The BBC produced veryy good DocuDrama about the John Harrison story. including a script of the programme.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/longitudetran s.shtml
news:soc.religion.christian - "Christianity and related topics." blacklisted Cult/Occult
news:soc.religion.christian.bible-study - "Examining the Holy Bible." blacklisted Cult/Occult
news:soc.religion.christian.promisekeepers - "The Christian group Promise Keepers." blacklisted Cult/Occult
news:soc.religion.christian.youth-work - "Christians working with young people." blacklisted Cult/Occult
These are correctly identified, they are cultish, all religion is cultish. It's the whole point of religion. "Those that believe are saved, everybody else is doomed".
They except people accept their ridicules stories as fact, without a shred of evidence, indeed against significant counter evidence. If you challenge their world view you're attacked.
Religion is for weak minds. Childrens minds are weak. These blockages are therefore justified in software to enforce parental control.
They are however not justified for censorship. Adults, even if they are nieve are free to make their own decisions, even if they are wrong.
If your parents or grandparents are/where citizens of any European Union country (i.e. Italy, UK, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Holand, Netherlands, Belgium, etc). You'll be able to gain an EU passport,
Once you have that you are able work in any/all EU countries, without requiring a seperate work visa.
English is the language of IT across Europe (except France). In Germany it's almost as common as German.
If your going to do it not is definitly the time.
Europe is currently is a massive Boom (the low Euro makes for cheap exports) consequently there is the usual shortage of skilled workers, any skilled workers, associated with booms.
In the UK for example, an experienced IT person, using recruitement agencies could find a new position in about a week. In fact you'll almost certainly be picking over multiple offers (No kidding). So you might as well take your time.
You'll find salary levels vary considerable with skill set. Overtime pay is normal for techies, 4-5weeks + ~5-8days statuary holidays, fully expensed company cars (but tax disadvantages) in most positions above senior programmer/team leader.
... As a high-wage earner, your taxes will be excessive - much higher than you are used to in the US.
"Excessive" is a matter of prespective.
In the UK income Tax is only ~22%-34%, low compared to the US's 45%).
You'll also generally get to claim back for all sorts of stuff, i.e. Pensions, Private Healthcare, etc.
However it varies, so see a Tax Accountant wherever you end up.
Since you are not a citizen, you will find that you are unable to access many of the services you are paying for.
Not true, If you pay income tax, then you get the services.
Typically residents receives most basic services including healthcare free at the point of delivery. When you return home your also be able to claim tax back for pensions provision etc.
It's really not simple, so as I said see a Tax Accountant wherever you end up.
This trojan is a Windows.EXE So it was developed under Windws and only runs on Windows, and we are supposed to believe that it was created by a Linux User/Advocate. It also preports to be TUX, yet does not even know his real name, mistaking it for "The Penguin"
This does not ring true to me!
A M$ supporting fifth columnist attempt at black propaganda seems more likely to me.
Just consider the ethics of your average Linux advocate compared with M$. Throw in a little history of M$ FUD and Black Propaganda, it wouldn't surprise me if this came from M$ themselves.
People who say - 'don't buy Windows, use Linux' are being unrealistic.
That's a very glib statement to make especially based on the information provided.
In many ways because of the extra control that can be exercised with Linux, it's more suitable for typical end users than Windows. It's use would have prevented the software piracy problems that seem to be at the heart of this story.
They (ordinary users) love light weight office packages like StarOffice especially when compared to M$ Office. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard statements from end uses such as, "Just like [M$] Office but simple". If fact if I had a penny etc,etc. I'd be skiing right now not here typing this.
Most people have trouble using and adminstering Windows (there are lots of silver surfers who aren't used to technlogy and can't manage Windows, never mind anything else). Can you imagine these people trying to use/configure Linux.
End users SHOULD NOT need or be able to configuring OS Software, this is something you can't really prevent with Windows Software. IT should only be done by a trained/Qualified Admin.
Yes I can imagine them USING a well tied down, pre-configured Linux.
If, in any case, they wanted to employ more adminstrators to manage these machines ($129k does *not* buy you many administrators),
It would easily pay for x-training the Windows Admins and for a custom Linux Configuration/Ditro.
they would find that for most users, Linux/other freeos wouldn't satisfy their requirements
Who's Requirements, the Business or the end users? Quake anybody!
- it probably wouldn't run their payroll software,
ROTFLOL..., [spend 10mins recomposing myself before relaying this one to the rest of my team]
Payroll software has been running on Unix since the earliest days of IT, well before DOS, never mind Windows. In fact most industrial strength business software started on Mainframes and Mini's.
...their usable office suite,
Star Office provides everything needed by most normal users.
or indeed much useful other than server apps, which this suit, and, in general with unauthorized installation suits, is unlikely to be concerned with.
What ?!?
People need to stop glibly saying that you should just use Linux - Windows is the best quality software available, and people should pay for it accordingly.
The burden of proof here is on Microsoft et. al. to prove that the Council where breaching the licence terms. If they where as legit as they make out, they would have no worries. However they seem to have panicked, which to me implies they DID have something to worry about.
I'm certainly no fan of M$, but I have to be very suspicious about the Councils actions here. If they use M$ software they should honour the licence terms no matter how onerous.
Open Source advocates SHOULD remember that burdensome licence terms of closed source commercial software is yet another argument in FAVOUR of the Open Source software/movement.
Another Lawyer interfering in stuff they have little or no comprehension of.
I guess we should be thankful it's not an Accountant or worse still a Marketeer.
After all, anyone developing software whilst they should be working is wasting their employer's time and resources,
Not really, most open source projects save employers time & resources, not wastes them. Those that do "waste" resources are done for other reasons. I.E. To sell hardware, process, services.
and if they're lucky enough not to be sacked then anything they produce is certainly the property of the employer
What makes you think this ? & Do you believe it includes your first born ?
Well you need to know you're wrong. Very Wrong. Even if this was explicit stated in your employment contract, clauses like these count as a restraint of trade and barely hold water even when well drafted.
- this is only fair.
To Whom ?
If you work in McDonalds...
MacDonalds can probably get away with treating their staff like $#!{ dictating terms, IT Staff are generally on a much more equitable relation with their IT staff & can't be dicated to. If an employer want's a first class Software Engneer they typically have to accept some of my 'baggage'.
why should open source software be any different from that, or even from closed source software.
It's not really very different in this aspect, they both set terms in the licence and If you agree, you can use use it, otherwise...
Just because you release the code shouldn't give it some magical status over any other program.
Wrong again that is the whole point of the various Open Source licences, they stop anybody (Companies included) stealing it away.
...that makes it appear as though it needs the help to compete with closed source software.
Did you even read it? You Certainly didn't understand it. This is really about clarity with corporate lawyers and dealings between them and the contributor. Reputable Companies are very ready to recognise the true value of Open Source as Open Source. However employers DO try to steal the code, a former employer of mine used two GNU projects (RTFLib & Tiny Basic) to build a print engine, then sold it under a closed licence.
And trust me,
Where have I head that before... Oh my last employers, you don't work for....
the more people try and get things like this for open source, the more that stubborn CTOs are going to resist it in favour of the latest technology in Computer Weekly.
Sounds like the blind hopes of a Microsoftie. If the CTO is that blind he deserves the consequences of his actions. I also think you lack a basic understanding about what Open Source is about!
Missing the point, finger print are unique and impartial, it is the expert witnesses that are not. Finger print searching & comparison is made using points of comparison, certain features at certain locations. What's sometime flawed is the experts interpretation of that comparison, and the courts/jury blind acceptance of the expert.
And as several people have pointed out,.web is conspicously[sic] absent, even though it seems like a shoo-in.
Why do some feel the need for a.WEB TLD?
The TLD is not the correct logical place for it. It is completely redundant, the current domain model already has the capability of distinguishing a web server from a smtp or ftp server.
Consider the URI http://www.website.web
http:// - Web protocol
www - Web server
.website - Domain
.web - web tld
This is just ridiculous OTT.
What happens when these domains want a ftp or smtp server? Do they use webmaster@website.web or ftp://ftp.website.web or do we add yet more TLD's i.e..ftp and.smtp TLD's so we have webmaster@website.smtp and ftp://ftp.website.ftp
Ah The whole idea of.web is just absurd.
Someone, somewhere is going to get that one day...
I certainly hope not, because that is the day commercialism has finally over taken technical merit.
Since somebody somewhere must already have these genes these Patents they should be rejected automatically because they fail the prior art test.
Re:A useful token: regardless of book contents
on
Death March
·
· Score: 1
If nothing else, this book could be used as a subtle means of communicating your dissatisfaction with a crazed environment...
When the project is this badly managed, all subtlety should go through the Qoffenders Office window with a brick. It won't solve the problem, but you will feel a whole lot better.
It's time to bring some Common Sense to this discussion.
Firstly what is a Techie? It's vague and self serving to the lowest denominator. It implies computer hobbyist, not a High Technology Professional. There is a world of difference between the IT Literate and Software, Network or Systems Engineer; it's like comparing a first aider to a Trauma surgeon.
It must be remembered that old style hierarchical & authoritarian managers are trained as lawyers and accountants, these are boring, repetitive and non productive tasks, that require massive amounts of money to motivate somebody to do them. PHB are therefore constrained to think in only these terms.
They don't get IT; and because of this they fear IT; they don't understand that High Tech Professionals are highly trained, self motivated individuals. IT is performed by people with passion and skill for the subject.
As a High Tech Professionals, we are quite capable of deciding when Telecommuting / Home working is appropriate. There are times when it is, just as there are times when Office Working is more appropriate. The idea that High Tech Professionals would spend all day playing Quake is as absurd as the idea that we should spend all day cutting code, or all day in meetings.
Telecommuting is not a perk its Common Sense Option to a High Tech Professional.
Copyright provides perfectly adequate protection from software piracy. Patents are inheritently protectionist and anti-competative.
IHHO Patents ARE inherently bad.
...he is advocating public transportation by train. If so, he won't be getting my vote.
Why not ?
If the clueless minions of orthodoxy adopted trainsport, the more roads left for me and thee:)
Seriously road transport is becoming increasingly problematic is most developed countries, imagine the problems when you add a Billion Indians & 2 Billion Chinese. Chaos!
Under UK Employment law people have traditionally had a "reasonable expectation of privacy" whilst at work.
It was actually illegal for an employer to monitor personal telephone calls. Since personal calls are a common perk in the UK. If they are allowed they should be private.
This was extended to include email (well any personal data on a computer) by the Data Protection Act.
RIP, reverses this (and other) legal protections.
Slashdot Mirror
H4 (and H1,H3,H3) can be found at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, London.
If you cannot visit, you can see a picture online:
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/searchbin/searchs.pl?exhibi t= it1740z&axis=976296806&flash=false&dev=no
The BBC produced veryy good DocuDrama about the John Harrison story. including a script of the programme. http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/longitudetran s.shtml
These are correctly identified, they are cultish, all religion is cultish. It's the whole point of religion. "Those that believe are saved, everybody else is doomed".
They except people accept their ridicules stories as fact, without a shred of evidence, indeed against significant counter evidence. If you challenge their world view you're attacked.
Religion is for weak minds. Childrens minds are weak. These blockages are therefore justified in software to enforce parental control.
They are however not justified for censorship. Adults, even if they are nieve are free to make their own decisions, even if they are wrong.
I agree, in the UK wireless Internet access is provided as just another service from your mobile (CellPhone) company.
The infastructure cost is split across multiple services.
Nobody in the right mind tries to set up a business around just one service/product.
I think the skills shortage means the difference, between US and Canadian citizens is theoretical rather than actual.
people forget that we have had a dictator and fought you in world war two
Though only about half the Italians, the rest where communist (shsh..!) partisans who fought alongside the Allies.
If your parents or grandparents are/where citizens of any European Union country (i.e. Italy, UK, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Holand, Netherlands, Belgium, etc). You'll be able to gain an EU passport,
Once you have that you are able work in any/all EU countries, without requiring a seperate work visa.
The best bit, Safe Streets, little or no gun crime!
English is the language of IT across Europe (except France). In Germany it's almost as common as German.
If your going to do it not is definitly the time.
Europe is currently is a massive Boom (the low Euro makes for cheap exports) consequently there is the usual shortage of skilled workers, any skilled workers, associated with booms.
In the UK for example, an experienced IT person, using recruitement agencies could find a new position in about a week. In fact you'll almost certainly be picking over multiple offers (No kidding). So you might as well take your time.
You'll find salary levels vary considerable with skill set. Overtime pay is normal for techies, 4-5weeks + ~5-8days statuary holidays, fully expensed company cars (but tax disadvantages) in most positions above senior programmer/team leader.
"Excessive" is a matter of prespective.
In the UK income Tax is only ~22%-34%, low compared to the US's 45%).
You'll also generally get to claim back for all sorts of stuff, i.e. Pensions, Private Healthcare, etc.
However it varies, so see a Tax Accountant wherever you end up.
Since you are not a citizen, you will find that you are unable to access many of the services you are paying for.
Not true, If you pay income tax, then you get the services.
Typically residents receives most basic services including healthcare free at the point of delivery. When you return home your also be able to claim tax back for pensions provision etc.
It's really not simple, so as I said see a Tax Accountant wherever you end up.
This trojan is a Windows .EXE So it was developed under Windws and only runs on Windows, and we are supposed to believe that it was created by a Linux User/Advocate. It also preports to be TUX, yet does not even know his real name, mistaking it for "The Penguin"
This does not ring true to me!
A M$ supporting fifth columnist attempt at black propaganda seems more likely to me.
Just consider the ethics of your average Linux advocate compared with M$. Throw in a little history of M$ FUD and Black Propaganda, it wouldn't surprise me if this came from M$ themselves.
People who say - 'don't buy Windows, use Linux' are being unrealistic.
That's a very glib statement to make especially based on the information provided.
In many ways because of the extra control that can be exercised with Linux, it's more suitable for typical end users than Windows. It's use would have prevented the software piracy problems that seem to be at the heart of this story.
They (ordinary users) love light weight office packages like StarOffice especially when compared to M$ Office. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard statements from end uses such as, "Just like [M$] Office but simple". If fact if I had a penny etc,etc. I'd be skiing right now not here typing this.
Most people have trouble using and adminstering Windows (there are lots of silver surfers who aren't used to technlogy and can't manage Windows, never mind anything else). Can you imagine these people trying to use/configure Linux.
End users SHOULD NOT need or be able to configuring OS Software, this is something you can't really prevent with Windows Software. IT should only be done by a trained/Qualified Admin.
Yes I can imagine them USING a well tied down, pre-configured Linux.
If, in any case, they wanted to employ more adminstrators to manage these machines ($129k does *not* buy you many administrators),
It would easily pay for x-training the Windows Admins and for a custom Linux Configuration/Ditro.
they would find that for most users, Linux/other freeos wouldn't satisfy their requirements Who's Requirements, the Business or the end users? Quake anybody! - it probably wouldn't run their payroll software,
ROTFLOL ..., [spend 10mins recomposing myself before relaying this one to the rest of my team]
Payroll software has been running on Unix since the earliest days of IT, well before DOS, never mind Windows. In fact most industrial strength business software started on Mainframes and Mini's.
or indeed much useful other than server apps, which this suit, and, in general with unauthorized installation suits, is unlikely to be concerned with.
What ?!?
People need to stop glibly saying that you should just use Linux - Windows is the best quality software available, and people should pay for it accordingly.
Now who's being glib ?
How on earth did this troll get modded up to +5?
The burden of proof here is on Microsoft et. al. to prove that the Council where breaching the licence terms. If they where as legit as they make out, they would have no worries. However they seem to have panicked, which to me implies they DID have something to worry about.
I'm certainly no fan of M$, but I have to be very suspicious about the Councils actions here. If they use M$ software they should honour the licence terms no matter how onerous.
Open Source advocates SHOULD remember that burdensome licence terms of closed source commercial software is yet another argument in FAVOUR of the Open Source software/movement.
Another Lawyer interfering in stuff they have little or no comprehension of. I guess we should be thankful it's not an Accountant or worse still a Marketeer.
After all, anyone developing software whilst they should be working is wasting their employer's time and resources,
Not really, most open source projects save employers time & resources, not wastes them. Those that do "waste" resources are done for other reasons. I.E. To sell hardware, process, services.
and if they're lucky enough not to be sacked then anything they produce is certainly the property of the employer
What makes you think this ? & Do you believe it includes your first born ?
Well you need to know you're wrong. Very Wrong. Even if this was explicit stated in your employment contract, clauses like these count as a restraint of trade and barely hold water even when well drafted.
- this is only fair.
To Whom ?
If you work in McDonalds ...
MacDonalds can probably get away with treating their staff like $#!{ dictating terms, IT Staff are generally on a much more equitable relation with their IT staff & can't be dicated to. If an employer want's a first class Software Engneer they typically have to accept some of my 'baggage'.
why should open source software be any different from that, or even from closed source software.
It's not really very different in this aspect, they both set terms in the licence and If you agree, you can use use it, otherwise ...
Just because you release the code shouldn't give it some magical status over any other program.
Wrong again that is the whole point of the various Open Source licences, they stop anybody (Companies included) stealing it away.
Did you even read it? You Certainly didn't understand it. This is really about clarity with corporate lawyers and dealings between them and the contributor. Reputable Companies are very ready to recognise the true value of Open Source as Open Source. However employers DO try to steal the code, a former employer of mine used two GNU projects (RTFLib & Tiny Basic) to build a print engine, then sold it under a closed licence.
And trust me, Where have I head that before... Oh my last employers, you don't work for ....
the more people try and get things like this for open source, the more that stubborn CTOs are going to resist it in favour of the latest technology in Computer Weekly.
Sounds like the blind hopes of a Microsoftie. If the CTO is that blind he deserves the consequences of his actions. I also think you lack a basic understanding about what Open Source is about!
Missing the point, finger print are unique and impartial, it is the expert witnesses that are not. Finger print searching & comparison is made using points of comparison, certain features at certain locations. What's sometime flawed is the experts interpretation of that comparison, and the courts/jury blind acceptance of the expert.
And as several people have pointed out, .web is conspicously[sic] absent, even though it seems like a shoo-in.
Why do some feel the need for a .WEB TLD?
The TLD is not the correct logical place for it. It is completely redundant, the current domain model already has the capability of distinguishing a web server from a smtp or ftp server.
Consider the URI http://www.website.web
http:// - Web protocol
www - Web server
.website - Domain
.web - web tld
This is just ridiculous OTT.
What happens when these domains want a ftp or smtp server? Do they use webmaster@website.web or ftp://ftp.website.web or do we add yet more TLD's i.e. .ftp and .smtp TLD's so we have webmaster@website.smtp and ftp://ftp.website.ftp
Ah The whole idea of .web is just absurd.
Someone, somewhere is going to get that one day ...
I certainly hope not, because that is the day commercialism has finally over taken technical merit.
What happened to the "Prior Art" test ?
Since somebody somewhere must already have these genes these Patents they should be rejected automatically because they fail the prior art test.
If nothing else, this book could be used as a subtle means of communicating your dissatisfaction with a crazed environment... When the project is this badly managed, all subtlety should go through the Qoffenders Office window with a brick. It won't solve the problem, but you will feel a whole lot better.
Reducing the barriers to Patents will increase the quantity and reduce the quality.
It's time to bring some Common Sense to this discussion.
Firstly what is a Techie? It's vague and self serving to the lowest denominator. It implies computer hobbyist, not a High Technology Professional. There is a world of difference between the IT Literate and Software, Network or Systems Engineer; it's like comparing a first aider to a Trauma surgeon.
It must be remembered that old style hierarchical & authoritarian managers are trained as lawyers and accountants, these are boring, repetitive and non productive tasks, that require massive amounts of money to motivate somebody to do them. PHB are therefore constrained to think in only these terms.
They don't get IT; and because of this they fear IT; they don't understand that High Tech Professionals are highly trained, self motivated individuals. IT is performed by people with passion and skill for the subject.
As a High Tech Professionals, we are quite capable of deciding when Telecommuting / Home working is appropriate. There are times when it is, just as there are times when Office Working is more appropriate. The idea that High Tech Professionals would spend all day playing Quake is as absurd as the idea that we should spend all day cutting code, or all day in meetings.
Telecommuting is not a perk its Common Sense Option to a High Tech Professional.
Copyright provides perfectly adequate protection from software piracy. Patents are inheritently protectionist and anti-competative. IHHO Patents ARE inherently bad.
Why not ?
If the clueless minions of orthodoxy adopted trainsport, the more roads left for me and thee:)
Seriously road transport is becoming increasingly problematic is most developed countries, imagine the problems when you add a Billion Indians & 2 Billion Chinese. Chaos!
Heh, yeah, the "higher taxes" thing worked oh-so-well for Mondale in '84. You think they'd learn....
At least he is honesty to tell the "truth" about an issue, even though a large proportion of the electorate would find his position unpalatable.
That makes him a man of principal, and consequently more worthy than either Bush or Gore.
Under UK Employment law people have traditionally had a "reasonable expectation of privacy" whilst at work.
It was actually illegal for an employer to monitor personal telephone calls. Since personal calls are a common perk in the UK. If they are allowed they should be private.
This was extended to include email (well any personal data on a computer) by the Data Protection Act. RIP, reverses this (and other) legal protections.