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User: matrix29

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  1. Re:What???? on Business Software Alliance "Grace Period" · · Score: 1

    TV licensing? What the $%#@#$?

    Even better, the television program seasons last 6 episodes. So a great show like Red Dwarf which has lasted many seasons only has the minimal quantity of episodes of one season of American television.

    The upside is a bigger budget to devote to the sets and polishing the comedy writing to a shine. The downside is very few series seem to reach the standard which the dreadfully short seasons require in quality and skill.

    Though they may get a better Monty Python or Faulty Towers or Doctor Who they get a very limited number of episodes. On the other upside here is that really rotten programs do not survive long (though there are god-awful exceptions too). Finally as the Monty Python crew reminds us... "BBC Programmers have an intellectual capacity much less broad than the average penguin."

  2. Re:Just like Inspector Gadget ... on Computer Chips Exploding for Science · · Score: 1

    Other possible security or military applications of this explosive might be the construction of information-collecting devices that self-destruct ..."

    Andersen should have equipped its auditors at Enron with these. Also we can finally realize the movie "Deadlock" where prisoners have embedded ID chips instead of those unweildly explosive collars.

    I've had a lark of a thought - negative image detonation devices for celebrities. Just think of the day Bill Gates releases the next scam version of Windows and it just keeps crashing.

    Bill: "We've succeeded in innovating our software by making it even more better bug-free."

    Consumer (after installing the new software): "God damn! It's been a week and Windows has locked up solid 20 times despite Gate's claim of it being bug-free! What a fraud! Where is that celebrity punishment device?"

    Bill Gate's managers: "Sir, you're getting dangerously close to overlimiting your publically controlled brain-detonation device. You've exceeded your monthly safety margin of 3 million people being angry enough at you to wish you dead. If you piss off more than 38 people you're going to have your brain exploded."

    Bill: "I am the king! I decide who is happy and who is sad. How dare you explain things to me? People love me because I make their lives easier."

    Manager: "But Mr. Gates, the customers are not happy with your deactivating all previous versions of Windows and charging $2000 to allow people to access their hard drives again."

    Bill: "The people love me and they love Windows. It isn't the best-selling software in the world for nothing."

    Manager: "Whatever. Just don't stand to close to me. This is a brand new shirt."

  3. Re:Hmm... on AOL/TW Plans for $230 Monthly Cable Bill · · Score: 1

    Other alternatives have popped up in recent years...in
    particular, Fox News Channel doesn't have the far-left tilt that infects most
    other media outlets.


    Yeah, I'd hate my "conservative news" to have a shred of honesty and accuracy

    Just go to FAUX NEWS and enjoy the lies. They delude, I deride.
    http://www.fair.org/activism/white-house-vandalism .html

    The daily howler reveals the FAUX NEWS lies for what they are.
    http://www.dailyhowler.com/h020899_2.shtml

    http://www.geocities.com/dearkandb/goplies2.html
    http://www.dailyhowler.com/index.shtml

  4. Re:The Truth about the CIA on Northern Light Technology Makes Deal WIth C.I.A. · · Score: 1

    Actually, the CIA has helped overthrow third world despots or has helped prevent or thwart the efforts of colonial powers to attack thirdworld countries. It has nothing to do with "politically connected companies": this is a myth long ago dispelled and is only believed by a politically uninformed 1 to 5% or so of the population.

    Sure... and Augusto Pinochet saved us from the terrible threat of Argentina invading the United States.
    http://www.lakota.clara.net/

    Wait... I've got a better one... Manuel Noriega
    protected us from fierce banana-weilding attackers.
    http://www.cnn.com/resources/newsmakers/world/na me rica/noriega.html

    How about... Saddam Hussain?

    Or... Peru's President Alberto Fujimori?
    http://www.csrp.org/rw/rw1081.htm

    I can go on and on.
    Just search Google for CIA dictator.

    All petty tyrants served up by the CIA to do a few basic deeds: Provide growth & processing of narcotics for the George H.W. Bush drug-smuggling empire and provide a cover for the Nazi-controlled CIA to bankrupt nations so they may buy up mineral rights, oil land, media control, political elections, and crush the thinking majority under the thumb of the insane Nazi minority. The CIA has no interest in protecting America and is in fact the biggest danger to freedom and sanity in the world.

    Peddle your fraud elsewhere shill.

  5. Re:Perfect. on Philips Says Compact Discs Can't be Copyprotected · · Score: 1

    Well, the really big difference between Phillips CD patent and many that are being used now is that the CD patent was truly innovative. It's not a patent over a process or of something totally obvious.

    Certainly not like poking bumps in a wheel made of tin and rotating it under tiny metal strips which go ping as rotates away.

    Novel that they shrunk the process.
    Not that I'd nitpick or anything...

  6. Re:Be careful! on Embedded Linux On a High Speed Camera · · Score: 1

    Before you know it you'll find out that your camera has been infected with a virus that has posted all your nude and private pictures all over the Internet.

    Even worse...
    The camera sends all of your nude and private pictures to a pay for entry website and labels them "Trailer Trash Exposed". Which then will get a video expose made of them and sold on FAUX NETWORK as "Girls Gone Wild for Trailer Trash Exposed". Which then is made into a police drama for the ever-moronic FAUX NEWS views called "World's Scariest Police Chases of Girls Gone Wild for Trailer Trash Exposed". Which will become so popular with the knuckle-dragging folks that a sequel titled "Leisure Suit Larry's Filming Dumb Sluts while World's Scariest Police chase Girls Gone Wild for Trailer Trash Exposed" and sold during Bill O'Reilly's "All Spin Zone".

    Thusly leaving the American public so feebleminded to sit idle as their country is driven full-steam into a full-out depression while the unelected crook snorts another line of cocaine. Meanwhile the sleaze in ENRON bails and flees to other countries. Christian Reconstructionist John Ashcroft is then driven into a personal punishment dilemma over whether he should be frantically masturbating or offended that even his low levels of intellectual titillation have finally been met. Sad how our great nation has fallen to such blatent crooks and conmen and how horribly silent the voting public has been to the treasonous coup.

  7. Re:100:1 ? I don't think so... on ZeoSync Makes Claim of Compression Breakthrough · · Score: 1

    I get the idea that this part of the algorithm is perfected by them...its the decompresser that's giving them fits...

    Step 1: Steal Underpants
    Step 3: Profit!

    We're still working on step 2


    Step 2: Take Pictures in erotic poses and sell them

  8. Re:how can this be? on ZeoSync Makes Claim of Compression Breakthrough · · Score: 1

    How big is a 'large enough sample'? Seems the larger the sample, the more likelyhood of getting longer matches.

    Take a series which for a purposes is much simpler.

    DABCDDDCABCABCBDABC
    4 Characters = 0,1,2,3
    3012333201201213012
    Convert to HEX values again
    31BF8619C6

    The space required for indexing should not exceed the space gained in compression.

  9. Re:100:1 I dont think so on ZeoSync Makes Claim of Compression Breakthrough · · Score: 1

    while it sounds nice it's implausible. That amount of data cannot be compressed beyond each unique character + compression data. Unless long repeating strings appear. Of course then it would not be random. P.S. FIRST POST WOOHOOO!!!

    There is a bell curve of potential data sets to be compressed. The past few decades have concentrated on the ordered sets. There is still a wealth of highly disordered sets to tackle which are still highly compressible. The difficulty comes with averages when an ordered data set becomes higher in entropy it is only reaching an average level of disorder. A highly chaotic set also has the limitations of becoming stuck at the average level of entropy when compressed.

    If you look at the highly chaotic, but precisely ordered, sets of Pi, e, the Sine/Cosine/Tangent functions, the logarithms, the square/cubic/etc.. roots of prime numbers and non integers there is a huge level of precise order which able to be tapped to overcome Shannon limitations. Those set modifiers require more calculations and search times though. Understanding this is understanding the true maximal limitations of pattern-based compression (though there are better methods always dependent of the set).

    There is even a N-Cell Life program that overcomes the base brute-force calculation time limitations. To those who think there is nothing new in math have simply cared not to learn much about math lately.

  10. Re:Slightly odd on XBox Defects Draw Ire · · Score: 1

    considering that Microsofts previous hardware (mice, joysticks, steering wheels, keyboards) have all been very solid and reliable products

    I owned two Microsoft Optical 5-button mice. Both died on me two months after purchase. They died of what I call "Blink-Death" the mouse would freeze onscreen, blink, and then start working again. Then about a week later the mouse would freeze onscreen, blink, and the crapfest Windows OS would lockup solid. The only solution was to plug the mouse into the USB port (as it locked up in the mouse port) and the mouse would then "reboot". A week later of tolerating the flaky Microsoft mouse and it died completely.

    Although jaded from Microsoft's crapfest hardware I swallowed my pride and bought another Microsoft 5-button optical mouse as there was nothing better on the market at the time. Two months later the same "Blink-Death" occurred again. I eventually found the Belkin 5-button optical mouse and will never buy Microsoft hardware again.

  11. Re:coincidence? on Searchable Audio/Video Technology · · Score: 1

    If anyone can fold a canadian dollar into a mapleleaf, it would be amazing, since the canadian dollar is a coin!

    I'll get my Black & Decker "Dremel" cutter or borrow some time on the local bandsaw.

    Never underestimate the resources of an idiot with too much time on their hands.

  12. Re:So why do I need 64bits? on 64-bit Computing: Looking Forward to 2002 · · Score: 1

    With 32 bits you can address 4GB.
    With 64 bits you can address twice what you calculated.


    Bzzzzzt! Wrong.

    If you want TWICE the addressing you need 33 bits (each bit is 2^N thus 2^32 * 2 = 2^33). Open up the calculator and do 2^64. That's equal to 17179869184 GB. That should be enough even with WinBlows Bloatware.

  13. Re:Please explain... on Fuel-Cell Power With Methanol · · Score: 1

    Why would refueling be preferable to recharging?

    You mean an 4 to 8-hour recharge to a 30-second swap of fuel containers?

    Let me ponder that...
    Hours verses near-instant?

  14. Re:Dell. on DVD Drives Defeat Cactus Data Shield · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wednesday November 14
    9:51 PM EST
    Steve Badly Beaten

    http://www.bbspot.com/News/2001/11/steve.html

  15. Re:Design Patterns are abstract? on Thinking in Patterns: Download the First Version · · Score: 1

    It's like the difference between Legos and carpentry. Sure, it's a little harder to cut wood to the right length and you nails or screws to put it together, but would you want to live in a house made of legos?

    Learn what an algorithm is. Better, learn lots of algorithms. Don't just grab a bunch of patterns out of a bin and slap them together.


    But the truth is...
    There is a market and legitimate use for clipart.

    The same is true for code snippets (provided they are universally global calls or local OOP code unlikely to be duplicated by accident).

    The trick with clipart is having a user wise enough for them not to overuse it or accidentally imply the exact opposite of what the clipart is meaning to convey.

    The trick with code snippets is to make them universal like an #include library call or ungoofable internal code calls.

    The basic goal of both is to speed up making a workable product without requiring a genius or artist for the person trying to output useful and error-free results. I view a book like this in the same manner as "Numerical Recipes in C" or books of circuit diagrams. There will have to be a brain in the person hoping to use these, but they don't have to waste time reinventing the wheel (though there is nothing wrong with that).

  16. Re:Nice treat for young kids in the new age on Annual NORAD Santa Tracker Up And Running · · Score: 5, Funny

    My 4 year old daughter was spun up due to all the Christmas excitement. We were having trouble getting her to sleep until we showed her where santa was on the map - he's getting close! So off to bed she went without a peep.

    Dad: "See little Susie, there's Santa and he's heading right for us."

    Susie: "Thank you daddy. I love you." (Kisses father on the cheek and goes off to bed followed by her brother)

    Older brother: "Susie."

    Susie: "What?"

    Brother: "NORAD tracks nuclear missles. Something is heading for our house and it's measured by megaton nuclear detonations and our entire town painfully burning to radioactive cinders. Goodnight Susie."

    Susie: "?!?" "?!?" "!!!" "DAD!!!"

    (And this is supposed to make children comfortable - HOW?!?)

  17. Re:This is sorely needed on Making Linux Printing as Easy as in Windows · · Score: 1

    How come these small things are always lacking in linux?

    And yet they had this way back in my Amiga days.
    (Though back then I used a spanking-new HP Deskjet 500C)

    http://www.amigapro.com/turboprint7.html

    Go to their website
    http://www.turboprint.de/

  18. Re:Pronounciation on Megabytes (MB) or Mebibytes (MiB)? · · Score: 1

    "Maybe Byte"?

    MiB?

    Men In Black a-bytes?

    What else would people think?

  19. Re:I hate these arguments on MacOSX Vs BeOS ShootOut · · Score: 1

    On the other hand Windows XP plays games, does not crash, will run all their favorite software, is useful to those who know what they are doing, considered faster and more reliable, generally more suited to business and (especially) software development.

    Funny, my friend installed a game Sunday night. While trying to figure out the unusual interface the game had I hit SHIFT five times in a row. This popped up the Accessibility menu for the SHIFT key. This also locked up Windows XP solid. LIMEWIRE also locks up their system solid now.

    I have not found WinXP to be any less crashproof than any other version of Windows. It does create a decent crash log now though. And that does help on finding a better solution to the issues. WinXP being touted as crash-proof is just more bullshit.

  20. Re:NOISE on Microsoft Antitrust Update · · Score: 1

    After the folks in the black helicoptors stopped coming and giving free rides, the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy fizzled out. Many of our members (who, indeed, came from all parts of the political spectrum, but shared the common bond of enjoying helicopter rides and those marvelous brownies Phyllis Shaffley always brought) went looking for other secret organizations to join.

    You mean the Monsanto Black Helecoptors? The ones used to mutilate cattle to get farmers to sell their farms for pennies? The ones used to enlarge their multinational control?

    And yes there is a huge Rightwingnut conspiracy by the Nazis to buy up all of the economic, mineral, political, news, energy, and manufacturing interests. They aren't seeking control in just America, they have already spread their tentacles into the cores of many other nations and have experimented with death programs many times over the past few years.

  21. Re:karma whore on Workstations For Poor 3D-artists · · Score: 1

    I'm sorry - would a nice penis bird make the day better?

    This penis bird?

  22. Re:Australian Camels on African animals to roam Australia ? · · Score: 1

    Actually Camels are the only introduced species in Oz that arn't bad for the enviroment.

    Maybe not explicitly, but think of how much water a camel can consume and how that denies water to other animals seeking out rare waterholes?

    During winter, how long can camels survive without drinking?
    3 months

    How much water can an average camel drink in 10 minutes?
    Nearly 30 gallons (114 liters)

    Though, this species of salt-water drinking camel may be the godsend people in arid regions are looking for as a source of food and fresh water
    Salt-Water Drinking Camel

  23. Re:Won't work on African animals to roam Australia ? · · Score: 1

    They're a species of toad [google.com], introduced to Australia in the '30s as a failed attempt at pest control. They're named after sugarcane, which was the crop they were originally intended to protect.

    It also introduced the concept of Toad Licking to the Austrailian youth.

  24. Re:Won't work on African animals to roam Australia ? · · Score: 1

    on a more USian note, how about introducing a few hundred wolves back into the ecosystem to at least nibble at the incredible deer population? what's a few small children, anyway?

    Damnit! Wolves don't eat children! Anyway, wolves were native to the area until ranchers started hunting them to protect their livestock herds.

    Sounds like you need some robotic killing machines. I have named them "Screamers" for coincidence sake. The Screamers gain their energy from killing the deer population and living off the sugars in their blood and when the deer are gone the robots shut off for lack of power. The screamers aren't designed to kill children or adults though they are highly adaptive to ensure the most efficient deer minimization. Just send me $5 billion dollars and you'll have no more nuisance species. What could go wrong?

  25. Re:Government Performance Reviews on Germany Wants To Put Time Limits On Porn · · Score: 1

    This reminds me of that official that said masturbation should be taught in the schools. I believe she exceeded the red line on the stupidity gauge and got fired.

    Why is that idea so stupid?

    Kid: "MOM! I got a D- in masturbation!"

    Mother: "Oh son, how many times do I have to tell you? Up and down. 'Slapping it' is just a expression."
    ______________

    Teacher to parent: "It seems your boy is only masturbating at a 4th grade level. We've shown him porn movie after porn movie and he doesn't seem to get the concept. How can we help your child if you, the parent, aren't willing to help him with his studies?"
    _______________

    Teacher: "Now children, tonight you have to dig deep into your parent's porn collection for show-and-tell. I want to see some Big Titty Bimbos and some Macho Leather Studs magazines. Extra credit for some Falcon Studio videotapes."
    _______________

    At least that's what the parents thought. Not the basic concept of "Masturbation is an acceptable method of not engaging in actions which will result in sex." But then again, not paying attention to personal cleanliness and having no social skills will do that too. So what the heck, let them have their handjobs as they won't meet nice people.