The internet would still work without ICANN... Just not domain names...
If you knew the IP addresses so you could reach the servers you desired, and didn't have to use domain names, you can still reach the servers (in fact this is a useful way to get around some types of blocking.)
ICANN just converts the domain name to an IP address... And unfortunately, it's kinda difficult to have a non-central way to handle that (albeit, I have seen some interesting papers on this topic... discussion for another time.)
the Internet is built that if the base architecture is not one server dependent. (in other words, if one server isn't all that is connect two sections of the internet.) Then it will work, since no taking out of one server will disrupt the connections between the rest.
The only thing that fails if ICANN fails is the domain names. Which means that if you don't know the IP addresses to those sites that are important, then you can't do much.
I know Slashdot's IP... that's all that matters to me.:-) Do you?
Disney Interactive about 4-7 years ago used to include entire programs with its computers but would disable them until you paid an online payment to them.
This is way back though. I just remember trying to figure out how to get through the disabling so I could play... Never figured it out. (I was really young then.) All I knew is that if you signed up with them (it would dial a long distance number and give your info to them), the programs would become active.
Perhaps now with the internet, more people will go out of their way to break the DRM, but I am willing to say most will either pay to listen to them, or just continue downloading like they always have using morpheus or something similar.
This is the main reason why I want to involved with Research and Development and become a professor. I would rather create new things than (as one of my old bosses put it) "Tell a computer what to do" for the rest of my life.
In a factory, just like behind a computer programming, you somehow become subordinate to the machine. That is what leads to employee unsatisfaction in my opinion.
Is that it is so darned easy to listen into the communications. If you can listen in, and interfere with little effort, instantly many attacks become available to you, especially man in the middle attacks.
But, not only can you break into the network, most of the time, you can actively listen in, and just record everything until you get the encryption code in the future (which is actually a pretty easy thing to do with some social engineering.)
If you want the data to be secure use fiberglass wiring, it is the most secure, but if you want convinience, then you'll have to trade off some of the security in enchange for a easier system to use. It's really as simple as that. It's not the human factor, is the human desire for convinience that commonly leads to the largest security breaches.
Makes sense.. considering a computer only does what it is told to do. If a human messes up in the programming of the computer, the security is broken. If a human messes up with a social engineer, the security is broken...
The only way that a computers encryption and security could be beaten (assuming the programming , and hardware is good, and there is no human interference at all) is if someone breaks the encryption.
So... what's the solution here...
kill all humans, and we'll have a perfectly secure computer system that no one can break into!
wait... isn't that's what the Bush and the americans are doing anywaiz?
j/k (just a friendly poke at my southern neighbours).:-)
As soon as it becomes cheap enough for 3G to survive...
People don't like spending their money, and since the economy is in a slump, they are going to be even more uncertain about spending it on a product they don't really need.
3G means faster internet, etc. But, unless the users have the money to pay the price required, 3G won't move far...
But the concept of 3G will survive in some form or another until it becomes cheap enough for the casual user to purchase a 3G device.
Hello Kitty works in Japan, because the market is different there. In the States, Europe and Canada, either something that will get the consumers willing to pay the extra bucks is needed, or just plain old time, so the price of the 3G devices go down.
Normally I don't rant, but I feel it is necessary after reading one after another of these useless postings...
Slashdot is not a democratic system, you cannot vote which stories will get posted. It is a system run by the editors and they have full license to place whatever they want on the front page. Now, I understand you don't like Microsoft stories obviously, but some people do, and if you crawl out of your hole and look around you may notice these other people, and then realize why the slashdot editors post these stories.
If you want something else, go somewhere else, or block it using your front page settings for Slashdot, but don't waste posting space and time just to complain that someone isn't putting the stories you want all the time.
Right now, I think the grow up you put in your subject line is appropriate for you. Grow up! and realize that the world is not always how you want it. A part of slashdot and something that the editors like is the the "whole reporting-on-M$'s-every-move thing" If you don't like it, then block it, read other sites, or just ignore it. Hell, e-mail the editors, their e-mails are at the tops of the page. But complaining about it in the postings for that story is off-topic, annoying, and pointless.
*sigh*
I am sorry if I sound harsh, I am just tired of reading these postings over and over again.
Well, by insane hacker. I mean someone would have to tear apart their speaker to get to the circuitboards and know what they were going for.
I do acknowledge though that once one person does it, then the data is compromised. Yet, I add the caveat, that since it requires higher technical skill then simply "plug-n-play" they could easily go after these people legally, and scare off the technical hackers who are willing to go this far to tear apart their speakers to break DRM.
re: analogue problem.
Well, I could see that it could be done, but again, There would still definitely be a loss of quality because of the transfer back and forth. Hypothetically, you could get the same quality as an LP with the right equipment, but you will never get the same quality as a CD or the new high quality CDs that Sony is making.
Actually, costwise the main cost would be securing the chip making facility, after that it would be cheap and easy to add another IC to the circuitry of the speakers.
Okay... solving the solution for the signal to the speakers.
The speakers will have the decoding chip, the signal sent to the speakers will be encoded using whatever standardized encryption they decide upon that is a quality encryption algorithm. Thus, the DRM has to be at the end source, at wher the final product is released(ie. the speakers, the TV screen, etc.)
Now, hypothetically, a psycho hacker could tap into the outgoing line of the "black box" encryption, and record from that, but that requires a lot more technical skill then the average user, and thus would be easier to "enforce". Since not any user is breaking DRM (so there are only a few that need to be handled legally. Instead of millions.)
Now, the analogue output is naturally of lower quality then the digital output, so I think that the RIAA and MPAA are just trying to prevent the copying of the "digital masters" so to speak.
Re: the Key being leaked.
Has the RSA key to the banks online been leaked? Millions of people use those every day. How about other proper encryption keys. It's actually a pretty easy thing to hide a key, especially if you use an encryption algorithm that doesn't allow easy PT -> CT key retrieval. All that has to be done to hide the key is to make sure that it is locked up in some safe in the MPAA's or RIAA's head office, and that the chips are built in a secure facility, and only handled by cerified personnel.
Then to acquire the key would require a incredibly well organized social engineering hacker group, more so then anything we have now.
I guess this article states the obvious. Of course people don't need faster computers. The only reason they'd need fast computers is if they are playing high-end computer games, or using Windows (which for some reason or another always keeps on making it's software more dependent on speedier computers, even though it is completely unnecessary.)
Most family friends, and people I know who need computers just need a simple box that allows them to chat online, play a few simple games, e-mail, surf the web, and perhaps play "The Sims". Since almost all of this can be done on linux, I buy older cheap computers, and i have a special "personal distro" of linux that I give them, which always works, and they usually have no complaints, since everything they want is included, and it didn't cost them much ( I just charge the price of the used computer I bought. ) For smaller families without much money this is great.
As well, for those families with the little brat that demands more you can usually appease them with something that is sub 1-GHz and has a good graphics card, since most games don't require screeching speeds.
Just from my experience though. Right now I am running off a 750Mhz Laptop, and I have been considering upgrading eventually to a small tower, but nothing with the numbers I have been hearing lately (2.0+Ghz, with 1Gb+ of RAM, etc.)
If these companies that are building DRM get their heads on straight, and think about how to build it correctly (using really cryptography and not just security through obscurity), then yes... DRM may be possible.
All they have to do is encrypt the data using a known algorithm (RC4 would work) and then have the algorithm and key hardcoded onto the hardware, probably with high-level FIPS hardware potting so it isn't reverse engineerable. Then all they have to do is make sure that no one on the inside tells the Key to people on the outside.
With a large enough key, it would be theoretically impossible for the it be discovered, and since the decoding happens on one part of the chip in a "black box" style. There would be no way for the end user to get the key.
Simple, and easy, eh? Too bad they aren't smart enough to hire qualified cryptographers instead of just programmers. Or perhaps in your case, this is a good thing.
XP does have some useful features, but I've found that they are commonly destroyed or "ignorable" by the fact that the eyecandy takes away from it all.
Eyecandy has an unusual effect on users. Commonly they'll love it for about a week, and then they come to you and go, okay this is really annoying and shitty, how do I remove it. Yet, it seems that MS spends most of it's time building more visual eyecandy then actually adding useful functionality that people will like in the long run.
Makes sense to me, though, because all MS wants is to make money. It's like guys watching girls on the street, if the girl is attractive, but has nothing more to them, he'll still want her as a g/f. Then, after a week, he'll realize his mistake and not want her as a g/f, instead he wants to someone who has more to them then just good looks. Since all that matters to MS is the initial payment for the purchase of XP, and perhaps the general upgrades (Which will always have more eyecandy), they spend more time building on the eyecandy, then on the useful functionality. (When all you have to compete against is yourself, then you just need to make the new version 'look' better)
XP looks great, but it's just a large plate of eyecandy with few actual meat and potato features. This, of course, is only how I feel. Some people may have found useful functions that I don't use.
Our technology will have to undergo a severe shift.
I am surprised no one has commented on the fact that the magnetic fields around earth protect the Earth from radiation that _damages_ electronics. When the sun has a solar flare, satellites are knocked out by the radiation. The only reason computers on the planet aren't is because the magnetic fields deflect enough of the radiation to make it harmless to electronics.
Yet, if we don't have a magnetic field to deflect the radiation, we end up with a completely different problem. A solar flare will likely be able to take out a majority of our satellites at first (if they aren't shielded, which most aren't to the degree needed.) Then with no field at all, the electronics on the planet are threatened by the radiation.
Likely very little will happen to us (considering it's just EM radiation mostly, and not radioactive isotopes.) But, There will definitely be a shift in computer construction towards better shielded designs. (because if there isn't, then... well, there won't be any computers working at all.)
This was an interesting article in wired a while ago.
Asperger's Syndrome is considered very high functioning Autism. Where the person still has some signs of autism, but isn't as extreme as most cases.
There is a wonder in the psych community about whether or not technically inclination and/or mathematically inclination has any correlation to autism. If so, it gives an interesting window into autism.
Wired refers to Asperger's as the "Geek Syndrome." It discusses this boom of autism in California.
Here's the link to the Wired Article (The Geek Syndrome).
If you could do it right, and can afford the proper parts to build it. Create a high-power compressor, and have it pipe super-cooled fluids continually through both processors. Therefore, you don't have to pour/buy liquid nitrogen everytime you want these results.
The problem is that it costs a lot and is quite difficult to build a fast high-power compressor/cooler. If you guys can accomplish this, then I'll be impressed. Pouring liquid nitrogen onto stuff to keep it cool isn't really that exciting/impressive in the long run, since it is far to manual, and doesn't require much thought to come up with the idea.
I am curious though, does anyone know of more fancy coolers for the processor that work impressively but don't require constant manual addition of coolant?
As a Canadian, I can tell you that the US abuses NAFTA to no end as well. Constantly they place tariffs on products coming from Canada just because the industry in the states cannot handle it.
For example, when we had an excess of softwood, and just started selling it on the american market. The Americans went insane, and decided to break every section of the NAFTA agreement by imposing insanely high tariffs that put a good chunk of the Canadian softwood industry out of business. They claimed Canadians were subsidizing, even though the NAFTA committee stated that that claim was incorrect.
I am not sure if the States have backed off on their tariffs, but the damage has been done.
Yeah, NAFTA works... uhhuh. Until the states decides it's not in their best interest.
You could make it even shorter by having it return absolutely nothing (Just having it execute and finish.)
It could be useful to catch when anything starts to modify programs on your computer, because if the "thing" just modifies programs, it will recognize it as a program, and increase the size notably.
I really like the 45 byte program though, too bad that after you passed 100 bytes, it became totally non-compliant.
Now that there is a reasonably reliable company running PayPal. I am just going to wait for a few more to jump on the bandwagon.
Maybe now, electronic cash will become far more acceptable, and smaller vendors will be able to open shop online without having to bow down to Visa and Mastercard's absurd policies. (or having to demand cash payment, which makes online business meaningless really.)
EBay has shown auctions can be done effectively online, now maybe they'll show that E-Cash can be done as well.
Yes, some smart cards are easily hackable. But there do exist methods of coating the card to prevent even access to modification of the data (look up FIP Encryption Standards Level 4).
But also, if the smart cards are not changeable (IE not RAM style cards.) So, you can only put an ID and iris on there once, and not replace or change it. Then hacking the card directly will be meaningless since there is no way to change it. Since it is all hardcoded.
Yet, there is the possibility of someone making their own cards. The only real way around this is to include some form of authentication on the card (perhaps a quick encryption algorithm where each card has their own encryption key). Then all that would need to be done is have some random signal sent to the card, and then the key will encrypt it returning an answer that can be tested against what should be expected for that card from the system.
Now, even then hypothetically the card can still be created (if someone can figure out the key). But, I think it would start to become more a matter of hacking the main servers to get the key then just stealing a card and changing the iris from it.
I like the concept of UML, it makes it easy to abstractly define an entire program and then quickly put it together in either C++ or Java.
Unfortunately though, there are a lot of programmers that that UML and instead of having the simple links between the methods and classes, they have these jumbled messes because... well actually I don't know why. I am thinking it is because they don't want to spend the time writing quality UML and instead program something that works. (I know the feeling, I hate designing before programming, but you need to do that if you want to make it easier to support in the future.)
The key reasons for UML and advances is exactly that though. You (and others) need to be able to easily support your code in the future. If it is a jumbled mess of spaghetti code, or even worse if it is a complex mess of command made solely to speed up the code that very few will comprehend. Then you end up with a large problem. When something needs to be changed, it becomes incredibly difficult to decide how to do it.
I agree Java is pretty slow (it has sped up a bit over the years, but it still isn't optimal), but these OOP concepts of UML and properly designing easy to understand code should be applied over a need for speed. Hell, if you want to speed up the code a bit more, use C++.
I think programmers need to stop worrying about speed so much, and start to realize that these programs need to be easily workable and last. UML provides just one more way to keep them easily managable.
Anyone who is skilled will know how to encrypt their outgoing connections. Or even will know a few free e-mail services (hushmail anyone) that can encrypt their connection when they check e-mail.
Personally I try to SSH to my mail servers when I need to.
Just remember though. If you are going to rely on SSL to protect your e-mail. Don't use IE (since it would be easy for a company to put a Man in the Middle attack on your IE). Use Mozilla or Something that does SSL properly.
Slashdot Mirror
The internet would still work without ICANN... Just not domain names...
:-) Do you?
If you knew the IP addresses so you could reach the servers you desired, and didn't have to use domain names, you can still reach the servers (in fact this is a useful way to get around some types of blocking.)
ICANN just converts the domain name to an IP address... And unfortunately, it's kinda difficult to have a non-central way to handle that (albeit, I have seen some interesting papers on this topic... discussion for another time.)
the Internet is built that if the base architecture is not one server dependent. (in other words, if one server isn't all that is connect two sections of the internet.) Then it will work, since no taking out of one server will disrupt the connections between the rest.
The only thing that fails if ICANN fails is the domain names. Which means that if you don't know the IP addresses to those sites that are important, then you can't do much.
I know Slashdot's IP... that's all that matters to me.
Disney Interactive about 4-7 years ago used to include entire programs with its computers but would disable them until you paid an online payment to them.
This is way back though. I just remember trying to figure out how to get through the disabling so I could play... Never figured it out. (I was really young then.) All I knew is that if you signed up with them (it would dial a long distance number and give your info to them), the programs would become active.
Perhaps now with the internet, more people will go out of their way to break the DRM, but I am willing to say most will either pay to listen to them, or just continue downloading like they always have using morpheus or something similar.
Apple Apple Bo Bapple
:-)
Banana Fanana Fo Fapple
Me My Mo Mapple
Apple!
<laugh>
I couldn't resist the urge, sorry.
If it does, then I can understand.
This is the main reason why I want to involved with Research and Development and become a professor. I would rather create new things than (as one of my old bosses put it) "Tell a computer what to do" for the rest of my life.
In a factory, just like behind a computer programming, you somehow become subordinate to the machine. That is what leads to employee unsatisfaction in my opinion.
Is that it is so darned easy to listen into the communications. If you can listen in, and interfere with little effort, instantly many attacks become available to you, especially man in the middle attacks.
But, not only can you break into the network, most of the time, you can actively listen in, and just record everything until you get the encryption code in the future (which is actually a pretty easy thing to do with some social engineering.)
If you want the data to be secure use fiberglass wiring, it is the most secure, but if you want convinience, then you'll have to trade off some of the security in enchange for a easier system to use. It's really as simple as that. It's not the human factor, is the human desire for convinience that commonly leads to the largest security breaches.
Well, let's look at these conclusions...
:-)
Humans err,
But Computers don't.
Makes sense.. considering a computer only does what it is told to do. If a human messes up in the programming of the computer, the security is broken. If a human messes up with a social engineer, the security is broken...
The only way that a computers encryption and security could be beaten (assuming the programming , and hardware is good, and there is no human interference at all) is if someone breaks the encryption.
So... what's the solution here...
kill all humans, and we'll have a perfectly secure computer system that no one can break into!
wait... isn't that's what the Bush and the americans are doing anywaiz?
j/k (just a friendly poke at my southern neighbours).
As soon as it becomes cheap enough for 3G to survive...
People don't like spending their money, and since the economy is in a slump, they are going to be even more uncertain about spending it on a product they don't really need.
3G means faster internet, etc. But, unless the users have the money to pay the price required, 3G won't move far...
But the concept of 3G will survive in some form or another until it becomes cheap enough for the casual user to purchase a 3G device.
Hello Kitty works in Japan, because the market is different there. In the States, Europe and Canada, either something that will get the consumers willing to pay the extra bucks is needed, or just plain old time, so the price of the 3G devices go down.
Normally I don't rant, but I feel it is necessary after reading one after another of these useless postings...
Slashdot is not a democratic system, you cannot vote which stories will get posted. It is a system run by the editors and they have full license to place whatever they want on the front page. Now, I understand you don't like Microsoft stories obviously, but some people do, and if you crawl out of your hole and look around you may notice these other people, and then realize why the slashdot editors post these stories.
If you want something else, go somewhere else, or block it using your front page settings for Slashdot, but don't waste posting space and time just to complain that someone isn't putting the stories you want all the time.
Right now, I think the grow up you put in your subject line is appropriate for you. Grow up! and realize that the world is not always how you want it. A part of slashdot and something that the editors like is the the "whole reporting-on-M$'s-every-move thing" If you don't like it, then block it, read other sites, or just ignore it. Hell, e-mail the editors, their e-mails are at the tops of the page. But complaining about it in the postings for that story is off-topic, annoying, and pointless.
*sigh*
I am sorry if I sound harsh, I am just tired of reading these postings over and over again.
Well, by insane hacker. I mean someone would have to tear apart their speaker to get to the circuitboards and know what they were going for.
I do acknowledge though that once one person does it, then the data is compromised. Yet, I add the caveat, that since it requires higher technical skill then simply "plug-n-play" they could easily go after these people legally, and scare off the technical hackers who are willing to go this far to tear apart their speakers to break DRM.
re: analogue problem.
Well, I could see that it could be done, but again, There would still definitely be a loss of quality because of the transfer back and forth. Hypothetically, you could get the same quality as an LP with the right equipment, but you will never get the same quality as a CD or the new high quality CDs that Sony is making.
Actually, costwise the main cost would be securing the chip making facility, after that it would be cheap and easy to add another IC to the circuitry of the speakers.
Okay... solving the solution for the signal to the speakers.
The speakers will have the decoding chip, the signal sent to the speakers will be encoded using whatever standardized encryption they decide upon that is a quality encryption algorithm. Thus, the DRM has to be at the end source, at wher the final product is released(ie. the speakers, the TV screen, etc.)
Now, hypothetically, a psycho hacker could tap into the outgoing line of the "black box" encryption, and record from that, but that requires a lot more technical skill then the average user, and thus would be easier to "enforce". Since not any user is breaking DRM (so there are only a few that need to be handled legally. Instead of millions.)
Now, the analogue output is naturally of lower quality then the digital output, so I think that the RIAA and MPAA are just trying to prevent the copying of the "digital masters" so to speak.
Re: the Key being leaked.
Has the RSA key to the banks online been leaked? Millions of people use those every day. How about other proper encryption keys. It's actually a pretty easy thing to hide a key, especially if you use an encryption algorithm that doesn't allow easy PT -> CT key retrieval. All that has to be done to hide the key is to make sure that it is locked up in some safe in the MPAA's or RIAA's head office, and that the chips are built in a secure facility, and only handled by cerified personnel.
Then to acquire the key would require a incredibly well organized social engineering hacker group, more so then anything we have now.
Okay...
;-)
I guess this article states the obvious. Of course people don't need faster computers. The only reason they'd need fast computers is if they are playing high-end computer games, or using Windows (which for some reason or another always keeps on making it's software more dependent on speedier computers, even though it is completely unnecessary.)
Most family friends, and people I know who need computers just need a simple box that allows them to chat online, play a few simple games, e-mail, surf the web, and perhaps play "The Sims". Since almost all of this can be done on linux, I buy older cheap computers, and i have a special "personal distro" of linux that I give them, which always works, and they usually have no complaints, since everything they want is included, and it didn't cost them much ( I just charge the price of the used computer I bought. ) For smaller families without much money this is great.
As well, for those families with the little brat that demands more you can usually appease them with something that is sub 1-GHz and has a good graphics card, since most games don't require screeching speeds.
Just from my experience though. Right now I am running off a 750Mhz Laptop, and I have been considering upgrading eventually to a small tower, but nothing with the numbers I have been hearing lately (2.0+Ghz, with 1Gb+ of RAM, etc.)
Well, maybe something with those numbers.
If these companies that are building DRM get their heads on straight, and think about how to build it correctly (using really cryptography and not just security through obscurity), then yes... DRM may be possible.
All they have to do is encrypt the data using a known algorithm (RC4 would work) and then have the algorithm and key hardcoded onto the hardware, probably with high-level FIPS hardware potting so it isn't reverse engineerable. Then all they have to do is make sure that no one on the inside tells the Key to people on the outside.
With a large enough key, it would be theoretically impossible for the it be discovered, and since the decoding happens on one part of the chip in a "black box" style. There would be no way for the end user to get the key.
Simple, and easy, eh? Too bad they aren't smart enough to hire qualified cryptographers instead of just programmers. Or perhaps in your case, this is a good thing.
eyecandy... Where are the meat and potatoes?
XP does have some useful features, but I've found that they are commonly destroyed or "ignorable" by the fact that the eyecandy takes away from it all.
Eyecandy has an unusual effect on users. Commonly they'll love it for about a week, and then they come to you and go, okay this is really annoying and shitty, how do I remove it. Yet, it seems that MS spends most of it's time building more visual eyecandy then actually adding useful functionality that people will like in the long run.
Makes sense to me, though, because all MS wants is to make money. It's like guys watching girls on the street, if the girl is attractive, but has nothing more to them, he'll still want her as a g/f. Then, after a week, he'll realize his mistake and not want her as a g/f, instead he wants to someone who has more to them then just good looks. Since all that matters to MS is the initial payment for the purchase of XP, and perhaps the general upgrades (Which will always have more eyecandy), they spend more time building on the eyecandy, then on the useful functionality. (When all you have to compete against is yourself, then you just need to make the new version 'look' better)
XP looks great, but it's just a large plate of eyecandy with few actual meat and potato features. This, of course, is only how I feel. Some people may have found useful functions that I don't use.
if you combine it with DDR, then you can do some real Taiko including the funky dance moves that are necessary for the ancient art.
Our technology will have to undergo a severe shift.
I am surprised no one has commented on the fact that the magnetic fields around earth protect the Earth from radiation that _damages_ electronics. When the sun has a solar flare, satellites are knocked out by the radiation. The only reason computers on the planet aren't is because the magnetic fields deflect enough of the radiation to make it harmless to electronics.
Yet, if we don't have a magnetic field to deflect the radiation, we end up with a completely different problem. A solar flare will likely be able to take out a majority of our satellites at first (if they aren't shielded, which most aren't to the degree needed.) Then with no field at all, the electronics on the planet are threatened by the radiation.
Likely very little will happen to us (considering it's just EM radiation mostly, and not radioactive isotopes.) But, There will definitely be a shift in computer construction towards better shielded designs. (because if there isn't, then... well, there won't be any computers working at all.)
This was an interesting article in wired a while ago.
Asperger's Syndrome is considered very high functioning Autism. Where the person still has some signs of autism, but isn't as extreme as most cases.
There is a wonder in the psych community about whether or not technically inclination and/or mathematically inclination has any correlation to autism. If so, it gives an interesting window into autism.
Wired refers to Asperger's as the "Geek Syndrome." It discusses this boom of autism in California.
Here's the link to the Wired Article (The Geek Syndrome).
Build a compressor/cooler.
If you could do it right, and can afford the proper parts to build it. Create a high-power compressor, and have it pipe super-cooled fluids continually through both processors. Therefore, you don't have to pour/buy liquid nitrogen everytime you want these results.
The problem is that it costs a lot and is quite difficult to build a fast high-power compressor/cooler. If you guys can accomplish this, then I'll be impressed. Pouring liquid nitrogen onto stuff to keep it cool isn't really that exciting/impressive in the long run, since it is far to manual, and doesn't require much thought to come up with the idea.
I am curious though, does anyone know of more fancy coolers for the processor that work impressively but don't require constant manual addition of coolant?
As a Canadian, I can tell you that the US abuses NAFTA to no end as well. Constantly they place tariffs on products coming from Canada just because the industry in the states cannot handle it.
For example, when we had an excess of softwood, and just started selling it on the american market. The Americans went insane, and decided to break every section of the NAFTA agreement by imposing insanely high tariffs that put a good chunk of the Canadian softwood industry out of business. They claimed Canadians were subsidizing, even though the NAFTA committee stated that that claim was incorrect.
I am not sure if the States have backed off on their tariffs, but the damage has been done.
Yeah, NAFTA works... uhhuh. Until the states decides it's not in their best interest.
Another reason the world dislikes the Americans.
While the program would be completely useless.
You could make it even shorter by having it return absolutely nothing (Just having it execute and finish.)
It could be useful to catch when anything starts to modify programs on your computer, because if the "thing" just modifies programs, it will recognize it as a program, and increase the size notably.
I really like the 45 byte program though, too bad that after you passed 100 bytes, it became totally non-compliant.
Now that there is a reasonably reliable company running PayPal. I am just going to wait for a few more to jump on the bandwagon.
Maybe now, electronic cash will become far more acceptable, and smaller vendors will be able to open shop online without having to bow down to Visa and Mastercard's absurd policies. (or having to demand cash payment, which makes online business meaningless really.)
EBay has shown auctions can be done effectively online, now maybe they'll show that E-Cash can be done as well.
Hacking the card depends on a couple of things.
Yes, some smart cards are easily hackable. But there do exist methods of coating the card to prevent even access to modification of the data (look up FIP Encryption Standards Level 4).
But also, if the smart cards are not changeable (IE not RAM style cards.) So, you can only put an ID and iris on there once, and not replace or change it. Then hacking the card directly will be meaningless since there is no way to change it. Since it is all hardcoded.
Yet, there is the possibility of someone making their own cards. The only real way around this is to include some form of authentication on the card (perhaps a quick encryption algorithm where each card has their own encryption key). Then all that would need to be done is have some random signal sent to the card, and then the key will encrypt it returning an answer that can be tested against what should be expected for that card from the system.
Now, even then hypothetically the card can still be created (if someone can figure out the key). But, I think it would start to become more a matter of hacking the main servers to get the key then just stealing a card and changing the iris from it.
Just some thoughts.
So somehow has proven that given enough time, money and effort, RSA 64-bit encryption can be eventually broken using the amazing method of...
BRUTE FORCE.
Who woulda thought.
You're kidding... right?
{look of utter fear from the thought that someone would say something like that and be serious.}
I like the concept of UML, it makes it easy to abstractly define an entire program and then quickly put it together in either C++ or Java.
Unfortunately though, there are a lot of programmers that that UML and instead of having the simple links between the methods and classes, they have these jumbled messes because... well actually I don't know why. I am thinking it is because they don't want to spend the time writing quality UML and instead program something that works. (I know the feeling, I hate designing before programming, but you need to do that if you want to make it easier to support in the future.)
The key reasons for UML and advances is exactly that though. You (and others) need to be able to easily support your code in the future. If it is a jumbled mess of spaghetti code, or even worse if it is a complex mess of command made solely to speed up the code that very few will comprehend. Then you end up with a large problem. When something needs to be changed, it becomes incredibly difficult to decide how to do it.
I agree Java is pretty slow (it has sped up a bit over the years, but it still isn't optimal), but these OOP concepts of UML and properly designing easy to understand code should be applied over a need for speed. Hell, if you want to speed up the code a bit more, use C++.
I think programmers need to stop worrying about speed so much, and start to realize that these programs need to be easily workable and last. UML provides just one more way to keep them easily managable.
Anyone who is skilled will know how to encrypt their outgoing connections. Or even will know a few free e-mail services (hushmail anyone) that can encrypt their connection when they check e-mail.
Personally I try to SSH to my mail servers when I need to.
Just remember though. If you are going to rely on SSL to protect your e-mail. Don't use IE (since it would be easy for a company to put a Man in the Middle attack on your IE). Use Mozilla or Something that does SSL properly.