It has already been shown that the insertion of IL-4 into orthopox viruses (like variola (smallpox)) defeats the protection conferred by vaccination with vaccinia virus. Seriously. (I'm at home now, and not inclined to look up the reference and don't remember it offhand...) The point here is that by developing this animal model they can safely study a potential weapon that is already out there. Trust me, our pants are already around our ankles and there's a lot of work to be done to make the world safer.
I'm curious how much useful information could be gleaned by looking at the flow of say, email messages (or telephone calls, etc.), between two or more sources.
Using electronic surveillance to track the flow of electronic communications between a web of people would be almost as informative as knowing what they said: locations of servers used, telephone numbers dialed from, sender and reciever, length of message, frequency of messages, this could all be pretty good stuff.
This was raised in Stephenson's Cryptonomicon.
And if "bad guys" are using electronic communications, why not just shut them down? Cell phones stop working, email gets "lost", servers get hacked, ISPs get bombed (how hard would it be to sever small mountainous country "A"'s electronic access to the outside world?)
Unless you have the resources to run your own cable, you are really at the mercy of other corporations, who can be bullied, and can't hide in a cave in the hills.
Re:This case is tame compared to John Moore's
on
The Immortal Cell
·
· Score: 1
This is why the University of California (at least UCSD, ca. 1994, when I was still in the Golden State) makes researchers promise that primary cells (those isolated directly from patients) will not be retained for more than two weeks.
The 41st anniversiary of Admiral Shepherd's Mercury 7 flight is May 5th.
Just out of curiosity, are there any slashdot readers who worked on historical engineering projects such as Mercury? I think a "Slashdot Stories" section where (older? older than me, at least!) readers could share stories and experience would be fasinating.
This is an interesting question. I'd like to offer a different perspective -- the military.
Consider a young butter-bar lieutenant. Sure, he or she's hot stuff -- in command of that platoon -- but common sense would suggest that at times they shut up and listen to their platoon sergeant. However, what the platoon sergeant has to say is only a recommendation -- it is up to the LT (and not an NCO) to make the call and give the order. To just do what the sergeant says is not good leadership. Orders come from the top down.
You, my young friend, must acknowledge that your supervisor is the one who issues the marching orders. It's their butt on the line when the fit hits the shan, and as a consequence, they have the privilege of making whatever decision they want.
Next consider a major, serving as a staff officer for a colonel or general. They are a subject matter expert, be it in administration, intelligence, operations and training, supply, or whatever. It is their obligation to provide their candid opinion to the commander. This is best done politely and respectfully. (Hint: saying the word "sir" or "ma'am" will not kill you.) Once again, whether the advice is taken is up to the commander, but you must offer your expert opinion. Once a decision is made by the commander, no matter how assenine you consider it, you must support it.
These things take maturity. I could not have done them a decade ago when I first started working. But time mellows people out, and before you know it, you'll be the person making decisions. And then you can remember to solicit and appreciate the honest opinions of your subordinates.
--
jvev atvf gurm rabs pern gvba
Re:DoD Computer Systems, OSs, and Commercial Softw
on
DoD and Net Attacks
·
· Score: 1
Sometimes when you know you're right you don't necessarily want to have to tell your commanding officer and/or general in some cases to fuck off.
As an Army officer (but not speaking officially as such at the moment), I can tell you it is your duty to tell your CO she or he is full of shit (when that is the case), though I would suggest being a lot more polite and tactful. Don't just complain--provide actionable solutions to problems you see! However, once a decision is made, you need to support that decision as if it was your own.
If you are affiliated with the Army, check out the Integrity and Loyalty "Army Values." Most Army officers I know are trying to do the best job they can, within a framework largely designed to support the combat arms branches, rather than the combat support or combat service support elements.
This situation is very similar to the trouble that can be caused by errors in the FBI's NICS (National Instant Check System) database that is consulted prior to purchasing a firearm.
This article talks about the types of confusion that can occur when dealing with legal and criminal records.
Despite the claim that you are "innocent until proven guilty" in the US judicial system, in many cases that's just not true.
I enjoyed Cryptonomicon in spite of Randy Waterhouse...
I agree. Randy Waterhouse is supposed to be an "everynerd" in the sense that most people think of nerds today (read: many slashdotters). In the book, he meets other types of nerds. For example: Amy Shaftoe = diving nerd Bobby Shaftoe = Marine Raider nerd Enoch Root = Philosophy nerd
The book becomes interesting when Randy's horizons are broadened. The lesson: nerds need to cross-train! There's lots more hacking in the world that needs to be done than just at a computer. Take off that calculator-watch, chuck it in the South Pacific, and do something!
Slashdot Mirror
It has already been shown that the insertion of IL-4 into orthopox viruses (like variola (smallpox)) defeats the protection conferred by vaccination with vaccinia virus. Seriously. (I'm at home now, and not inclined to look up the reference and don't remember it offhand...) The point here is that by developing this animal model they can safely study a potential weapon that is already out there. Trust me, our pants are already around our ankles and there's a lot of work to be done to make the world safer.
-EJW
Using electronic surveillance to track the flow of electronic communications between a web of people would be almost as informative as knowing what they said: locations of servers used, telephone numbers dialed from, sender and reciever, length of message, frequency of messages, this could all be pretty good stuff.
This was raised in Stephenson's Cryptonomicon.
And if "bad guys" are using electronic communications, why not just shut them down? Cell phones stop working, email gets "lost", servers get hacked, ISPs get bombed (how hard would it be to sever small mountainous country "A"'s electronic access to the outside world?)
Unless you have the resources to run your own cable, you are really at the mercy of other corporations, who can be bullied, and can't hide in a cave in the hills.
--
jvev atvf gurm rabs pern gvba
--
jvev atvf gurm rabs pern gvba
Just out of curiosity, are there any slashdot readers who worked on historical engineering projects such as Mercury? I think a "Slashdot Stories" section where (older? older than me, at least!) readers could share stories and experience would be fasinating.
--
jvev atvf gurm rabs pern gvba
Consider a young butter-bar lieutenant. Sure, he or she's hot stuff -- in command of that platoon -- but common sense would suggest that at times they shut up and listen to their platoon sergeant. However, what the platoon sergeant has to say is only a recommendation -- it is up to the LT (and not an NCO) to make the call and give the order. To just do what the sergeant says is not good leadership. Orders come from the top down.
You, my young friend, must acknowledge that your supervisor is the one who issues the marching orders. It's their butt on the line when the fit hits the shan, and as a consequence, they have the privilege of making whatever decision they want.
Next consider a major, serving as a staff officer for a colonel or general. They are a subject matter expert, be it in administration, intelligence, operations and training, supply, or whatever. It is their obligation to provide their candid opinion to the commander. This is best done politely and respectfully. (Hint: saying the word "sir" or "ma'am" will not kill you.) Once again, whether the advice is taken is up to the commander, but you must offer your expert opinion. Once a decision is made by the commander, no matter how assenine you consider it, you must support it.
These things take maturity. I could not have done them a decade ago when I first started working. But time mellows people out, and before you know it, you'll be the person making decisions. And then you can remember to solicit and appreciate the honest opinions of your subordinates.
--
jvev atvf gurm rabs pern gvba
As an Army officer (but not speaking officially as such at the moment), I can tell you it is your duty to tell your CO she or he is full of shit (when that is the case), though I would suggest being a lot more polite and tactful. Don't just complain--provide actionable solutions to problems you see! However, once a decision is made, you need to support that decision as if it was your own.
If you are affiliated with the Army, check out the Integrity and Loyalty "Army Values." Most Army officers I know are trying to do the best job they can, within a framework largely designed to support the combat arms branches, rather than the combat support or combat service support elements.
--
jvev atvf gurm rabs pern gvba
This article talks about the types of confusion that can occur when dealing with legal and criminal records.
Despite the claim that you are "innocent until proven guilty" in the US judicial system, in many cases that's just not true.
--
jvev atvf gurm rabs pern gvba
I agree. Randy Waterhouse is supposed to be an "everynerd" in the sense that most people think of nerds today (read: many slashdotters). In the book, he meets other types of nerds. For example:
Amy Shaftoe = diving nerd
Bobby Shaftoe = Marine Raider nerd
Enoch Root = Philosophy nerd
The book becomes interesting when Randy's horizons are broadened. The lesson: nerds need to cross-train! There's lots more hacking in the world that needs to be done than just at a computer. Take off that calculator-watch, chuck it in the South Pacific, and do something!
--
jvev atvf gurm rabs pern gvba