Yeah, I reckon they do. I work implementing such systems. Read on...
Modern asset tracking systems use the serial number of each big-ticket item to track it (if it is serialised - most expensive kit is). The asset, whatever it is, is tracked from entry to the system through to exit - with an EPOS transaction being recorded against it as it leaves if sold.
It is pretty damn easy for a database coder to write a bit of SQL to say 'give me the credit card number that bought this item'. I could do it in minutes.
Provided the Feds wanted to track a given machine, and it had been bought with plastic, there's no reason they shouldn't be able to find that info very easily, given the cooperation of the vendors. Your last para relies on you not being someone the Feds are interested in - and that relies on you assuming they won't be interested in people who haven't broken the law. I hope you are right, but recent events suggest otherwise to me...
There was the recent incident of a KOffice developer publically insulting [slashdot.org] a longtime KDE and KOffice user
Are you still sore at being called a blathering idiot because you spouted off on a subject you knew nothing about and got called on it by someone who did?
If so, then I agree with him, you're a blathering idiot;-)
Every time this thread comes up, half a million zealots start claiming the US created the Internet,
Arpanet, Ethernet, TCP/IP came from where?
Sure, your guys may have invented the internet, but CERN invented the web. FTP, Gopher and telnet are nothing by comparison.
Gee, we're getting oil from Iraq? When did that start?
Instead of "war for oil", I think "war for control of oil" describes it better. Looks like the plan hasn't worked, I agree, but I think that was a part of the reasoning behind the war.
Anyway, the GP point was perception. Right now, the US is, rightly or wrongly, perceived worldwide as, if not a force for evil, certainly no longer a force for good. This is entirely due to the present administration. FWIW I'm a Brit whose parents lived in the States (Champagne-Urbana), I've travelled around over there and I know that most Americans are really, really nice... if frequently underinformed about anything taking place more than fifty miles from home. I definitely doubt the motives of the current president and his military-industrial friends (or 'bosses'). I think the American form of democracy has just failed, but it will take a few years for those of you with a more global outlook to realise what's been lost. The remainder will still not care as long as the sun shines in the flyover states.
Ah... ferrite core. I remember being shown a 4 inch square of that stuff that held... a kilobit. Yes, that's right, 256 bytes filling the size of your hand. 32 copper wires across and down, with a little lump of black ferrite core at each junction, like the ugliest jewellery you ever saw.
When they got bugs in the system, they could correct the memory by hand with a magnet...
As 99.99% or people pay it, the 'license fee' is just general taxation in disguise. As is National Insurance. As is VAT. As is Road Tax. Don't let the politicians fool you into thinking otherwise.
When they are all rolled into one and we pay our 35% tax we'll be able to see what we're paying.
Regular chiropractic, good posture, not 'backed up';-) My doctor has no idea why, but peppermints have entirely fixed the situation... for the moment. We'll see how it goes.
Hmm... do you have more sense of humour after coffee?
If you read again, you'll note that I agreed with the OP and was expressing surprise that he had been moderated Troll. So you could say that I did judge him on what he said. If you understood.
OK, who the hell's calling a low-fives userid a Troll? I'll see you outside, now!
Good, now he's gone, we can talk.
I agree: there's a lot of money in palliatives, and what's more the patient will keep buying. Cures, on the other hand, tend to get just the one sale.
I'm currently on peppermints(!) for the evil stomach cramps I've been having for a while. It's a perfect cure... provided I keep buying peppermint capsules for the rest of my life. Not only that, but (I now know) many many people are on the same treatment programme, and there's no likelihood of a cure - or even a cause. That's cos there's a cash cow sitting there, and nobody in the pharms industry will want it to go away.
And *that's* why these two deserve a Nobel Prize. Parent is insightful, so there.
Justin. PS: Can't wait to get prescribed gobstoppers for migraines;-)
Slashdot Mirror
Commodity parts.
Yeah, and funnily enough he put it in the "it-only-takes-braaaaaaains" dept.
Ooh, the irony!
J.
Yeah, I reckon they do. I work implementing such systems. Read on...
Modern asset tracking systems use the serial number of each big-ticket item to track it (if it is serialised - most expensive kit is). The asset, whatever it is, is tracked from entry to the system through to exit - with an EPOS transaction being recorded against it as it leaves if sold.
It is pretty damn easy for a database coder to write a bit of SQL to say 'give me the credit card number that bought this item'. I could do it in minutes.
Provided the Feds wanted to track a given machine, and it had been bought with plastic, there's no reason they shouldn't be able to find that info very easily, given the cooperation of the vendors. Your last para relies on you not being someone the Feds are interested in - and that relies on you assuming they won't be interested in people who haven't broken the law. I hope you are right, but recent events suggest otherwise to me...
Justin.
He may or may not be a moron, but he did say "more than two" so your supposed counterexample of "both processors" is a bit irrelevent.
My 2p, natch.
J.
Brilliant... they have found a way of denying access to their own service.
Now if this could deny me access to, say news.bbc.co.uk I might see the point, but this is totally irrelevent.
Justin.
Perhaps there's some kind of world conspiracy led by a super-intelligent, yet badly hypochondriac, rat?
J.
20th you prat.
And which dick modded the parent a troll? Bad at maths, sure, but not trolling.
J.
I don't like your use of the phrase 'cut-off line' in this context.
Are you still sore at being called a blathering idiot because you spouted off on a subject you knew nothing about and got called on it by someone who did?
If so, then I agree with him, you're a blathering idiot ;-)
Justin.
Anyway, the GP point was perception. Right now, the US is, rightly or wrongly, perceived worldwide as, if not a force for evil, certainly no longer a force for good. This is entirely due to the present administration. FWIW I'm a Brit whose parents lived in the States (Champagne-Urbana), I've travelled around over there and I know that most Americans are really, really nice... if frequently underinformed about anything taking place more than fifty miles from home. I definitely doubt the motives of the current president and his military-industrial friends (or 'bosses'). I think the American form of democracy has just failed, but it will take a few years for those of you with a more global outlook to realise what's been lost. The remainder will still not care as long as the sun shines in the flyover states.
Justin.
Makes sense ;-)
There is one reason, and one reason only to watch ordinary TV in America.
You and your flatmate take turns flipping channels. First one to hit a car ad makes the coffee. You never wait more than 90 secs.
Justin.
(With thanks to Mark Williment)
I just checked: they still have the google ad, but all the monkeys are variety packs of three 'no evil' monkeys. That's misrepresentation!
Justin.
No, a nybble is four bits. Half a byte you see. Top gag ;-)
J.
When they got bugs in the system, they could correct the memory by hand with a magnet...
Ah, those were the completely off-topic days.
Justin.
As 99.99% or people pay it, the 'license fee' is just general taxation in disguise. As is National Insurance. As is VAT. As is Road Tax. Don't let the politicians fool you into thinking otherwise.
When they are all rolled into one and we pay our 35% tax we'll be able to see what we're paying.
J.
...Rome is broadcast for free by the BBC. I forgot to tape it and was going to download it (I mainly use p2p as a post-hoc VCR).
Guess we here just got stiffed, but I certainly see HBO's point.
Justin.
Why the fucking fucking fucking fuck does something as simple as cut and paste or alt-F4 work differently in Excel and Word for fuck's fucking sake.
J.
See line 3 in my reply to the OP, where I went on to say "I agree". Then STFU and get a life.
Regular chiropractic, good posture, not 'backed up' ;-) My doctor has no idea why, but peppermints have entirely fixed the situation... for the moment. We'll see how it goes.
I shall hit google for 'kefir' shortly. Thanks.
J.
Hmm... do you have more sense of humour after coffee?
If you read again, you'll note that I agreed with the OP and was expressing surprise that he had been moderated Troll. So you could say that I did judge him on what he said. If you understood.
Justin.
Justin.
Peppermint oil.
Seriously - been on them for a week, no symptoms. Not a cure, but a hell of a better life.
J.
OK, who the hell's calling a low-fives userid a Troll? I'll see you outside, now!
;-)
Good, now he's gone, we can talk.
I agree: there's a lot of money in palliatives, and what's more the patient will keep buying. Cures, on the other hand, tend to get just the one sale.
I'm currently on peppermints(!) for the evil stomach cramps I've been having for a while. It's a perfect cure... provided I keep buying peppermint capsules for the rest of my life. Not only that, but (I now know) many many people are on the same treatment programme, and there's no likelihood of a cure - or even a cause. That's cos there's a cash cow sitting there, and nobody in the pharms industry will want it to go away.
And *that's* why these two deserve a Nobel Prize. Parent is insightful, so there.
Justin.
PS: Can't wait to get prescribed gobstoppers for migraines
Madness ;-)
Justin.