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... I think this calls for an ORGANIZED* protest at the US Mission... perhaps the one outside the U.N. would be apropriate.
*Organized means providing a few weeks notice to the community, obtaining the proper permits, and notifying the press... all things that could be very helpful in insuring a LARGE and VISABLE turnout.
Ya know there are two possible causes from the minute information they've released (It was caused by a freak failure when a hard disk controler crashed).
1) Caused by a freak failure when a hard disk controler crashed.
2) They've said they have to restore from backups.
If both are true, then it sounds like they were using a distributed database (or filesystem?) and one machine going down very badly managed to infect lots of others... doesn't bode well, especially when MS's solution to competing in the Server environment is traditionally to Cluster lots of machines together. The more you have the more chance one may have problems.
If the first statement is false, then the only thing I can think of is that the system was infected by either an outside source, or some other malicious virus. Standard Operating Procedure in this case would be to disconnect the machines, diagnose the problem (so new machines wouldn't be infected), and then restore from backup. Its also possible someone over-reacted and they went into this mode when in actuallity Item 1 was true.
I seem to remember reading that AMD had licensed a whole bunch of tech from DEC (bus archetecture etc.), and that their biggest issue right now was predictor logic. It seems that the main reason Intel would buy Alpha IP is to keep someone else (like their prime competitor) from doing it first.
I wonder if "MicroFUD" might get around the infringing problem, after all. There is a marked difference between MicroSoft (TM) and MicroFUD... of course if they wish to claim that it confuses the user, I'd love a copy of the trial transcript. >:)
True. A single PCI slot would open the door of possibilities for the device (Firewall, Live Audio recorder, Time-Shifted Video recording, etc.)
Of course will it be too big then?
Maybe instead of a PCI slot they need to add two standard PCMCIA slots. There are lots of cards out there that would be available, and they'd just need to put a fan above it to keep the temperature down (they tend to get real hot which might preclude server use though). Hmmm
Not when you forget to include things like S&H and other overhead in your cost, and then insist that your building brand name (which is much less meaningful on-line), and that what you lack in margin by selling below cost, you'll make up with in volume.
Lots of companies had some bad buisness ideas.
What RedHat is doing is essentially selling a non-managed service. They have put together a CD of Linux related stuff. Integrated it together, and, for a price, will ship you a copy. Their costs stem from integration, documentation, and package/production fees, but there is a tremendous amount of value that they (and other Distros) provide in terms of integration. This is what they charge you for (and what a fair number of us will pay varying amounts for).
I'll preface everything by saying I've never given this sort of class and I'm not a professional teacher:)
That aside...
Two things I think you need to do. First off see where the class is. Some of them may have computers at home. Some may be hackers in their free time (you also make mention about age range). Some may have no exposure to computers (hard to imagine but true). Some may have programing background the others, nil (or NULL if you prefer::grin::)
The second, start with some basics.
If nothing else, cover what the parts of the computer are, and how they work IN GENERAL. You don't need to get too specific but one or two quick overviews would
1) allow you to have a basic knowledge to build on
2) help ease many future tech support calls
3) have some basic lesson that you can start with, while you are still deciding how much they know, so you know where to take the class.
It would also depend on what sort of equipment you have available (1 computer per student, 1 per 2 or 3, 1 for the class).
Beyond the basics of what computers are, and how they work, you could also work on both GUIs (ie, what they are and how they work), as well as some basic programming.
For GUIs you could work with either Windows, Mac, Gnome/KDE, or any other. Try to teach the concepts they include (point and click, drag and drop, menu bars, etc.). Even for those people who use computers, a lot of the time they don't look at the GUIs. How many times do you stop and think about the functionality of the buttons and layouts? (or how much better it might be done?)
For programming try a simple scripting language like Perl or Python. (depending on your preference). If you don't have computers available, you could also try the basic technique of having them write simple scripts and acting like the computers themselves (follow the instructions and see what happens).
It all depends on the ago of the children. With kids you can try explaining programing as commands to make something happen (you want to tell the dog what to do, first go outside... but the door is closed, which direction should it go, etc). For GUI development you could work with a paint program (there are oodles of them for kids, and it might work well), for older kids I'd try a word processor and/or spreadsheet since its a valuable skill to have. Also, don't forget that many of them will already be familiar with Web browsers.
If you have limited resources that might be another thought, teach them how to build web pages. This includes some creativity, some programming (okay HTML isn't programming per se, but Javascript could be), and some general computer skills (how do you enter the files? How do I use the internet, etc.).
Sorry for the rambling.
Hope these ideas help some. Let me know how it goes.
Whatever else your feelings, the potential of debate and discusion from those Keynote speeches and that panel should be enough to draw a decent size crowd. That should sell conferance tickets/media/etc.
Should make O'reily a few dollars (not that I wouldn't go if I could::grin::)
While Closed source apps for Open Source OS's is a nice idea, and a viable buisness model, there is a proviso:
It only works, if your product is worth someone paying good money for.
In the case of MS, they definately make products that are considered the de-facto standard. You'd think this would encourage them to make it available on other platforms, however their dominance of the platform AND the app market ("Office Suites") translates into complete control of the industry.
If they released Office for Linux (or BSD) then they wouldn't have the same "tightly integrated development relationship" with the OS developers. They would be forced to compete with others on a much more equal playing field. Plus, I'm not sure if even WINE could make Office compile on Linux, since so many of the "standard" DLLs are incorporated within the product (note that I'm not talking about running MS apps with the DLLs available, but rather compiling a Linux native version of the app).
Lastly, they wouldn't be able to force the upgrade cycle as much, since you could always upgrade the OS, without necessarily upgrading the Office Suite, and vice-versa. That alone is reason it will probably never happen.
Does MS have to pay out billions and billions of dollars?
Or will ATT be happy with MS removing the offending code from all versions of windows present and past? (in addition to a "smaller" fine?)
I am particularly fascinated by the idea of punitary damages, which traditionally triple damages.
Or will AT&T settle for having a link to AT&T Worldnet (their on-line service), be placed on the desktop of all newly installed machines running Win2.002? And would microsoft love to let them, place their MSN icon next to them (and slightly higher of course), and then drop AOL from the CD, since they are obviously being pro-competition by letting AT&T have a place on the desktop (traddtionly an MS only space).
Sounds far-fetched, but eerily possible.
Re:You soapbox trolls are sprouting up all over.
on
Killing Video Games
·
· Score: 2
And who exactly is saying that to little Jonny? Mommy and daddy who took little Jonny to the movies
No, mommy and daddy who are sitting in front of the TV with Jonny (best case scenario, as opposed to absentee parents using the TV as a babby sitter). The problem wasn't so much Trailers running at movies (although this was happening also), as trailers being run durring kids/family programing (afternoon childrens shows, and pre-9pm).
Under her bill -- you can't make this up -- minors could kill simulated aliens and animals at will, however. As for other "weapons," the bill doesn't address violent games that don't involve guns. There must be something in the state's drinking water. U.S. Senator and former vice-presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman has introduced legislation in the U.S. Congress that would make it a federal crime to show R-rated movie trailers in any place where children might possibly see them.
Okay, I'll agree with most of the article. The bill that nearly went through was rediculous, however do you actually follow political issues? My understanding of the what Senetor Lieberman was trying to accomplish was to force the Movie industry to regulate themselves, by not playing Movie trailers for R rated movies, during PG and G rated films in the middle of the afternoon. Essentially the movie industry (those bastions of morality) were doing targeted advertising of trailers for R rated movies durring childrens programing. "Gee Jonny, I don't know why that trailer was on during Power Rangers, but your a bit young to see that movie."
Guess what? It scared the movie industry enough to clean up their act, and the bill died quietly.
While government regulation is bad, its even worse when you have a monopolistic power (MPAA, RIAA, MS) that has to answer to no one. I'd rather government threaten to use a big stick once in a while, if it forces the monopoly to do something about a problem issue instead of simply granting them free reign to do what they want.
The whole industry is becoming more resistant to FUD, IMO, even where that FUD is reasonable (iMac not having a floppy drive-- I really like some other Macs, but not that one for that reason). This si very good for open source. Furthermore, Opensource is like an organism-- by the time you see it, it has already reached critical mass and is growing rapidly, IMO.
To use your own analogy, much like an organism, we've been fed so much FUD by MS, that we've developed an immunity:)
Now... what happens when someone picks a serious fight with a member of the family?
I think we all agree (at least on some high essoteric level), we just prefer to fight with family:)
"No one can push your buttons like a family member. Of course thats because they installed them!" --unknown
Re:Spammers doing themselves in
on
RFC for Spammers
·
· Score: 2
Hmmm point taken.
Of course I didn't state how much a license would cost, and perhaps non-profit orginizations, or private individuals/private groups could be granted cheap/free licenses. I'm just trying to see if there is any way to stop/find/kill the people responsible for most of the SPAM ('course I feel the offers for credit cards that keep piling up in my mailbox).
I wonder if the contract says that he gives up all rights to Sue them, or just to sew them over this issue.
If they do have the money it would be an interesting (don't know the legality) tactic to allow them to later change the rules of the service or what-not, and point to this contracts "no sue" clause as protection.
Yet one more reason a lawyer should be involved on your side. (and you should think of a different group to do buisness with).
hehehe funny. I know I'ts gotten to the point that I'll get the same piece of SPAM 2-3 times within a few days. You'd think the companies sending this drek out would try NOT to do this. All it does is innure us to it, and make it easier to spot the SPAM even before (or very soon after) you open the e-mail.
Purhaps the best thing would be for it to be illegal to send bulk e-mail in the U.S. without a license (or without registering a Postal Address to go with that e-mail). Then, just maintain a list (updated once a month or whenever), of valid licenses that can be included as part of the SMTP Headers. If the header isn't there, and its a bulk e-mail, make it a Mail Fraud crime. Invalid License #, Mail Fraud. Faked License #, Mail Fraud. That way the Government can 1) charge people for bulk commercial e-mail (the licensing fee), which will automatically help cut back on e-mails. 2) impose fines, which will also help cut back on e-mail.
It could fix things, I just don't think anyone would really notice, or pay much attention.
Although one could define installing Linux unasked malicious (I would even though I use Linux), and generating SPAM, or portscanning systems could be construed as malicious, I suppose the virus doesn't have to be.
Okay. I'll take the challenge (of design if not implimentation:).
For a virus to be non-malicious and still raise public awareness enough it would have to propogate itself (unchanged), but instead of wiping the targets hard-drive, or removing files, etc. it could generate a list of known vulnerabilities (as best as it can), that the target's system is vulnerable to, and e-mails it (or sets it up to run on reboot in the autoexec.bat and then after reading that doc, you can continue to standard bootup). This would 1) show people they are vulnerable, 2) detail (to some extent) they are vulnerable, 3) its non-malicious nature might allow it to propigate by "benign" distribution (as a security tool). I could see one person saying, "Hey, let me send you this file, it lists all the problems on your system". Avoiding the need to work on anything more.
Hmmm you make me wonder if instead of a virus the answer might lie in a Free/OSS P.H.D. Windows Security Audit Tool (phd = Push Here Dummy).
I'm not aware of one but I'm going to start looking. If it was "Cool" enough people would distribute it like they do other "Flash Programs" (not suggesting writing it in flash, just an example).
From "The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot" (ran out of room in the quote limit) From a Corporate head to the lead scientist as Rusty charges huge alien and gets squished (again).:)
The SGI and IBM guys have worked hard to get around every one of these barriers in order to get these results. This really shows that both these companies are very dedicated to make Linux be the top choice as DB servers in the future.
You're right, they are very dedicated. The reason is they share a common enemy, "Microsoft". Without Linux as an OS SGI machines are going to dissapear as mid-high level workstations (MS Sure won't support them), and if they can be freed to concentrate on Hardware over Software, their server line might keep selling (they have a great product, but to quote an engineer I worked with 3 years ago when expecting a Solaris machine and logging into an SGI machine "Irix? What is Irix?").
IBM's grudge? Gee, can we say OS/2? Okay, so they probably don't still hold a grudge over that, but they have certainly bucked horns against MS every chance they could (or so it seems).
Its great to have two heavy hitters in our corner. Lets just remember that this is still business and people are still greedy. They're here because it suits them, which suits me fine. Common goals can take you preaty far.
Also, there have been many times that an article gets posted just so people stop submitting it, even though they'd rather not.
Maybe we need a new slashdot topic "Enough Already!!!" that we can uncheck if we don't want to see articles that everyone submits but they don't want to post. Then just make it a slashbox so people might be forced to see the top X headlines, but at least it will go by fast:)
Gee... so if I undo something on the windows panel, it may not be undone because the group properties take precedence over the systemwide settings (doesn't make sense as an implimentation "feature")
If you understood directories and group policies, you would understand why this is so. Of course, most people "happy to run Linux" don't get the purpose of directories (NDS, ADS or otherwise) to control and organize information within a company.
ÕÕ
I tried not to act like a zelot when I posted the message. I'll admit to being rather distrustful of MS, but I also included a link to their take on the issue, as well as a comment that they'd already provided both a workaround and a patch.
Okay, I'll admit I probably don't understand the idea of Directories and Group policies that well. I am mostly a normal user. I've been forced to do some system administration (NT/Unix) for my group due to both Budget constraints and available personel.
What I got out of the MS announcement was that Group policies over-rode system configuration settings. To me this seems like a bad idea sinse it doesn't allow a system level granularity to shut things off (unless I missunderstood).
Please, instead of just brushing off my comment as "You must know nothing", enlighten me. I'm actually curious and will readily accept both new knowledge, and new insight to old knowledge.
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C:\> Load new user ....
Welcome to the MicroSloth new employee registration program.
Please enter new username: billg
I'm sorry. "billg" is taken.
Might I suggest "billg2001"? : N
Might I suggest "billgrulz"? : N
Might I suggest "billg13265"? : N
Please enter new username: billgatessucks
I'm sorry. "billgatessucks" is taken.
Might I suggest "bill_whoneedsmorethan640k_g"? : Y
Thank you for making your selection.
Welcome "bill_whoneedsmorethan640k_g"!
True, the presentation was a DMCA violation...
... I think this calls for an ORGANIZED* protest at the US Mission... perhaps the one outside the U.N. would be apropriate.
*Organized means providing a few weeks notice to the community, obtaining the proper permits, and notifying the press... all things that could be very helpful in insuring a LARGE and VISABLE turnout.
I finally saw Gladiator on DVD recently. I thought it was o-kay. Not great.
There were other movies that could/should have been nominated in its place.
I'm not saying Gladiator was a bad movie, it just wasn't all that special, closer to mediocre personally.
Ya know there are two possible causes from the minute information they've released (It was caused by a freak failure when a hard disk controler crashed).
1) Caused by a freak failure when a hard disk controler crashed.
2) They've said they have to restore from backups.
If both are true, then it sounds like they were using a distributed database (or filesystem?) and one machine going down very badly managed to infect lots of others... doesn't bode well, especially when MS's solution to competing in the Server environment is traditionally to Cluster lots of machines together. The more you have the more chance one may have problems.
If the first statement is false, then the only thing I can think of is that the system was infected by either an outside source, or some other malicious virus. Standard Operating Procedure in this case would be to disconnect the machines, diagnose the problem (so new machines wouldn't be infected), and then restore from backup. Its also possible someone over-reacted and they went into this mode when in actuallity Item 1 was true.
Anybody else think we're hearing the whole story?
I seem to remember reading that AMD had licensed a whole bunch of tech from DEC (bus archetecture etc.), and that their biggest issue right now was predictor logic. It seems that the main reason Intel would buy Alpha IP is to keep someone else (like their prime competitor) from doing it first.
I wonder if "MicroFUD" might get around the infringing problem, after all. There is a marked difference between MicroSoft (TM) and MicroFUD... of course if they wish to claim that it confuses the user, I'd love a copy of the trial transcript. >:)
True. A single PCI slot would open the door of possibilities for the device (Firewall, Live Audio recorder, Time-Shifted Video recording, etc.)
Of course will it be too big then?
Maybe instead of a PCI slot they need to add two standard PCMCIA slots. There are lots of cards out there that would be available, and they'd just need to put a fan above it to keep the temperature down (they tend to get real hot which might preclude server use though). Hmmm
Not when you forget to include things like S&H and other overhead in your cost, and then insist that your building brand name (which is much less meaningful on-line), and that what you lack in margin by selling below cost, you'll make up with in volume.
Lots of companies had some bad buisness ideas.
What RedHat is doing is essentially selling a non-managed service. They have put together a CD of Linux related stuff. Integrated it together, and, for a price, will ship you a copy. Their costs stem from integration, documentation, and package/production fees, but there is a tremendous amount of value that they (and other Distros) provide in terms of integration. This is what they charge you for (and what a fair number of us will pay varying amounts for).
They actually had a viable buisness model :)
I'll preface everything by saying I've never given this sort of class and I'm not a professional teacher :)
::grin::)
That aside...
Two things I think you need to do. First off see where the class is. Some of them may have computers at home. Some may be hackers in their free time (you also make mention about age range). Some may have no exposure to computers (hard to imagine but true). Some may have programing background the others, nil (or NULL if you prefer
The second, start with some basics.
If nothing else, cover what the parts of the computer are, and how they work IN GENERAL. You don't need to get too specific but one or two quick overviews would
1) allow you to have a basic knowledge to build on
2) help ease many future tech support calls
3) have some basic lesson that you can start with, while you are still deciding how much they know, so you know where to take the class.
It would also depend on what sort of equipment you have available (1 computer per student, 1 per 2 or 3, 1 for the class).
Beyond the basics of what computers are, and how they work, you could also work on both GUIs (ie, what they are and how they work), as well as some basic programming.
For GUIs you could work with either Windows, Mac, Gnome/KDE, or any other. Try to teach the concepts they include (point and click, drag and drop, menu bars, etc.). Even for those people who use computers, a lot of the time they don't look at the GUIs. How many times do you stop and think about the functionality of the buttons and layouts? (or how much better it might be done?)
For programming try a simple scripting language like Perl or Python. (depending on your preference). If you don't have computers available, you could also try the basic technique of having them write simple scripts and acting like the computers themselves (follow the instructions and see what happens).
It all depends on the ago of the children. With kids you can try explaining programing as commands to make something happen (you want to tell the dog what to do, first go outside... but the door is closed, which direction should it go, etc). For GUI development you could work with a paint program (there are oodles of them for kids, and it might work well), for older kids I'd try a word processor and/or spreadsheet since its a valuable skill to have. Also, don't forget that many of them will already be familiar with Web browsers.
If you have limited resources that might be another thought, teach them how to build web pages. This includes some creativity, some programming (okay HTML isn't programming per se, but Javascript could be), and some general computer skills (how do you enter the files? How do I use the internet, etc.).
Sorry for the rambling.
Hope these ideas help some. Let me know how it goes.
Whatever else your feelings, the potential of debate and discusion from those Keynote speeches and that panel should be enough to draw a decent size crowd. That should sell conferance tickets/media/etc.
::grin::)
Should make O'reily a few dollars (not that I wouldn't go if I could
While Closed source apps for Open Source OS's is a nice idea, and a viable buisness model, there is a proviso:
It only works, if your product is worth someone paying good money for.
In the case of MS, they definately make products that are considered the de-facto standard. You'd think this would encourage them to make it available on other platforms, however their dominance of the platform AND the app market ("Office Suites") translates into complete control of the industry.
If they released Office for Linux (or BSD) then they wouldn't have the same "tightly integrated development relationship" with the OS developers. They would be forced to compete with others on a much more equal playing field. Plus, I'm not sure if even WINE could make Office compile on Linux, since so many of the "standard" DLLs are incorporated within the product (note that I'm not talking about running MS apps with the DLLs available, but rather compiling a Linux native version of the app).
Lastly, they wouldn't be able to force the upgrade cycle as much, since you could always upgrade the OS, without necessarily upgrading the Office Suite, and vice-versa. That alone is reason it will probably never happen.
Does MS have to pay out billions and billions of dollars?
Or will ATT be happy with MS removing the offending code from all versions of windows present and past? (in addition to a "smaller" fine?)
I am particularly fascinated by the idea of punitary damages, which traditionally triple damages.
Or will AT&T settle for having a link to AT&T Worldnet (their on-line service), be placed on the desktop of all newly installed machines running Win2.002? And would microsoft love to let them, place their MSN icon next to them (and slightly higher of course), and then drop AOL from the CD, since they are obviously being pro-competition by letting AT&T have a place on the desktop (traddtionly an MS only space).
Sounds far-fetched, but eerily possible.
And who exactly is saying that to little Jonny? Mommy and daddy who took little Jonny to the movies
No, mommy and daddy who are sitting in front of the TV with Jonny (best case scenario, as opposed to absentee parents using the TV as a babby sitter). The problem wasn't so much Trailers running at movies (although this was happening also), as trailers being run durring kids/family programing (afternoon childrens shows, and pre-9pm).
Under her bill -- you can't make this up -- minors could kill simulated aliens and animals at will, however. As for other "weapons," the bill doesn't address violent games that don't involve guns. There must be something in the state's drinking water. U.S. Senator and former vice-presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman has introduced legislation in the U.S. Congress that would make it a federal crime to show R-rated movie trailers in any place where children might possibly see them.
Okay, I'll agree with most of the article. The bill that nearly went through was rediculous, however do you actually follow political issues? My understanding of the what Senetor Lieberman was trying to accomplish was to force the Movie industry to regulate themselves, by not playing Movie trailers for R rated movies, during PG and G rated films in the middle of the afternoon. Essentially the movie industry (those bastions of morality) were doing targeted advertising of trailers for R rated movies durring childrens programing. "Gee Jonny, I don't know why that trailer was on during Power Rangers, but your a bit young to see that movie."
Guess what? It scared the movie industry enough to clean up their act, and the bill died quietly.
While government regulation is bad, its even worse when you have a monopolistic power (MPAA, RIAA, MS) that has to answer to no one. I'd rather government threaten to use a big stick once in a while, if it forces the monopoly to do something about a problem issue instead of simply granting them free reign to do what they want.
The whole industry is becoming more resistant to FUD, IMO, even where that FUD is reasonable (iMac not having a floppy drive-- I really like some other Macs, but not that one for that reason). This si very good for open source. Furthermore, Opensource is like an organism-- by the time you see it, it has already reached critical mass and is growing rapidly, IMO.
:)
To use your own analogy, much like an organism, we've been fed so much FUD by MS, that we've developed an immunity
How often to parents and children fight?
:)
What about siblings?
Cousins?
Now... what happens when someone picks a serious fight with a member of the family?
I think we all agree (at least on some high essoteric level), we just prefer to fight with family
"No one can push your buttons like a family member. Of course thats because they installed them!" --unknown
Hmmm point taken.
Of course I didn't state how much a license would cost, and perhaps non-profit orginizations, or private individuals/private groups could be granted cheap/free licenses. I'm just trying to see if there is any way to stop/find/kill the people responsible for most of the SPAM ('course I feel the offers for credit cards that keep piling up in my mailbox).
I wonder if the contract says that he gives up all rights to Sue them, or just to sew them over this issue.
If they do have the money it would be an interesting (don't know the legality) tactic to allow them to later change the rules of the service or what-not, and point to this contracts "no sue" clause as protection.
Yet one more reason a lawyer should be involved on your side. (and you should think of a different group to do buisness with).
hehehe funny. I know I'ts gotten to the point that I'll get the same piece of SPAM 2-3 times within a few days. You'd think the companies sending this drek out would try NOT to do this. All it does is innure us to it, and make it easier to spot the SPAM even before (or very soon after) you open the e-mail.
Purhaps the best thing would be for it to be illegal to send bulk e-mail in the U.S. without a license (or without registering a Postal Address to go with that e-mail). Then, just maintain a list (updated once a month or whenever), of valid licenses that can be included as part of the SMTP Headers. If the header isn't there, and its a bulk e-mail, make it a Mail Fraud crime. Invalid License #, Mail Fraud. Faked License #, Mail Fraud. That way the Government can 1) charge people for bulk commercial e-mail (the licensing fee), which will automatically help cut back on e-mails. 2) impose fines, which will also help cut back on e-mail.
It could fix things, I just don't think anyone would really notice, or pay much attention.
:).
Although one could define installing Linux unasked malicious (I would even though I use Linux), and generating SPAM, or portscanning systems could be construed as malicious, I suppose the virus doesn't have to be.
Okay. I'll take the challenge (of design if not implimentation
For a virus to be non-malicious and still raise public awareness enough it would have to propogate itself (unchanged), but instead of wiping the targets hard-drive, or removing files, etc. it could generate a list of known vulnerabilities (as best as it can), that the target's system is vulnerable to, and e-mails it (or sets it up to run on reboot in the autoexec.bat and then after reading that doc, you can continue to standard bootup). This would 1) show people they are vulnerable, 2) detail (to some extent) they are vulnerable, 3) its non-malicious nature might allow it to propigate by "benign" distribution (as a security tool). I could see one person saying, "Hey, let me send you this file, it lists all the problems on your system". Avoiding the need to work on anything more.
Hmmm you make me wonder if instead of a virus the answer might lie in a Free/OSS P.H.D. Windows Security Audit Tool (phd = Push Here Dummy).
I'm not aware of one but I'm going to start looking. If it was "Cool" enough people would distribute it like they do other "Flash Programs" (not suggesting writing it in flash, just an example).
From "The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot" (ran out of room in the quote limit) From a Corporate head to the lead scientist as Rusty charges huge alien and gets squished (again). :)
The SGI and IBM guys have worked hard to get around every one of these barriers in order to get these results. This really shows that both these companies are very dedicated to make Linux be the top choice as DB servers in the future.
You're right, they are very dedicated. The reason is they share a common enemy, "Microsoft". Without Linux as an OS SGI machines are going to dissapear as mid-high level workstations (MS Sure won't support them), and if they can be freed to concentrate on Hardware over Software, their server line might keep selling (they have a great product, but to quote an engineer I worked with 3 years ago when expecting a Solaris machine and logging into an SGI machine "Irix? What is Irix?").
IBM's grudge? Gee, can we say OS/2? Okay, so they probably don't still hold a grudge over that, but they have certainly bucked horns against MS every chance they could (or so it seems).
Its great to have two heavy hitters in our corner. Lets just remember that this is still business and people are still greedy. They're here because it suits them, which suits me fine. Common goals can take you preaty far.
Also, there have been many times that an article gets posted just so people stop submitting it, even though they'd rather not.
:)
Maybe we need a new slashdot topic "Enough Already!!!" that we can uncheck if we don't want to see articles that everyone submits but they don't want to post. Then just make it a slashbox so people might be forced to see the top X headlines, but at least it will go by fast
I tried not to act like a zelot when I posted the message. I'll admit to being rather distrustful of MS, but I also included a link to their take on the issue, as well as a comment that they'd already provided both a workaround and a patch.
Okay, I'll admit I probably don't understand the idea of Directories and Group policies that well. I am mostly a normal user. I've been forced to do some system administration (NT/Unix) for my group due to both Budget constraints and available personel.
What I got out of the MS announcement was that Group policies over-rode system configuration settings. To me this seems like a bad idea sinse it doesn't allow a system level granularity to shut things off (unless I missunderstood).
Please, instead of just brushing off my comment as "You must know nothing", enlighten me. I'm actually curious and will readily accept both new knowledge, and new insight to old knowledge.