One of the crappiest ideas ever, second only to the [blink] tag. Why should I use a browser that supports this shit? Oh, because they all do and I have no choice? I was afraid of that.
Why get upset at a private publishing house wringing a measly few hundred dollars out of a government-funded research paper, when private pharmaceutical companies routinely make millions from government-funded NIH patents?
Because government-funded patents are available to all, free of charge. No pharmaceutical -- or any other -- company has exclusive use of any U.S. Government patent.
There is no such thing as an "internet." There's this really big network of networks, which someone happened to name Internet. They could have named it Fred or Barney, but they chose Internet. It's not capitalized because there's only one, but because Internet is its name.
If you think that's wrong, if you agree with Wired (excuse me, wired) magazine, consider this:
"ship" is a generic term, therefore we should not capitalize the names of ships. Call it the u.s.s. enterprise, then.
"planet" is a generic term. Call this place earth.
"country" and "nation" and "city" are generic terms. Call them the athens olympics.
Hell (i mean, hell), let's just eliminate uppercase altogether.
The Truth(TM) is that people will hate anyone they can blame, if they're the kind of people that are conditioned to blame others rather than take care of themselves. America gets much of the greatest hatred because, for a lazy-assed loser, it is the great personification of all the attributes they know they lack.
So, you agree with me that most everyone hates the USA? Great, we agree on something -- we're off to a good start.
Call it Ned Flanders Syndrome. He's so damn easy to despise, because he works hard and deep down is probably a better person than you are.
Speak for yourself.
It's disgustingly true. You cheer when misfortune falls upon him or his kind.
Woah! We got off to such a good start, why the sudden personal attack? I don't cheer when misfortune befalls anybody, including Ned Flanders.
Why else do so many slackers in the US fear and hate bible thumpers or any clean cut, hard working square?
I don't know, why else? What does any of this have to do with anything I said?
So instead of working your ass of, you blame everyone else.
I blame my government, which I thought I'd made clear. In the future please do not assume things not in my posts.
Look at the previous poster's claim about Florida votes not counting. Dude, set the joint down and read a newspaper. Even a liberal one like the New York Times. Does your liberal newspaper not even count? Did you not read that all these newspapers came down and discovered every way they counted (including all the different ways Al Gore demanded, including making military votes not count which I would presume would upset you if you were consistent), Al Gore lost? Every single way, he lost. He lost. He lost. He lost. The great loser lost. Got it yet?
Change the electoral college system constitutionally next time if you don't like the rules. Really, saying this Florida "selected not elected" nonsense is like loudly farting in an elevator. It marks you as a complete loser to any person of reason (even those of us that do not like Bush - an idiot is of no value to thinking people).
Geeze, did you read my post? I said nothing about the 2000 election, and I didn't say Florida votes don't count. I said my vote won't count because I don't live in Florida. The only votes that count are those in swing states, such as Florida. There's no doubt which way my state's Electoral Collage votes will go, and my individual vote won't change it. That's a fact, and it says nothing about the contested 2000 election in Florida nor does it mean I don't like the rules.
I notice you don't address my complaint that my opinion doesn't count because I'm not rich.
Two wars, huh? Would those be the War on Drugs (lost in Afganistan) and the War on Terror (lost in Iraq)? Or ???
The truth is that most places hate America. Time to update your world view. If I lived anywhere but here, I'd probably hate the USA too; as it is I'm pretty ashamed of what's being done in my name, but since I don't live in Florida my vote really doesn't matter, and since I'm not rich my opinion doesn't matter, either.
It's not about attracting the best employees, it's about keeping the ones you have captive at work, so they'll be more productive. Would you rather have your workers go home at 5:00, or stay and eat free pizza while they continue to work? The ultimate goal is to have them never leave the office.
That's how they do it where my wife works. Medical and Dental and the usual stock purchase and 401k programs are non-optional for everyone, but the rest is a-la-carte. She gets so many "points" to spend: Membership at a fitness center is x points, free legal services is y points, etc.
Well, since the Olympics is all about money, and since the Good 'Ol USA is all about money, then I'd say yes, a whole lot of anyones give a rat's ass about the Olympics.
I, however, find it incredible that NBC would offer "1,210 hours of coverage spread across NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, USA, Telemundo and a high-definition channel" and none of it live. All I'm going to see is whatever bits of the highlights-they-deign-offer-us-in-lieu-of-full-cov erage [broken/. lameness filter turned 'coverage' into 'cov erage'] that happen to be on as I'm surfing past NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, and USA on my way to something worth watching (we don't get Telemundo or any high-def channels).
NBC offers the worst sports coverage of any American network, so naturally they get the Olympics. The fact that the IOC cares more about the $$$ than the quality of the coverage speaks volumes about the true nature of the Olympics. If I wanted delayed coverage I'd read about it in tomorrow's newspaper, which is exactly what I will do for the few sports I care about. And I'll bet I get the results from the newspapers before NBC shows us the highlights.
If you have a friend in a country that broadcasts the Olympics live, and that friend owns a TiVo and a high-speed internet connection (and you do, too), then you can see a TiVo-delayed (as opposed to tape-delayed) copy of the broadcast. But it still won't be live, even if you live next door to that friend.
I agree with most of what you say, except this: "if you go into beta testing too early, then major basic features will be broken from time to time" Sorry, but if major basic features are broken then it isn't ready for alpha test, and you're going to irritate me, your Friendly Test Engineer.
do you really trust proprietary software to say "yes, I fried your tag, you may leave in peace" and actually do it, or do you wonder if it said that, but really just threw a "be silent when this guy walks out the door" to the tracking station that goes off if you leave without paying?
Actually, the latter is exactly how it's going to work. We've had posts to earlier stories with links to experts claiming their RFID chips cannot be "fried."
RFID is simply a radio readable (proximity, contactless) serial number. When you buy that item at Wallwart the scanner at the cash register just identifies the item. The central computer then tells the cash register how much to charge, and when the cash register says it's been paid for the computer then tells the inventory control system to remove it from the inventory. When you get to the door, the RFID scanner will tell the computer everything you've got -- including the underwear you bought there six months ago, the shoes you got from LL Bean, and the pack of gum in your pocket from the 7-11 down the block -- and the computer will check it all against inventory to see if you're stealing anything.
They pointedly do NOT want to fry the RFID because they need it for returns, to verify that you really bought it and what to pay you. They can tell not only what store sold it and when it was sold but also who bought it, how they paid for it, and what they paid. So if you bought it on sale you won't get a full refund; if you bought it with a credit card you won't get a cash refund; if you didn't buy it you get to explain yourself to the police. How they plan to handle gift returns I don't know. But I do know they have no plans to "fry" the RFID chips, and some RFID chips claim to be "un-friable."
Since all the code that does the grunt work is totally separate from reading the RFID, I don't understand how making any of this "Open" is going to do anything except potentially lower Wallwart's costs.
If you really want to fight RFID tags, start a rumor that they're radioactive and cause cancer.
Someone has to run the tests. In this case they got some users to do it. Call it a beta test if you like because end-users were involved, but he specifically said "Human Interface related issues, i.e. GUI Mess-Ups, Invisible Buttons, etc." That sounds like Alpha test to me, not Beta. If you still have problems like invisible buttons, the code isn't ready for Beta test.
By "in-house test team" I meant "not the developers." Developers should not perform alpha test any more than writers should edit their own work -- you miss too many mistakes, or dismiss them as unimportant. If this guy has end users do alpha test, more power to him; personally, while I enjoy creating test cases and test scripts, I hate running the actual tests and I'd love to have the users do it for me:-)
No, what he's referring to is called "alpha testing," where a feature-complete product is released to the in-house test team. You need to understand the softwear development cycle, because it's the same for all techniques even if the terminology changes or if some zealots won't admit their favorite method fits the general rule whether they like it or not:
The Users have Business Requirements. They test the code to their Business Requirements in Beta Test. This is stuff like, "Did Joe in Shipping get the Bill of Lading?"
Analysts turn Business Requirements into Functional Requirements. Testers turn Functional Requirements into Alpha Test. This is stuff like, "Does the pull-down list of States include all US Post Office two-letter abbreviations?"
Developers turn Functional Requirements into System Specifications and Code. They test their code in Unit Test. This is stuff like, "If I enter alpha characters into the Zip Code field, does it crash?"
No kidding. On one major product half our tests were based on real-world problems, and all of the tests used real-world data. We had an in-house bug reporting tool which allowed the users to attach their data files; they were trained by past experience that reproducable bugs got fixed, so they gave us very clear instructions on how to find the bugs. Half our tests were bug reports formalized as test scripts.
The full tests used every feature and running them was as good as any tutorial for learning the application, but alas the new users rarely appeared at testing time so we had to run them ourselves. But it's a good idea if you can get the users to go along with it.
So this is hearsay evidence, essentially rumor as far as we know. And it got two moderations of "Informative." Does that mean two moderators know and confirm the descriptions are accurate, or that two moderators take rumor as fact?
I got three BSOD's in a row on XP a few days ago. My wife, who works at MS, didn't believe me until I showed her the third one. She doesn't know anyone (else) who has ever seen a BSOD on XP. I'm just lucky, I guess. A re-install seems to have fixed it, but who knows? That's the beauty of a BSOD -- you never know when it's going to strike:-)
Exactly. This will be just like lowering the speed limit to 55mph. Overnight virtually every driver in the country became a criminal. If this act passes, overnight virtually every VCR owner will become a criminal -- exact same situation. And it only took, what, 20+ years to repeal the 55mph national speed limit. In that 20 years cars didn't change much, but 20 years from today most VCRs will be dead (and will long since be obsolete - analog TV is supposed to die shortly after 2006), and all the (legal) digital equipment will be technically incapable of timeshifting if the broadcaster disallows it, so in 20 years repealing the INDUCE act will be moot.
Worst case scenario, in 20 years we won't have any personal computers, because this will outlaw them as well (any general purpose computer is a potential circumvention device and therefore must be prohibited - only DRM-shackled PCs will be legal, and I wouldn't call them "general purpose" if they only do what the RIAA/MPAA want them to do).
I agree with the parent post. If you're stupid enough to use AT&T, you deserve what you get. Let me re-phrase. If you're stupid enough that you're still with AT&T all these years after you were given a choice (and I'd say 80% of AT&T's customers were AT&T customers pre-breakup and just never switched), you deserve what you get.
Remember the old bumper stickers that said "We don't care. We don't have to"? Now AT&T has to, but they still don't care, thus their dismal performace leading to this next step toward total failure. I worked at AT&T, and let me tell you, they don't have a clue what business they're in. Now we're a Cell Phone company! Wait, no, we aren't anymore. But we will be again, after the Cingular merger! And we're a Cable company, too! Wait, no, we're not anymore. But we're still a long distance company! Wait, no, we're now getting out of that business, too.
Go ahead, "flamebait" me. I've got karma to burn here, and a life to live outside/.
It really bothers me that A) there's no place within Slashdot to discuss Slashdot, so we do it here where it's clearly offtopic, and B) the damn "editors" give real Editors a bad name. They should change their titles. Don't call yourselves "editors" if you're not going to do any editing. You're acting like Overloards, so call yourselves that. Or "Rangers" or whatever. Just not "editor," OK? Because if you think you're really an Editor, sorry man, but you suck at it.
Stupid me, I've been submitting original stories (and getting them rejected). I should have been submitting stories the editors already accepted! We know they like those!
And how, exactly, is the first post "Flamebait"? Oh, I forgot, the editor's get to moderate first, and any criticism of them is modded down. Hey, Editors -- instead of scrutinizing the comments and modding down anything critical of you, why don't you do your fucking JOB instead, and EDIT the damn submissions in the first place? What's the point of letting subscribers see the stories first if you don't listen to their feedback and eliminate dupes?
Slashdot Mirror
If you think that's wrong, if you agree with Wired (excuse me, wired) magazine, consider this:
"ship" is a generic term, therefore we should not capitalize the names of ships. Call it the u.s.s. enterprise, then.
"planet" is a generic term. Call this place earth.
"country" and "nation" and "city" are generic terms. Call them the athens olympics.
Hell (i mean, hell), let's just eliminate uppercase altogether.
I notice you don't address my complaint that my opinion doesn't count because I'm not rich.
The truth is that most places hate America. Time to update your world view. If I lived anywhere but here, I'd probably hate the USA too; as it is I'm pretty ashamed of what's being done in my name, but since I don't live in Florida my vote really doesn't matter, and since I'm not rich my opinion doesn't matter, either.
It's not about attracting the best employees, it's about keeping the ones you have captive at work, so they'll be more productive. Would you rather have your workers go home at 5:00, or stay and eat free pizza while they continue to work? The ultimate goal is to have them never leave the office.
That's how they do it where my wife works. Medical and Dental and the usual stock purchase and 401k programs are non-optional for everyone, but the rest is a-la-carte. She gets so many "points" to spend: Membership at a fitness center is x points, free legal services is y points, etc.
I, however, find it incredible that NBC would offer "1,210 hours of coverage spread across NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, USA, Telemundo and a high-definition channel" and none of it live. All I'm going to see is whatever bits of the highlights-they-deign-offer-us-in-lieu-of-full-cov erage [broken /. lameness filter turned 'coverage' into 'cov erage'] that happen to be on as I'm surfing past NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, and USA on my way to something worth watching (we don't get Telemundo or any high-def channels).
NBC offers the worst sports coverage of any American network, so naturally they get the Olympics. The fact that the IOC cares more about the $$$ than the quality of the coverage speaks volumes about the true nature of the Olympics. If I wanted delayed coverage I'd read about it in tomorrow's newspaper, which is exactly what I will do for the few sports I care about. And I'll bet I get the results from the newspapers before NBC shows us the highlights.
If you have a friend in a country that broadcasts the Olympics live, and that friend owns a TiVo and a high-speed internet connection (and you do, too), then you can see a TiVo-delayed (as opposed to tape-delayed) copy of the broadcast. But it still won't be live, even if you live next door to that friend.
I agree with most of what you say, except this: "if you go into beta testing too early, then major basic features will be broken from time to time" Sorry, but if major basic features are broken then it isn't ready for alpha test, and you're going to irritate me, your Friendly Test Engineer.
RFID is simply a radio readable (proximity, contactless) serial number. When you buy that item at Wallwart the scanner at the cash register just identifies the item. The central computer then tells the cash register how much to charge, and when the cash register says it's been paid for the computer then tells the inventory control system to remove it from the inventory. When you get to the door, the RFID scanner will tell the computer everything you've got -- including the underwear you bought there six months ago, the shoes you got from LL Bean, and the pack of gum in your pocket from the 7-11 down the block -- and the computer will check it all against inventory to see if you're stealing anything.
They pointedly do NOT want to fry the RFID because they need it for returns, to verify that you really bought it and what to pay you. They can tell not only what store sold it and when it was sold but also who bought it, how they paid for it, and what they paid. So if you bought it on sale you won't get a full refund; if you bought it with a credit card you won't get a cash refund; if you didn't buy it you get to explain yourself to the police. How they plan to handle gift returns I don't know. But I do know they have no plans to "fry" the RFID chips, and some RFID chips claim to be "un-friable."
Since all the code that does the grunt work is totally separate from reading the RFID, I don't understand how making any of this "Open" is going to do anything except potentially lower Wallwart's costs.
If you really want to fight RFID tags, start a rumor that they're radioactive and cause cancer.
By "in-house test team" I meant "not the developers." Developers should not perform alpha test any more than writers should edit their own work -- you miss too many mistakes, or dismiss them as unimportant. If this guy has end users do alpha test, more power to him; personally, while I enjoy creating test cases and test scripts, I hate running the actual tests and I'd love to have the users do it for me :-)
The only quantum physics arguements I win are against 10 year olds, you insensitive clod!
The Users have Business Requirements. They test the code to their Business Requirements in Beta Test. This is stuff like, "Did Joe in Shipping get the Bill of Lading?"
Analysts turn Business Requirements into Functional Requirements. Testers turn Functional Requirements into Alpha Test. This is stuff like, "Does the pull-down list of States include all US Post Office two-letter abbreviations?"
Developers turn Functional Requirements into System Specifications and Code. They test their code in Unit Test. This is stuff like, "If I enter alpha characters into the Zip Code field, does it crash?"
The full tests used every feature and running them was as good as any tutorial for learning the application, but alas the new users rarely appeared at testing time so we had to run them ourselves. But it's a good idea if you can get the users to go along with it.
Does that mean two moderators know and confirm the descriptions are accurate, or that two moderators take rumor as fact?
I got three BSOD's in a row on XP a few days ago. My wife, who works at MS, didn't believe me until I showed her the third one. She doesn't know anyone (else) who has ever seen a BSOD on XP. I'm just lucky, I guess. A re-install seems to have fixed it, but who knows? That's the beauty of a BSOD -- you never know when it's going to strike :-)
test
Worst case scenario, in 20 years we won't have any personal computers, because this will outlaw them as well (any general purpose computer is a potential circumvention device and therefore must be prohibited - only DRM-shackled PCs will be legal, and I wouldn't call them "general purpose" if they only do what the RIAA/MPAA want them to do).
Yeah, a 50 pound mackrel that happens to be frozen solid.
Remember the old bumper stickers that said "We don't care. We don't have to"? Now AT&T has to, but they still don't care, thus their dismal performace leading to this next step toward total failure. I worked at AT&T, and let me tell you, they don't have a clue what business they're in. Now we're a Cell Phone company! Wait, no, we aren't anymore. But we will be again, after the Cingular merger! And we're a Cable company, too! Wait, no, we're not anymore. But we're still a long distance company! Wait, no, we're now getting out of that business, too.
It really bothers me that A) there's no place within Slashdot to discuss Slashdot, so we do it here where it's clearly offtopic, and B) the damn "editors" give real Editors a bad name. They should change their titles. Don't call yourselves "editors" if you're not going to do any editing. You're acting like Overloards, so call yourselves that. Or "Rangers" or whatever. Just not "editor," OK? Because if you think you're really an Editor, sorry man, but you suck at it.
But you're damn fine Overloards :-)
And how, exactly, is the first post "Flamebait"? Oh, I forgot, the editor's get to moderate first, and any criticism of them is modded down. Hey, Editors -- instead of scrutinizing the comments and modding down anything critical of you, why don't you do your fucking JOB instead, and EDIT the damn submissions in the first place? What's the point of letting subscribers see the stories first if you don't listen to their feedback and eliminate dupes?