Paul MacCready had the Gossamer Condor and then the Gossamer Albatross -- two famous aircraft, to be sure.
A group at MIT built the Light Eagle and Daedalus.
In both cases, the pilot was in as complete control of the craft as I can imagine; providing both power and control input. Daedalus had a... problem... I believe it was a gust of wind that put it in the surf off Santorini beach. Perhaps, if the pilot had not been so exhausted from being the engine as well, that might not have happened. Good argument for flight controls that don't get tired.
Then there are people like me (an occasional sailplane pilot, more seldom than I'd like), who would rather not have something else be in control of a craft that is so vulnerable to the whims of the wind.
You mentioned the pilot "most of the time" is the electronics. How much control does the human engine actually have? (Just curious...) Granted, it'd be rather nice to have the 'highway in the sky' that NASA and Paul Moller keep crowing about...
It's rather ironic, actually, that this testing is happening on Boeing's home turf. The attitudes of Boeing vs. Airbus with regard to computer control used to be 180 apart: Boeing's computer systems would default to what the human pilot believed was necessary, while Airbus had a system that limited what the pilot was able to do. In effect, Airbus' computer design had final authority. I believe this changed after the A3xx airshow crash (when the pilot tried to apply power and ended up in the trees anyway), but I haven't heard anything about this for several years.
Paine Field is about 3 miles away from my house, if that. It's right across the 'street' from the Boeing 747/767 assembly plant -- you know, the "world's largest building"? (Largest, I suppose, in that it covers more land than any other building -- it's not particularly tall.)
I saw a news bit recently (last night?) about the crash... looked like one of those 'impending doom' situations, where you know things are going badly, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Unwieldy looking landing gear, but necessary for the size of the prop the fellow is turning. I'm amazed there was as little damage -- it looked worse.
Doesn't look like the pilot has much for visibility. It's one of the most recumbant positions I've seen for human-powered flight. When they were pulling him out, it looked like he's almost strapped to the underside of the spar!
Incidentally, the Boeing hangar (the 747 assembly building) is where some of the human-powered helicopter (!!!) tests have been conducted. It's the only indoor place large enough, and the tests have to be indoors because they need absolutely calm air.
I find there is much more to it than 'fixing it when it breaks'. It's an issue of preventative maintenance -- fluids (not just oil!), brakes, shocks, and other moving parts. I have a tendency to keep a car so long that I need to replace the clutch. If one takes proper care of a car, pays attention to what noise is normal (and what isn't), then you won't end up playing catch-up.
Just like windows systems need regular anti-virus updates and other patching, cars need their attention, too. I've bought the Bentley manuals (2-inch thick complete reference books) for every vehicle I've owned, and (for the most part) I follow the maintenance schedules. As a reward, my cars are reliable, and I'm not shackled to a bank via a car payment. The car is mine, period, and I like it that way, thanks.
Another issue comes into play when one is willing (and capable) of such mechanical and electrical prowess -- used cars are a lot less expensive, and when purchased from individuals, you never have to interact with slimius vulgaris Rex, also known as the (used) car salesworm.
I have owned Volkswagens exclusively for 15 years now, and I've been able to appreciate the engineering that has gone into each one. You can see the thought that went into the evolution from original I-4 gas & diesel engines to 15 V-6 (VR6) to the 1.8t & TDI engines popular now. Each one of these has been interesting to work on (I can't absolutely say "fun"), and at least logical in their assembly. The evolution from mechanical/electric to solid-state systems has been great in my opinion; it makes things easier, more powerful, and more efficient. (I especially appreciate OBD-II)
I find that the more I have worked on my cars, the more easily I can diagnose noises and problems. I won't hesitate to dive into an A/C compressor replacement (with its associated 'gotcha's and other 'mandatory replace' components), and repairing a power window is something I can do in an hour after work.
On the other hand, I watched a fellow try to change spark plugs on a Mitsubishi 3000 GT -- he had to remove the intake manifold to get to the rear 3! The more I have looked at other cars, particularly ones of Asian design, the more I realize how VW specialized I have become. Looking at a Toyota Supra Turbo, for example, I almost felt the same way I did the first time I sat down in front of a UNIX computer -- completely out of my element.
2 to the 60th comes out to a really frickin' HUGE number -- certainly more than a billion. I thought about it some, dug out a good calculator... and found that it's 1,152,921,504,606,846,976 (!!!) Good God, I can't even pronounce that!
Disney certainly can't muster THAT much money, but I'm sure they'd love to claim that as the "true, emotional, and cultural value" of Mickey Mouse.
Great idea, though -- if your idea pays, keep the copyright... for a while. If not, it becomes the property of the people -- like it was originally intended.
What tactics from the general population do you fear most?
Specifically, what can US citizens do to make their point more attractive to a congressperson vs. a lobbyist with a massive bankroll (who's offering tons of perks!)?
I know, I use the SSH.com client to talk to the OpenSSH (on OpenBSD) server. However, I don't use the key-exchange methods, so I can't comment on that facet.
The SFTP function is a really nice feature, too. All I had to do was enable the server in the OpenSSH/etc/sshd_config file, and it just worked. Beautiful.
Finally, they offer a free "educational, charity, and personal recreational/hobby use" license -- just the thing for using my Windows desktop to talk to my home firewall.
I've never had a hiccup... no complaints at all! I think that's as much a credit to OpenSSH as it is to SSH.com -- they have a standard, and they've stuck to it!
This sounds familiar...
on
Windows in 2020
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· Score: 3, Interesting
I think I've seen something similar not too long ago. Don't remember where, unfortunately.
Quite a good point about everything running the same OS and getting hit by (worms | virii | crackers) at the same time -- it's even more poignant and ironic with the infections of Code Red 1, 2 (and 3?) still making the rounds.
The corn analogy drives his point home quite well, too!
Now... where are those raging mobs he talks about? We sure could use a few of them -- especially for all the brilliant individuals who still haven't noticed their infected boxes, never mind turn them off! (God forbid they could be bothered to patch 'em!)
Or, at least it did, last time I watched someone install Snood. It's been a while. The concept was quite annoying, but at least there was some warning of the payload...
It was a real pain, too -- we cancelled the install, it installed anyway. I had to go in and remove it manually with extreme prejudice... and it had bits scattered all over the place. It's sneaky, too -- you can easily get rid of the system tray icon and the 'password saving' function. But it seems that if you don't get all the bits, the adware / spyware is still there, working just fine, and looking just like an interstitial 'pop-over' ad! No hint whatsoever that you missed part of the damn thing.
The problem is (from the perspective of a network admin in a permissive company), this kind of thing turns your users into agents of the enemy. Sure, I can block their servers at the firewall, but I'm not fond of whack-a-mole. The next time someone finds the next cool program, I have another one to find! (Aargh!)
Marketdroids who pawn this crap off on other people should be charged with violation of the Computer Trespass laws. They're running unauthorized code on your nickel, claiming you consented when you clicked on another program's license. I hate 'em, they're worse than spammers!
The bastion of liberalism has the story as well, titled "Exporting Corporate Control
", and not only is it about censorship, they manage to bash President Bush, too! (Gee, that was hard, Mr. "I'm going to take a month-long vacation"...) Take the subtitle, for example:
"A gold company with ties to the Bush family tries to muzzle a muckraking journalist."
Ah, a story about mass murder, gold, the-president-who-sorta-isn't, family, campaign finance, etc... Wonder what else they could have fit in there? Exactly how many degrees of seperation apply? Gawd, they just love being inflamatory... it does get them readers, I suppose. (I'm one, obviously.)
Anyway, political leanings aside, they do a good job of following the money. They also point out that Gregory Palast has written for Salon before, so they have a vested interest in his popularity...
"AOL Time Warner Inc. is considering entering a race against Microsoft Corp. and other technology companies to establish a single Web identity for consumers, attempting to become one of the dominant Internet gatekeepers for a vast array of personal information.
AOL's project, which it calls Magic Carpet, would allow people to store personal information online to simplify transactions on the Internet, according to an internal AOL document and industry executives. AOL Time Warner would be chasing Microsoft, which has already developed a service called Passport that has more than 160 million accounts. AOL officials declined to comment."
No mention about access for non-microsoft browsers & operating systems, but this is the company that owns Netscape... and Scott McNealy is involved.
"...Magic Carpet, however, is referred to in an AOL strategy document on Microsoft. And at a summit of Internet industry leaders in Carlsbad, Calif., this week, Sun Microsystems Inc. chief executive Scott McNealy said he had talked to Barry Schuler, chief executive of America Online, AOL Time Warner's online unit, about the developing technology."
It's no secret that Mr. McNealy has no love of Microsoft. I think he'd make the effort to ensure that Netscape/Java works, and on all platforms. He knows how vital it is to his own future to pry Microsoft's fingers away from the Internet's throat.
It's going to be interesting to see how this all turns out...
Microsoft can change Passport, and thus hurt open source very badly.
Counterpoint:
If they do this, it is very possible they will (again) prove their position as a monopoly... and invite more anti-trust (and other) lawsuits
(Counter-counterpoint: Microsoft isn't afraid of lawsuits.)
Point:
If they break open-source.NET, they will cause managers to fire their open-source people and wildly embrace Microsoft's compatible-by-default products.
Counterpoint:
If a company depends for its' lifeblood on a single point of failure, management is sunk already.
Management may also take the 180 opposed view, form alliances, and build a competing product against.NET. However, it'd take something the size of AOL/Time Warner to make it happen.
Point:
Nicholas Petreley makes some very lucid and thought provoking points. He points out a very possible future.
Counterpoint:
Microsoft isn't that stupid and mercenary.
Wait a minute... Yes, they are! So much for that pair of rose-colored glasses.
If you've seen it before, this'll throw you off...
on
Akira Re-Released
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· Score: 4
...because the translation is different. It messes with your head when you're expecting something you remember from years ago... and it's not there!
It also appears that the music timing is different. For example, the first fight with the clowns: the contrasting music of Kaneda vs. the clown boss -- when they're playing chicken -- isn't as dramatic as I remember it. In the older version, switching between shots of each charachter also switched music... and it was a very powerful contrast. In this new version, the music is, well, 'smoothed out' -- it's more consistant, but you lose a bit of the drama.
I got my copy last night from my local mom-n-pop anime & rollplaying shop -- heck, the 2-disc set was $2 cheaper than Best Buy! ($25.99 vs. $27.99) I like the metal case, but there was no cel in it... I guess Greg Lee got a different version. Also, mine is black & silver, not metallic blue & silver (like Microlith's / comment #27) How many versions are there???
The in-depth look at the music of Akira is a nice plus, too (it's on Disc 2). Geinoh Yamashiro Gumi actually made the music before the movie... I did not know that. The bamboo instruments, the ability of (at the time) new tuning abilities of MIDI instruments & sampling... all kinds of things we now take for granted that were bleeding edge in the 80s...
You have a good point about NAT and ident. Let me address one situation where I had to deal with this:
I set up an OpenBSD NAT box for a friend of mine, who happens to be an IRC (Undernet) junkie. Most (if not all) of the Undernet servers
require ident before completing a connection. I would have just forwarded the port 113 if his room-mate didn't want to do the same thing...
but he did. Dammit.
That left me searching for something to make IRC work through NAT, and I found the "Transparent IRC Proxy." It (optionally in conjunction with identd) handles ident requests, and returns a proper response based on entries in/var/run. These entries are quite simple -- they're just files named "user-n.n.n.n" and containing just the name to be returned for ident. Easy enough...
It makes DCC work again, it enables ident to properly identify NAT'd users, and (as long as you find an Undernet server that allows more than one connection per host) it allows two people to be on at the same time. End of problem.
To answer your question, ident certainly has value in a NAT environment. It can be a pain to implement (look into TIRCProxy, it does more than just IRC), but once established, it provides some accounting of who has done what. This can be the difference between pulling your hair out and simply plonking a user. I don't see this being much help in a business environment... but it certainly has recreational applications.
NAT is a necessary evil right now. Hopefully, once IPv6 is in widespread use, ISPs will no longer be as stingy with the address space... and then it'll be a simple function of routing. Until then, I hope this helps.
Seriously though, there are actually useful applications for identd, and most involve making sure you legitimately use the machine in question, and it's not just redirecting traffic on a certain port. I can't name another service that fills the niche that ident does -- I always thought of it as the internet's version of a BBS call-back. Everything else I know is on a case-by-case basis, and nowhere near as ubiquitous as ident is. That is ident's power.
Also, current use is a far cry from the original intent of the daemon -- that's for sure. There was a time when an ident reply contained a valid email address. I know there are still some valid answers out there, but I know I've never taken an ident reply seriously. These days, either you get a reply (and the info is probably garbage), or you don't.
You can thank the those windows users (like myself at times) for that. Heck, when I first started using IRC, I had no idea what ident was, and I didn't mess with mIRC's settings... thus, whatever you saw was nearly the same as ten thousand others, and even more useless.
The fact that sysadmins now treat ident requests as 'attempted crack attempts' or (potentially) 'hostile network connections' says
They don't appreciate the use of identd
It's too much work to maintain and use it
It's another port open on the firewall to that mean, nasty internet
They're privacy freaks, and you don't need to know the username, you privacy-invading corporate whore, you!
(Pick one, pick 'em all, your choice!)
You know, Wakko... I can't say I disagree with you. But do you have another idea for a lightweight 'that connection was authorized, here's who is accountable' mechanism?
Re:Tell me what THIS is good for?
on
Eco-Terrorism
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· Score: 1
What good is it for? It defines ugly.
Seriously, though, I was at a mall yesterday, and saw the current Escalade... DAMN, that thing's ugly. Another person in the car with me had a quote I wish I could take credit for:
"You'll never get me in a vehicle where the badges are bigger than my head!"
Heh. Gawd, that thing was pretentious, gaudy, and bombastic! It's so angular, it reminded me of an escapee from the 80s.
Well, for anyone who wants a used one... I bet they'll be cheap! That design can't have much life in it, and when it's not new anymore... it's going to look REALLY old!
Well, it looks like a lot of people won't have to worry about this any more.
Microsoft doesn't sell Windows 98 anymore!
Seriously, how does the merge into WinXP (NT) affect this? Secondly, how does something like ZoneAlarm react to your hardware trying to access the internet? Geez...
I understand the need for BIOS updates, and the need for companies to make it easier on the non-technical user... but this 'phone-home' capability (and all the data-collection demons it brings with it) is just a bit too much.
Good thing the OS it needs isn't sold anymore (at least, not 'officially').
Do you think radio stations across the world would adapt to mp3's?
Actually, it would make quite a bit of sense. A 128 kbit MP3 exceeds stereotypical 'FM quality', so why not? Also, many stations these days (think 'Clear Channel' here) are centralizing studios, using hard-drive based storage at the individual stations for what goes out over the airwaves. The information has to get to these hard drives somehow, and in some format... I have no idea how it's done (is there a station engineer that wants to jump in here?) but leased lines (fractional T-1) or satelite makes sense.
Besides, I'm sure Thomson Multimedia and the Fraunhofer Institute would love the royalties.
That's a lot of money for a (common enough) piece of fruit.
They even admit it's at least 3 times the cost of a 'normal' watermelon (in Japan).
BUT...
I can see a use for it -- catering. All those swanky functions, with shaped fruit, and origami vegetables... and...
(cue the Visa commercial baby!)
and ice sculptures!
Am I the only one wanting to get the rind off by running it through a food-grade bandsaw? I wonder if the skin is thicker at the corners, and the fruit inside is signifigantly rounder than the package...?
Bah, the things look just wrong. There's gotta be a lot of labor in getting them to grow proper in their little tempered glass cages... and if you read the article, notice the attention to detail -- all the stems come out the exact middle of one side! Somebody has way too much time on their hands.
They'll be sunk when next year's fridge comes out and the manufacturers change the shelf dimensions, though...
...User education is a wonderful thing. The junior system admins understand a little more deeply why security patches must be applied immediately -- a little reinforcement never hurts. Some non-technical people understood why, exactly, the senior system administrator frequently had his teeth clenched and a spastic twitch in his left eye. Plus, they understood the importance of security patches. The next time I inconveniently "down" a server to apply a security patch, there won't be nearly as much grumbling.
Oh, wait a minute. I won't be taking down the server. That's what the ex-trainee is for. Maybe I can give him the spastic eye twitch, too.
Clenched teeth... uncontrolled, spastic twitching... perhaps even a good bout of Tourette's syndrome!
But at least a way to get back to the original software...
From reading this, it seems that he just bought the thing. (Sort of... it's not entirely clear.)
If it was still within the n-days return period, I say take it back, complain it doesn't work as advertised. Then buy another one if you still feel like it.
THEN (now that you've learned your lesson), do some of the hacks described, and don't plug it into the evil phone line.
Personally, my view of Tivo, Inc. just went WAY down. They just scored a major win with the award of their patents, they're inches away from smacking Microsoft & Ultimate TV with an ugly stick... and they still feel they need to do this to their customers?
Bad Tivo. (Whack!) No stock options for you! Go sit in the corner until you learn to play nice!
(Still, just to be fair... didn't UltimateTV do some silliness like inserting ads while you're fast-forwarding? This was a change from out-of-box functionality... but not nearly as invasive as what Tivo has done!)
Sorry for the confusion, LionKimbro. I really should have been more specific. I should have said "lifetime allowable dosage of radiation for a person working in a US Navy nuclear specialty." I'm sure there's a "government recommended maximum civillian dosage," and it's set at a very harmless and generally un-reached number.
Here's a little background on the Navy nuclear field:
The enlisted and officer personnel that actually work on the naval reactor systems (ratings of MM, EM and ET, plus officer billets) go through a special school at Naval Weapons Station Charleston in South Carolina.
First, one is trained in their specific job duties. ("A School")
Second, you go through 'Power School' -- principles of nuclear physics, what makes these things work, how, and why they're dangerous.
While in Power School, you are scanned to determine exactly how much radiation you have absorbed thus far in your life. (Some call it "Hugging the Box.") From that, the Navy knows how much more exposure you can receive before you are no longer allowed near radioactive sources.
Third, you go to 'Prototype' where you get to play with a working reactor, just not on a working vessel. There are 3 of these in the US, 2 here at NWS Charleston, and 1 in Ballston Spa, NY.
As far as exposure goes, I'm not going to get into the exact specifics & numbers. (I'm not sure exactly where 'common knowledge' stops and 'confidential information' starts.) Numbers don't matter in any case, as I don't have exposure readings for Petty Officer Hahn.
The point is: The Navy has chosen a number for the amount of exposure you're allowed. David Hahn exceeded this number before he enlisted. Therefore the Navy will not allow him to work in a situation where he will receive artificial additional exposure. The Navy is not interested in medically retiring him and handing him a disability check because something turned cancerous, all because he went near a reactor... again.
The Navy does understand the risks involved -- and they certainly minimize their exposure as much as they can, both to radiation risks and litigation risks!
Petty Officer Hahn is quite famous here around NWS Charleston. Every Power School class hears about the 'Radioactive Boyscout.' Curious about what he's doing now? He's an 'airdale' -- he works on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.
Current status of David Hahn
on
Duct Tape
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· Score: 5
David Hahn is now in the US Navy. While the Navy would have liked him to be a nuclear certified machinist's mate/electrician's mate/electronics tech, he has already received more than his lifetime allowable dosage of radiation.
Oops.
So, just you remember that kids -- choices you make in your youth can limit your career options further down the road.
I sure think he didn't want quite that result, though.
His reaction to it is interesting. (To paraphrase Reader's Digest):
David is now in the Navy, where he reads about steroids, melanin, genetic codes, prototype reactors, amino acids, and criminal law. He explains "...I wanted to make a scratch in life." As far as his radiation exposure, "I've still got time." He goes on to venture that "I don't believe I took more than 5 years off my life."
There is data on the size of the house (2900 sq. ft.) and the costs involved. The difference here (assuming you refer to a pre-existing structure), is that this house was conceived as solar home from the design stages. It was built knowing they were doing this from the start. It makes a major difference in the design and placement of a structure.
This place has been featured on the History Channel and HGTV. Okay, it's in Maine. Maine is a long way from California. In this case, heating via solar is a goal (but not exclusively), just perhaps more so than in a California home application.
Yes, in some cases, he gets a check from the power company instead of a bill. It's do-able. He's also installed an inverter and battery system for power in the event of grid blackout.
I'd wonder, carefully considering de-regulation, if you can choose which power company to sell your surplus to...? It might be something to consider, as I have seen advertising for power generators in California with different goals (environmentally friendly & socially conscious vs. low cost & raping the land, etc...)
He speaks directly to California residents in several places, and has a point that I envy.
Notice to Californians: You have a 50% state subsidized rebate program for solar PV installations.
(No such luck in my home state, dammit.)
(Final "grain-of-salt" note -- I don't agree with some of the cost numbers he quotes for non-solar houses. $400 worth of heating oil used in just 28 days??? They must have been heating all of southern Maine! Perhaps they had a 500 gallon tank topped off, but I can easily make that much heating oil last for 6 months... and that includes hot water, too. Yes, my place is smaller, but I have horribly leaky windows, and not-that-great insulation... I still don't use that much oil.)
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Paul MacCready had the Gossamer Condor and then the Gossamer Albatross -- two famous aircraft, to be sure.
A group at MIT built the Light Eagle and Daedalus.
In both cases, the pilot was in as complete control of the craft as I can imagine; providing both power and control input. Daedalus had a... problem... I believe it was a gust of wind that put it in the surf off Santorini beach. Perhaps, if the pilot had not been so exhausted from being the engine as well, that might not have happened. Good argument for flight controls that don't get tired.
Then there are people like me (an occasional sailplane pilot, more seldom than I'd like), who would rather not have something else be in control of a craft that is so vulnerable to the whims of the wind.
You mentioned the pilot "most of the time" is the electronics. How much control does the human engine actually have? (Just curious...) Granted, it'd be rather nice to have the 'highway in the sky' that NASA and Paul Moller keep crowing about...
It's rather ironic, actually, that this testing is happening on Boeing's home turf. The attitudes of Boeing vs. Airbus with regard to computer control used to be 180 apart: Boeing's computer systems would default to what the human pilot believed was necessary, while Airbus had a system that limited what the pilot was able to do. In effect, Airbus' computer design had final authority. I believe this changed after the A3xx airshow crash (when the pilot tried to apply power and ended up in the trees anyway), but I haven't heard anything about this for several years.
I hope more enlightened attitudes have prevailed.
Paine Field is about 3 miles away from my house, if that. It's right across the 'street' from the Boeing 747/767 assembly plant -- you know, the "world's largest building"? (Largest, I suppose, in that it covers more land than any other building -- it's not particularly tall.)
I saw a news bit recently (last night?) about the crash... looked like one of those 'impending doom' situations, where you know things are going badly, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Unwieldy looking landing gear, but necessary for the size of the prop the fellow is turning. I'm amazed there was as little damage -- it looked worse.
Here are some links from local news:
- Human-powered plane crashes on first flight
- Test flight for the human-powered Raven
- (includes post-crash picture)
- 'Raven' debuts at Museum of Flight (includes pre-crash picture)
Doesn't look like the pilot has much for visibility. It's one of the most recumbant positions I've seen for human-powered flight. When they were pulling him out, it looked like he's almost strapped to the underside of the spar!Incidentally, the Boeing hangar (the 747 assembly building) is where some of the human-powered helicopter (!!!) tests have been conducted. It's the only indoor place large enough, and the tests have to be indoors because they need absolutely calm air.
I find there is much more to it than 'fixing it when it breaks'. It's an issue of preventative maintenance -- fluids (not just oil!), brakes, shocks, and other moving parts. I have a tendency to keep a car so long that I need to replace the clutch. If one takes proper care of a car, pays attention to what noise is normal (and what isn't), then you won't end up playing catch-up.
Just like windows systems need regular anti-virus updates and other patching, cars need their attention, too. I've bought the Bentley manuals (2-inch thick complete reference books) for every vehicle I've owned, and (for the most part) I follow the maintenance schedules. As a reward, my cars are reliable, and I'm not shackled to a bank via a car payment. The car is mine, period, and I like it that way, thanks.
Another issue comes into play when one is willing (and capable) of such mechanical and electrical prowess -- used cars are a lot less expensive, and when purchased from individuals, you never have to interact with slimius vulgaris Rex, also known as the (used) car salesworm.
I have owned Volkswagens exclusively for 15 years now, and I've been able to appreciate the engineering that has gone into each one. You can see the thought that went into the evolution from original I-4 gas & diesel engines to 15 V-6 (VR6) to the 1.8t & TDI engines popular now. Each one of these has been interesting to work on (I can't absolutely say "fun"), and at least logical in their assembly. The evolution from mechanical/electric to solid-state systems has been great in my opinion; it makes things easier, more powerful, and more efficient. (I especially appreciate OBD-II)
I find that the more I have worked on my cars, the more easily I can diagnose noises and problems. I won't hesitate to dive into an A/C compressor replacement (with its associated 'gotcha's and other 'mandatory replace' components), and repairing a power window is something I can do in an hour after work.
On the other hand, I watched a fellow try to change spark plugs on a Mitsubishi 3000 GT -- he had to remove the intake manifold to get to the rear 3! The more I have looked at other cars, particularly ones of Asian design, the more I realize how VW specialized I have become. Looking at a Toyota Supra Turbo, for example, I almost felt the same way I did the first time I sat down in front of a UNIX computer -- completely out of my element.
2 to the 60th comes out to a really frickin' HUGE number -- certainly more than a billion. I thought about it some, dug out a good calculator... and found that it's 1,152,921,504,606,846,976 (!!!) Good God, I can't even pronounce that!
Disney certainly can't muster THAT much money, but I'm sure they'd love to claim that as the "true, emotional, and cultural value" of Mickey Mouse.
Great idea, though -- if your idea pays, keep the copyright... for a while. If not, it becomes the property of the people -- like it was originally intended.
What tactics from the general population do you fear most?
Specifically, what can US citizens do to make their point more attractive to a congressperson vs. a lobbyist with a massive bankroll (who's offering tons of perks!)?
I know, I use the SSH.com client to talk to the OpenSSH (on OpenBSD) server. However, I don't use the key-exchange methods, so I can't comment on that facet.
The SFTP function is a really nice feature, too. All I had to do was enable the server in the OpenSSH /etc/sshd_config file, and it just worked. Beautiful.
Finally, they offer a free "educational, charity, and personal recreational/hobby use" license -- just the thing for using my Windows desktop to talk to my home firewall.
I've never had a hiccup... no complaints at all! I think that's as much a credit to OpenSSH as it is to SSH.com -- they have a standard, and they've stuck to it!
I think I've seen something similar not too long ago. Don't remember where, unfortunately.
Quite a good point about everything running the same OS and getting hit by (worms | virii | crackers) at the same time -- it's even more poignant and ironic with the infections of Code Red 1, 2 (and 3?) still making the rounds.
The corn analogy drives his point home quite well, too!
Now... where are those raging mobs he talks about? We sure could use a few of them -- especially for all the brilliant individuals who still haven't noticed their infected boxes, never mind turn them off! (God forbid they could be bothered to patch 'em!)
Sheesh.
It comes with Snood, too...
Or, at least it did, last time I watched someone install Snood. It's been a while. The concept was quite annoying, but at least there was some warning of the payload...
It was a real pain, too -- we cancelled the install, it installed anyway. I had to go in and remove it manually with extreme prejudice... and it had bits scattered all over the place. It's sneaky, too -- you can easily get rid of the system tray icon and the 'password saving' function. But it seems that if you don't get all the bits, the adware / spyware is still there, working just fine, and looking just like an interstitial 'pop-over' ad! No hint whatsoever that you missed part of the damn thing.
The problem is (from the perspective of a network admin in a permissive company), this kind of thing turns your users into agents of the enemy. Sure, I can block their servers at the firewall, but I'm not fond of whack-a-mole. The next time someone finds the next cool program, I have another one to find! (Aargh!)
Marketdroids who pawn this crap off on other people should be charged with violation of the Computer Trespass laws. They're running unauthorized code on your nickel, claiming you consented when you clicked on another program's license. I hate 'em, they're worse than spammers!
The bastion of liberalism has the story as well, titled "Exporting Corporate Control ", and not only is it about censorship, they manage to bash President Bush, too! (Gee, that was hard, Mr. "I'm going to take a month-long vacation"...) Take the subtitle, for example:
- "A gold company with ties to the Bush family tries to muzzle a muckraking journalist."
Ah, a story about mass murder, gold, the-president-who-sorta-isn't, family, campaign finance, etc... Wonder what else they could have fit in there? Exactly how many degrees of seperation apply? Gawd, they just love being inflamatory... it does get them readers, I suppose. (I'm one, obviously.)Anyway, political leanings aside, they do a good job of following the money. They also point out that Gregory Palast has written for Salon before, so they have a vested interest in his popularity...
What a wicked web, indeed.
Honest, I didn't find this until after I posted my previous comment... I just found this little tidbit on the Washington Post's site:
- AOL Might Join 'Identity Service' Battle
No mention about access for non-microsoft browsers & operating systems, but this is the company that owns Netscape... and Scott McNealy is involved."AOL Time Warner Inc. is considering entering a race against Microsoft Corp. and other technology companies to establish a single Web identity for consumers, attempting to become one of the dominant Internet gatekeepers for a vast array of personal information.
AOL's project, which it calls Magic Carpet, would allow people to store personal information online to simplify transactions on the Internet, according to an internal AOL document and industry executives. AOL Time Warner would be chasing Microsoft, which has already developed a service called Passport that has more than 160 million accounts. AOL officials declined to comment."
- "...Magic Carpet, however, is referred to in an AOL strategy document on Microsoft. And at a summit of Internet industry leaders in Carlsbad, Calif., this week, Sun Microsystems Inc. chief executive Scott McNealy said he had talked to Barry Schuler, chief executive of America Online, AOL Time Warner's online unit, about the developing technology."
It's no secret that Mr. McNealy has no love of Microsoft. I think he'd make the effort to ensure that Netscape/Java works, and on all platforms. He knows how vital it is to his own future to pry Microsoft's fingers away from the Internet's throat.It's going to be interesting to see how this all turns out...
- Microsoft can change Passport, and thus hurt open source very badly.
Counterpoint:- If they do this, it is very possible they will (again) prove their position as a monopoly... and invite more anti-trust (and other) lawsuits
Point:(Counter-counterpoint: Microsoft isn't afraid of lawsuits.)
- If they break open-source
.NET, they will cause managers to fire their open-source people and wildly embrace Microsoft's compatible-by-default products.
Counterpoint:- If a company depends for its' lifeblood on a single point of failure, management is sunk already.
- Management may also take the 180 opposed view, form alliances, and build a competing product against
.NET. However, it'd take something the size of AOL/Time Warner to make it happen.
Point:- Nicholas Petreley makes some very lucid and thought provoking points. He points out a very possible future.
Counterpoint:- Microsoft isn't that stupid and mercenary.
Wait a minute... Yes, they are! So much for that pair of rose-colored glasses.It also appears that the music timing is different. For example, the first fight with the clowns: the contrasting music of Kaneda vs. the clown boss -- when they're playing chicken -- isn't as dramatic as I remember it. In the older version, switching between shots of each charachter also switched music... and it was a very powerful contrast. In this new version, the music is, well, 'smoothed out' -- it's more consistant, but you lose a bit of the drama.
I got my copy last night from my local mom-n-pop anime & rollplaying shop -- heck, the 2-disc set was $2 cheaper than Best Buy! ($25.99 vs. $27.99) I like the metal case, but there was no cel in it... I guess Greg Lee got a different version. Also, mine is black & silver, not metallic blue & silver (like Microlith's / comment #27) How many versions are there???
The in-depth look at the music of Akira is a nice plus, too (it's on Disc 2). Geinoh Yamashiro Gumi actually made the music before the movie... I did not know that. The bamboo instruments, the ability of (at the time) new tuning abilities of MIDI instruments & sampling... all kinds of things we now take for granted that were bleeding edge in the 80s...
DAMN.
Been waiting for this ever since last November!
You did remember to support your local merchant instead of a megacorp, didn't you? Even Amazon is more expensive than Best Buy!
You have a good point about NAT and ident. Let me address one situation where I had to deal with this:
- I set up an OpenBSD NAT box for a friend of mine, who happens to be an IRC (Undernet) junkie. Most (if not all) of the Undernet servers
- require ident before completing a connection. I would have just forwarded the port 113 if his room-mate didn't want to do the same thing...
To answer your question, ident certainly has value in a NAT environment. It can be a pain to implement (look into TIRCProxy, it does more than just IRC), but once established, it provides some accounting of who has done what. This can be the difference between pulling your hair out and simply plonking a user. I don't see this being much help in a business environment... but it certainly has recreational applications.but he did. Dammit.
That left me searching for something to make IRC work through NAT, and I found the "Transparent IRC Proxy." It (optionally in conjunction with identd) handles ident requests, and returns a proper response based on entries in /var/run. These entries are quite simple -- they're just files named "user-n.n.n.n" and containing just the name to be returned for ident. Easy enough...
It makes DCC work again, it enables ident to properly identify NAT'd users, and (as long as you find an Undernet server that allows more than one connection per host) it allows two people to be on at the same time. End of problem.
NAT is a necessary evil right now. Hopefully, once IPv6 is in widespread use, ISPs will no longer be as stingy with the address space... and then it'll be a simple function of routing. Until then, I hope this helps.
Ident has its uses...
- IRC (your point)
- The previously mentioned email servers
- uh.... something else...
- (this space for rent!)
Seriously though, there are actually useful applications for identd, and most involve making sure you legitimately use the machine in question, and it's not just redirecting traffic on a certain port. I can't name another service that fills the niche that ident does -- I always thought of it as the internet's version of a BBS call-back. Everything else I know is on a case-by-case basis, and nowhere near as ubiquitous as ident is. That is ident's power.Also, current use is a far cry from the original intent of the daemon -- that's for sure. There was a time when an ident reply contained a valid email address. I know there are still some valid answers out there, but I know I've never taken an ident reply seriously. These days, either you get a reply (and the info is probably garbage), or you don't.
You can thank the those windows users (like myself at times) for that. Heck, when I first started using IRC, I had no idea what ident was, and I didn't mess with mIRC's settings... thus, whatever you saw was nearly the same as ten thousand others, and even more useless.
The fact that sysadmins now treat ident requests as 'attempted crack attempts' or (potentially) 'hostile network connections' says
- They don't appreciate the use of identd
- It's too much work to maintain and use it
- It's another port open on the firewall to that mean, nasty internet
- They're privacy freaks, and you don't need to know the username, you privacy-invading corporate whore, you!
You know, Wakko... I can't say I disagree with you. But do you have another idea for a lightweight 'that connection was authorized, here's who is accountable' mechanism?(Pick one, pick 'em all, your choice!)
What good is it for? It defines ugly.
Seriously, though, I was at a mall yesterday, and saw the current Escalade... DAMN, that thing's ugly. Another person in the car with me had a quote I wish I could take credit for:
- "You'll never get me in a vehicle where the badges are bigger than my head!"
Heh. Gawd, that thing was pretentious, gaudy, and bombastic! It's so angular, it reminded me of an escapee from the 80s.Well, for anyone who wants a used one... I bet they'll be cheap! That design can't have much life in it, and when it's not new anymore... it's going to look REALLY old!
Microsoft doesn't sell Windows 98 anymore!
Seriously, how does the merge into WinXP (NT) affect this? Secondly, how does something like ZoneAlarm react to your hardware trying to access the internet? Geez...
I understand the need for BIOS updates, and the need for companies to make it easier on the non-technical user... but this 'phone-home' capability (and all the data-collection demons it brings with it) is just a bit too much.
Good thing the OS it needs isn't sold anymore (at least, not 'officially').
Sheesh.
The return of Holy Grail is announced just three days prior, and ONE PERSON gets the bloody reference! What is this world coming to?
And there was much rejoicing.
Actually, it would make quite a bit of sense. A 128 kbit MP3 exceeds stereotypical 'FM quality', so why not? Also, many stations these days (think 'Clear Channel' here) are centralizing studios, using hard-drive based storage at the individual stations for what goes out over the airwaves. The information has to get to these hard drives somehow, and in some format... I have no idea how it's done (is there a station engineer that wants to jump in here?) but leased lines (fractional T-1) or satelite makes sense.
Besides, I'm sure Thomson Multimedia and the Fraunhofer Institute would love the royalties.
They even admit it's at least 3 times the cost of a 'normal' watermelon (in Japan).
BUT...
I can see a use for it -- catering. All those swanky functions, with shaped fruit, and origami vegetables... and...
and ice sculptures!
Am I the only one wanting to get the rind off by running it through a food-grade bandsaw? I wonder if the skin is thicker at the corners, and the fruit inside is signifigantly rounder than the package...?
Bah, the things look just wrong. There's gotta be a lot of labor in getting them to grow proper in their little tempered glass cages... and if you read the article, notice the attention to detail -- all the stems come out the exact middle of one side! Somebody has way too much time on their hands.
They'll be sunk when next year's fridge comes out and the manufacturers change the shelf dimensions, though...
- ...User education is a wonderful thing. The junior system admins understand a little more deeply why security patches must be applied immediately -- a little reinforcement never hurts. Some non-technical people understood why, exactly, the senior system administrator frequently had his teeth clenched and a spastic twitch in his left eye. Plus, they understood the importance of security patches. The next time I inconveniently "down" a server to apply a security patch, there won't be nearly as much grumbling.
Clenched teeth... uncontrolled, spastic twitching... perhaps even a good bout of Tourette's syndrome!Oh, wait a minute. I won't be taking down the server. That's what the ex-trainee is for. Maybe I can give him the spastic eye twitch, too.
The BOFH lives... and he's contagious!
From reading this, it seems that he just bought the thing. (Sort of... it's not entirely clear.)
If it was still within the n-days return period, I say take it back, complain it doesn't work as advertised. Then buy another one if you still feel like it.
THEN (now that you've learned your lesson), do some of the hacks described, and don't plug it into the evil phone line.
Personally, my view of Tivo, Inc. just went WAY down. They just scored a major win with the award of their patents, they're inches away from smacking Microsoft & Ultimate TV with an ugly stick... and they still feel they need to do this to their customers?
Bad Tivo. (Whack!) No stock options for you! Go sit in the corner until you learn to play nice!
(Still, just to be fair... didn't UltimateTV do some silliness like inserting ads while you're fast-forwarding? This was a change from out-of-box functionality... but not nearly as invasive as what Tivo has done!)
Sorry for the confusion, LionKimbro. I really should have been more specific. I should have said "lifetime allowable dosage of radiation for a person working in a US Navy nuclear specialty." I'm sure there's a "government recommended maximum civillian dosage," and it's set at a very harmless and generally un-reached number.
Here's a little background on the Navy nuclear field:
The enlisted and officer personnel that actually work on the naval reactor systems (ratings of MM, EM and ET, plus officer billets) go through a special school at Naval Weapons Station Charleston in South Carolina.
As far as exposure goes, I'm not going to get into the exact specifics & numbers. (I'm not sure exactly where 'common knowledge' stops and 'confidential information' starts.) Numbers don't matter in any case, as I don't have exposure readings for Petty Officer Hahn.
The point is: The Navy has chosen a number for the amount of exposure you're allowed. David Hahn exceeded this number before he enlisted. Therefore the Navy will not allow him to work in a situation where he will receive artificial additional exposure. The Navy is not interested in medically retiring him and handing him a disability check because something turned cancerous, all because he went near a reactor... again.
The Navy does understand the risks involved -- and they certainly minimize their exposure as much as they can, both to radiation risks and litigation risks!
Petty Officer Hahn is quite famous here around NWS Charleston. Every Power School class hears about the 'Radioactive Boyscout.' Curious about what he's doing now? He's an 'airdale' -- he works on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.
Oops.
So, just you remember that kids -- choices you make in your youth can limit your career options further down the road.
I sure think he didn't want quite that result, though.
His reaction to it is interesting. (To paraphrase Reader's Digest):
- David is now in the Navy, where he reads about steroids, melanin, genetic codes, prototype reactors, amino acids, and criminal law. He explains "...I wanted to make a scratch in life." As far as his radiation exposure, "I've still got time." He goes on to venture that "I don't believe I took more than 5 years off my life."
Quite the merit badge.This place has been featured on the History Channel and HGTV. Okay, it's in Maine. Maine is a long way from California. In this case, heating via solar is a goal (but not exclusively), just perhaps more so than in a California home application.
- www.solarhouse.com is the site.
Yes, in some cases, he gets a check from the power company instead of a bill. It's do-able. He's also installed an inverter and battery system for power in the event of grid blackout.I'd wonder, carefully considering de-regulation, if you can choose which power company to sell your surplus to...? It might be something to consider, as I have seen advertising for power generators in California with different goals (environmentally friendly & socially conscious vs. low cost & raping the land, etc...)
He speaks directly to California residents in several places, and has a point that I envy.
(No such luck in my home state, dammit.)
(Final "grain-of-salt" note -- I don't agree with some of the cost numbers he quotes for non-solar houses. $400 worth of heating oil used in just 28 days??? They must have been heating all of southern Maine! Perhaps they had a 500 gallon tank topped off, but I can easily make that much heating oil last for 6 months... and that includes hot water, too. Yes, my place is smaller, but I have horribly leaky windows, and not-that-great insulation... I still don't use that much oil.)