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User: billcarson

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  1. Re:When will that P2P DNS system become reality? on First New Generic Top Level Domains Opening · · Score: 1

    > Even in a block chain type system, domains or TLDs would be
    > awarded first come, first served (like today with the hierarchical
    > system) and then transferred from one party to another (like today).

    I'm not really sure if I can follow you here. There is no rule that says
    a domain name must be indefinitely associated with a certain owner.
    Key signing of a domain name could be limited in time with a voting system
    that repeats on domain name expiration. Revocation certs could be issues
    if a domain name is abused.
    Also, I don't really understand why you'd want to introduce a central block chain?
    In a decentralized DNS system, I would think a GPG-like schema seems more fit?
    The P2P distribution would then be limited to a simple DHT.
    (though I admit I am not very knowledgeable on this topic).

  2. Re:When will that P2P DNS system become reality? on First New Generic Top Level Domains Opening · · Score: 1

    Well, but how is that different from the current DNS cache poisoning problems?
    A strong authenticiation scheme like DNSSEC could solve such an issue.

  3. When will that P2P DNS system become reality? on First New Generic Top Level Domains Opening · · Score: 1

    A few years ago a bunch of people from Sweden announced they would create a distributed, non-trackeable DNS system. What happened to that?

  4. Re:Not as bad as the reviews made it seem on IBM's PC Junior Turns 30, Too · · Score: 1

    Maybe there were price differences between the US and European markets? Back then we didn't have the Euro,
    but it would have been around 450â for a C64 I guess. Nobody I knew that had a C64 used floppies, as the floppy drive
    was too expensive. Everyone used tape around here.
    According to Wikipedia the price for a C64+Disk drive was around 900$ at that time: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C...
    And that only gave you a computer with basic, limited expansion and no monitor.
    I'm not denying that the PCjr was expensive, IBM was always a premium brand,
    but you did get something more than the average home computer.

  5. Re:Not as bad as the reviews made it seem on IBM's PC Junior Turns 30, Too · · Score: 1

    True, but a C64 with a floppy drive and monitor would exceed the 1000$ barrier as well.
    The lack of dedicated graphics memory was an issue yes, but there were expansion packs for that.

  6. Re:Not as bad as the reviews made it seem on IBM's PC Junior Turns 30, Too · · Score: 2, Informative

    DOS was more than just some FAT routines. There was a program loader, driver model (albeit a very naive one), system services (I/O, etc.), basic system tools (format, debug, command.com, etc.).
    For what PCs were at that time, it was probably the best you could whish for.

  7. Not as bad as the reviews made it seem on IBM's PC Junior Turns 30, Too · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The keyboard was horrible, yes, but that was fixed within months (I think people could swap the keyboards for free?).
    But for the money you got a lot more than the other home computers: a floppy drive, a computer that had a real
    operating system, 128K of RAM!, compatibility with most PC applications, etc. Plus this was the computer that made
    the Sierra Adventure games shine! (the enhanced graphics and sound made Leisure suit larry a lot better looking than its PC counterpart).
    The BIOS interrupt changes may have caused some problems (the keyboard was mapped to the NMI, so you couldn't
    touch it while transfering files f.i.) or compatibility issues, but that was only of minor concern at the time.
    I still don't consider the PCjr a poorly engineered machine. There were better contenders in that category (some of the Franklin PCs, for instance)

  8. Re:Hipsters are killing (have killed?) SV. on Actually, It's Google That's Eating the World · · Score: 2

    I don't know why this got modded up. The "hipster generation" wasn't the one that killed research.
    The "hipster generation" wasn't the one that shifted focus on short-term profit, that effected mergers between tech giants
    (only to be followed by closing down whole divisions or offshoring everything). You blame these guys for trying to find their way
    into a market that was already rotten before they entered it?

    You mention various semiconductor companies. Who was it that killed about every CPU architecture that isn't x86?
    Who is the generation that is again awakening interest in other ones (ARM, MIPS64, etc.)? I'm not trying to defend these
    design/poseur types you see on every occasion, but their doing is not what killed Silicon Valley.

  9. Re:A question on food availability on Doctors Say Food Stamp Cuts Could Cause Higher Healthcare Costs · · Score: 1

    Thanks for the response!
    I'm surprised to hear that's only 2% of the population, but I guess that is not including the workers that don't own soil/cattle themselves.

  10. Re:Math, do it. on Doctors Say Food Stamp Cuts Could Cause Higher Healthcare Costs · · Score: 1

    No, but you can replace them by importing cheap foreign labour (actually more like modern slavery), which results in the same thing.
    Only thing stopping them from doing that would be local legislature, but I suppose some lobbying would solve that.

  11. Re:Math, do it. on Doctors Say Food Stamp Cuts Could Cause Higher Healthcare Costs · · Score: 1

    That is assuming those companies are willing to stay in the U.S. when minimum wage were to increase.
    Take for instance the Benelux: a lot of companies there moved to Germany in the last 20 years because the minimum wages over there are lower.
    I guess U.S. companies would shift to Mexico or other neighbouring countries as well. Either that or they would collectively raise their prices, so that the net cost of living for these people would not (significantly) increase.

  12. A question on food availability on Doctors Say Food Stamp Cuts Could Cause Higher Healthcare Costs · · Score: 1

    As a non-American, I was unfamiliar with this food stamp program (we don't have specific food-oriented services here in my country, it's up to the local communities and cities to provide welfare benefits).
    However, when I look at the number of participants per state, I notice the rural states (Wyoming, etc.) are way lower: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3899
    My question: why is this so? Is it a problem of logistics, or is the average American farmer better off than the ones who live in the cities?

  13. Re:Nonsense! on 2014 Will Be a Big Year For Commercial Space Travel · · Score: 1

    The one does not exclude the other.

  14. Re:Overpopulation destroys Middle Class on The Internet's Network Efficiencies Are Destroying the Middle Class · · Score: 1

    That certainly seems like an interesting site. Thanks for the link!

  15. Re:Isn't it ironic? on US Coast Guard Ship To Attempt Rescue of 2 Icebreakers In Antarctica · · Score: 1

    I guess your response shows how hard it is for people to distinguish between genuine comments and comments ment as mockery/outlet. I have never been found guilty of trolling (and certainly not in a language that I am not fully familiar with).
    I don't read newspapers of Murdoch; here in Europe those only have a minor share of the market, just like the global warming debate only has a minor role (most people that opposite it here are just out to get the energy taxes lowered).

    I guess I'll have to take lessons and be more careful next time.

  16. Re:Overpopulation destroys Middle Class on The Internet's Network Efficiencies Are Destroying the Middle Class · · Score: 1

    isn't it a bit naive to project essays of 30 years ago on today's economy? What would f.i. be the reasoning behind the rising energy prices? Don't we clearly see that there is a massive shortage there?
    The 1980-1990 period may have started with economic woes, but there were a lot of unforseen events that caused energy to sink to never seen lows (discovery of oil in the atlantic ocean, end of the gulf wars, collapse of the soviet union, etc.). You just can't compare that situation to now. No increase in productivity is going to make up for that.
    I'd love to believe that the world population would evolve like a logistic distribution, where we slowly reach a sustainable equilibrum, but reality seems to show that the exponential trend continues, and we are heading straight into massive overpopulation, with probably war as a result (unless you see war as a long-term solution to keep population within reasonable bounds).

  17. Re:Isn't it ironic? on US Coast Guard Ship To Attempt Rescue of 2 Icebreakers In Antarctica · · Score: 1

    I wasn't specifically referring to your comment, but to that irate response I've got to what I intended to be a joke (I'm not a researcher, why should I contest their research?). However, my point was: if you are so devoted to your subject that you can't take any amusing comments, than I doubt it you can hold a constructive debate on that subject, and I doubt it you can write an objective report about it too.
    The whole setting of "don't you dare to attack our point of view or we'll break your leg" reminds me of the religious views I had forced upon me during my childhood, and in my opinion gives scientists a bad name. Science is in my opinion about publishing the results and letting the world know. Whether the people are convinced and want to change their behaviour is a pure political debate.

  18. Re:Isn't it ironic? on US Coast Guard Ship To Attempt Rescue of 2 Icebreakers In Antarctica · · Score: 1

    If you start arguing about science topics like it's a religion, then I no longer consider that debate related to science either.
    I'm not denying any science publications (all signs seem to point they are indeed right), but I hate these so-called "scientists" that try to force their views upon me. I already had that treatment with religious nuts years ago.

  19. Re:Isn't it ironic? on US Coast Guard Ship To Attempt Rescue of 2 Icebreakers In Antarctica · · Score: 1

    Maybe someday you'll look back at this reply and realise it was unnecessary harsh.

  20. Isn't it ironic? on US Coast Guard Ship To Attempt Rescue of 2 Icebreakers In Antarctica · · Score: 0

    A expedition trying to prove global warming gets stuck in the ice?

  21. Re:Sure, why not on Cairo 2D Graphics May Become Part of ISO C++ · · Score: 1

    The jobs you mention all require a degree and investment.
    Unfortunately for many, you can't know that you're not skilful at computer programming before you start at it.

  22. Re:Sure, why not on Cairo 2D Graphics May Become Part of ISO C++ · · Score: 1

    What is this "other job" you speak off? It's easy enough to say "go away" to those that don't fit your profile. Mind that they are also trying to make a living.

  23. Why VP9? on YouTube Goes 4K — and VP9 — At CES · · Score: 1

    First google result gave me this comparison: http://iphome.hhi.de/marpe/download/Performance_HEVC_VP9_X264_PCS_2013_preprint.pdf Seems like VP9 is even doing worse than the current-generation h.264 encoders. So we're using worser codecs for the benefit of not having to deal with patent issues?

  24. Re:Linux record growth on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 Pass 10% Market Share, Windows XP Falls Below 30% · · Score: 1

    It does give a different view on the reality, doesn't it? It seems like Linux is everywhere to be found on the internet except in the statistics.

  25. Re:Remote BIOS flash? on The Startling Array of Hacking Tools In NSA's Armory · · Score: 1

    See it from a positive point of view: maybe the Coreboot project wil finally take off because of this?