
We've outlined a process on how one can easily record phone conversations of VoIP calls made through a SIPphone.com softphone in Linux. Linda Tripp would have had it easy with a VoIP account with SIPphone.com and Linux---imagine if she was savvy enough to do this, i.e. digitize her phone conversations and made it public years later?
Although this will come out as sounding elitist, you don't deserve to be called a slashdot geek if you can't run your own cable and crimp your own connectors. Heck, the kit from Computer Geeks is so cheap, you can subsidize the cost by crimping patch cables to sell to your friends for cheap. I know you live in an apartment, but there are plenty of ways to consolidate and conceal the cable (local hardware store has lots of goodies). Because of the small diameter of the cable, you can run it along baseboards or under carpet and not have it glaringly obvious. Going through drywall won't be a problem---and if you worry about doing it in an apartment, make the hole as small as possible and patch it up before the final walkthrough inpection when you're ready to move out. You can use surface mount keystone jacks that can be easily removed and holes patched up when you're done with them---they're as damaging to the wall as hanging mirrors and picture frames. At times like this, dealing with supposed "easier" technology like wifi can actually end up costing you more time and headache. Why not just say to heck with it all and go "low-tech" with wires?
This is just speculation, but I suspect that Jobs looked at Shuttle XPC devices and said to himself, "I'll make it cheaper and smaller, and better" and poof! intro the Mac Mini. No doubt Shuttle is wondering whether or not their shift away from making motherboards and selling just XPCs was a prudent move. Most likely Shuttle will still shine in PC sales, but you will wonder if they'll still do well with this Mac Mini being available.
I'm assuming he'll be gallivanting about in Omaha, Nebraska. Sorry, but how much of an impact will he make there? I'd much rather hire a person in New York, DC, LA---any of the big cities on the east or west coast. Call me cheap, but I get the best bang for the buck that way.
Points of failure for PCs in dusty environments are the hard drives and fans. I'm looking to build a similar unit like you're describing that is completely void of moving parts (aside from the fan in the power supply, but power supplies are cheap to replace). What parts am I looking for? Mini-itx, VIA EPIA motherboard with a built-in VIA C3 processor that runs without the need of a processor fan (heat-sink still needed, obviously). CompactFlash to IDE adapter that allows me to install a compactflash card as the media storage device. Due to budget issues, I'm restricted to maybe 1GB or 2GB of disk space, but that's plenty for me to install linux with X and fluxbox or enlightenment. I'll also be running VNC or NX client in order to remotely control a desktop on a server safely sitting on my desk in the home office---essentially making the computer a thin client. Since I'm reusing my monitor (if it goes bad, I won't care), keyboard, and mouse, the total cost could feasibly fall under $600.
I should have been more clear. This is not my argument, it was stated by one of the guests on the Diane Rehm show. One of whom is an entomologist.
For instance, for those of us who use wordpress to blog, a certain spammer had initiated a large broad attack on Christmas Eve. It has the markings of a possible worm since in the referral URI properties there is code for saving and running perl code. How do webmasters who are on top of their sites report such activity? And more importantly, there are so many people running wordpress who don't know anything beyond their admin PHP pages and have no idea that their system might be compromised.
Another point that I'd like to make is that referral log spam is on the rise the past 3 years. It's easy to find out more information about some of these referral spam sites---for example try: or You can easily find who owns them (their names, addresses, phone numbers), but what can we do with that information?
There was a very interesting discussion on the Diane Rehm show about West Nile virus and mosquitoes. One interesting topic of discussion was the issue of mosquitoes in the environment. One argument is that mosquitoes have no ecological benefit and that the world will be better off without them. Sure birds may eat the larvae, but most if not all birds' diets can consist of other insect larvae and other adult insects.
I say we should concentrate on robots that feed on mosquitoes and its larvae. Not only will it be good for robots, but we'll reduce the burden of the diseases that mosquitoes carry such as malaria and West Nile.
Sounds like the iPod will trump the USB external master storage device that slashdot just recently mentioned to us. Wouldn't it be cool to be able to move media from a USB all-in-one media reader to the iPod directly without the need of a computer? You could be taking pictures with a 16megapixel Canon and not worry about storage space as long as you have your iPod around. I'm gonna keep my eye on the development of this program. On top of that, recording audio with the left earphone bud is also another cool feature.
Add remote-control hunting and you have one interesting park to visit (or not). Texas, the state that innovates. I could be sitting in this park, and remotely hunt in another part of Texas.
[emphasis is mine]
So those of you who argue that people want commodity hardware (i.e. x86) and commodity software are living in the past models of this economy. Wait until 64-bit is the norm and we will see the shakedown of what processor is king. Tom Yager makes the argument that x86 (to 64-bit Itanium) is too butt-tied to MS that consumers will be fed up and will buy IBM PowerPC with an OS smorgasbord (Linux, Mac OS X, etc.)
The nice thing about open-source software is that you don't have to spend precious time and money re-inventing the wheel---you could at least improve upon an already existing design. That said, at least check out GnuMed. It doesn't have the backend that you're looking for, but at least will give you ideas. It's a system developed by physicians. Won't you consider contributing to a open-source project? It'll make the world better---at least with a unified open-source system, patients will be better-off due to ease of document transfer from clinic to clinic.
I thought about this after having read a similar proposal a year ago on a blogger's post. For people who wardrive, couldn't this very feature be added on netstumbler quite easily? Mac-heads running iChat and Rendezvous have been reaping the benefits of zeroconf and ad-hoc networks for years now, the same can easily be done for wifi devices such as PDA's with a wardriving kit (GPS, high power antenna, etc.).
One of the reasons, I surmise, that this rent-a-bike concept may not work here in the US is because of local mandatory helmet laws. I don't know about the European laws. However, I can see why in Europe, helmet use is less of a concern---less cars on the street, more pedestrians, more public transportation-friendly, shorter distances needed to travel from point A to point B. But here in the US, with the SUVs sharing the streets, helmets are a must. And to implement a rent-a-bike system would also mean co-implementation of rent-a-helmet program. But that adds the difficulty of renting the right helmet size, and putting on a helmet that a previous (sweaty) biker was using. So how is the use of helmets handled in Europe anyway?