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User: topham

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Comments · 1,476

  1. Re:Or perhaps.... on Flash On Android Is 'Shockingly Bad' · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Problem is, it's not up to Android to get it working correctly, it's up to Adobe, and they've had YEARS to get it working on mobile platforms.

  2. If they hated them as much as I do... on AMD Hates Laptop Stickers As Much As You Do · · Score: 1

    They wouldn't include them at all, ever. period.

  3. Re:Countermeasures on GPS Tracking Without a Warrant Declared Legal · · Score: 4, Informative

    The trend is towards cellular phone style devices; GSM or CDMA radios with GPS unit. No keypad or screen required so they can be quite small. Battery life is an issue, however they go to sleep of they aren't moving so they only need to work for the duration of a trip.

  4. Re:Just a basic stats question on How Statistics Can Foul the Meaning of DNA Evidence · · Score: 1

    Actually, it's not correct.

    It is genetic mutations that in the vast majority of cases lead to twins. The genetic mutations may not, however, be sufficient to be noticeable. ie: results in identical twins in spite of their DNA being slightly different.

    http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=identical-twins-genes-are-not-identical

  5. Designed to create opportunities on Market Data Firm Spots the Tracks of Bizarre Robot Trading · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They are designed to create timing opportunities in other trades.

  6. Huh!? on Verizon Changing Users Router Passwords · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Your worried about their level of access when you left it with the default password?

    Change the thing yourself. DUH.

  7. no-harm no-foul on Tennessee Town Releases Red Light Camera Stats · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No problem.

    No-harm, no foul. However, you fuck up, spend life in prison. seems reasonable to me.

  8. Re:Relief... on LHC To Idle All Accelerators In 2012 · · Score: 1

    I'm wondering if they decided the terrorist threats would be insurmountable in 2012 so they thought they'd take the opportunity to do needed repairs instead.

    Does seem weird.

  9. Not even a real challenge on Sending Data In Bursts of SMS Messages · · Score: 1

    Not even a real challenge.

    Take the available character set; use that as your base (like base64/base92 to send binary data as clear text); toss in forward error correction and a you could do TCP/IP over SMS if you wanted to.

  10. Re:Happened to me as well. on UK's RIAA Goes After Google Using the US DMCA · · Score: 5, Informative

    Grey area? There is no grey area, you are violating someone elses copyright.
    They are under no obligation to let you do anything with their materials.

  11. Re:You have to wonder? on Apple Quietly Goes After Mac Trojan With Update · · Score: 1, Informative

    Trojans aren't viruses.

    Please list off all the viruses that will run on Snow Leopard.

  12. What an idiot on Scientist Infects Self With Computer Virus · · Score: 1

    What a fucking idiot. Seriously.

    Now, if, and I mean -if- he had a chip that was actually wired to his nerves and he got that infected with a virus then maybe I could see the point.

    Personally, I think we should wire something up to his eyes so we can tell him how fucking stupid he is in scrolling, blinking text.

  13. Re:terrorists? on PETA Creates New Animal-Friendly Software License · · Score: 1

    They give money to ELF.

  14. Harm-Required License on PETA Creates New Animal-Friendly Software License · · Score: 4, Funny

    This license is a permissive license, similar to the BSD license; however it requires at least one animal sacrifice when software is distributed. Note: 1 human sacrifice can be used to create a pool of 10 animal sacrifices. This reduces the amount of cleanup required.

  15. Can you prove any of it? on Can Employer Usurp Copyright On GPL-Derived Work? · · Score: 1

    Can you prove that you started the project as a GPL project?

    Even if you do, can you prove your employer knew it was a GPL project and would continue to be so?

    Otherwise, you've created an unlicensable project. However, unless they distribute it (out side of their organization) they can keep using it as-is.

  16. Is it me? on One Year Later, USPS Looks Into Gamefly Complaint · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Is it me, or is GameFly being dicked around?

    Some of the questions look valid, but others are completely obtuse and look like they are designed to waste GameFly's time and resources, not resolve the problem.

  17. Don't use your personal machine on Recourse For Draconian Encryption Requirements? · · Score: 1

    Don't use your personal machine for work.
    Have them supply an appropriate laptop or desktop to do the job.

    If you work as a contractor and believe it would be possible, you could get the name of the software they are using, or other software which they would approve and do it yourself. This is the approach I would take on my machine if the rules were being imposed. No-one other than me installs software on it and I want the recourse to deal with whatever company wrote the software in the event I have a problem. I wouldn't want the hospital to end up being a middle-man for support issues.

  18. Re:Anybody can have a bad day on Computer Competency Test For Non-IT Hires? · · Score: 1

    The point is, regardless of any test you put a potential employee through the risk itself still exists.

    The statement that they don't have an IT expert is the start of the problem. Hire an outside firm to evaluate your IT processes. Evaluate your risks and devise a strategy to mitigate those risks. Yes; you should know that the employees you hire can make rational decisions in regards to phishing emails, etc, but that is not enough in itself. 1 wrong move and you are in precisely the same position you were previously.

    Is any anti-virus software installed? Anti-spyware?
    Is the network firewalled?
    Is incoming email filtered for viruses? Spam? Phishing email?

    In the event of a breach, are there any steps which have been taken to mitigate the damage such a breach can cause?

  19. Anybody can have a bad day on Computer Competency Test For Non-IT Hires? · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Anybody can have a bad day.

    Just because someone is competent with a computer doesn't mean they can't be the vector for an infection. If you start with that premise you'll realize how completely futile it is. What you need instead is a tutorial program to reduce risks. Things they should and shouldn't do, etc.

    And proper anti-virus processes and procedures.

  20. Blocked streets? on Google Street View Shoots the Same Woman 43 Times · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In a country known for the government being big brother they are blocking streets so google can't take pictures? What?

  21. 2 year extension? on McAfee To Pay For PC Repairs After Patch Fiasco · · Score: 2, Insightful

    A 2 year extension? What, so they can have 730 more days to do it again?

  22. Re:The Cold Equations on Was Flight Ban Over Ash an Overreaction? · · Score: 1

    You going to come back and post the altitude of those flights?

    Here's a hint: a wack of flights were done at 6-7,000 feet, visual flight rules.
    Now, maybe that's cruise altitude in Europe, but it North America that's about 20,000ft short of cruise altitude.

  23. Troublesome ads on Website Mass-Bans Users Who Mention AdBlock · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A site I frequent ran some ads for a while that gave me grief. When it spawned a discussion thread they got rather pissy about it.
    but, here's a point...
    If your Ads fuck-up the user experience that bad then they can't read your site you dimwits. If they can't read it they will go away and not come back. Would you rather have that? -FIX- the Ads promptly and there won't be a problem.

    It's not a threat to say "If you don't fix it, I will leave". It's a fact, and it's not entirely by choice.

  24. Re:Other differences in blood chemistry? on Twins' DNA Foils Police · · Score: 1

    Glucos varies constantly, so unless one developed a condition like Diabetes it won't help. As for the rest, you'd still have to prove it's sufficient to identify a person. If it hasn't been used to do so in the past it is unlikely to pass muster in court.

    Never mind that most of the differences would have degraded in the sample to meaningless crap, DNA is pretty hardy stuff.

  25. Re:Wait for ACK? on FCC Relying On Faulty ISP Performance Data · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I pay for 15 Mbit down and .5 Mbit up.
    I get 15-20 Mbit down and .5 Mbit up.

    I even tested it with the FCC test since I posted the first message. It rated my connection slightly faster than speedtest.net did. (Not significantly, and I'm sure it would vary).

    Until recently I paid for 20 Mbit / 1.0 Mbit; but I wanted to save some money.

    The general illusion in the U.S. is many markets are the numbers for a zip-code are good, or even fantastic, but only a tiny fraction of the zip-code may actually get any service at all. Other zip-codes where they actually have significant penetration often have poor, or even dismal results compared to what the consumer is promised. Due to the prior reporting requirements the FCC had the ISPs were using this difference to fudge their numbers and service levels. The truth took a back seat.