The one thing I really like about the Corel distro is the Corel Explorer. Since I often live in a network of Window machines that do SMB sharing, it would be really nice to be able to do SMB browsing with it, and what not. In short: I like it.
IIRC, it's supposed to be open source but I have not been able to find the source or a package for it or anything else. I do remember finding a package of source that was supposed to contain it, but it wouldn't compile at ALL on a RedHat 6.1 box.
Does anyone know where to get it for other distros?
Have you you no understandng of the creation of user interfaces? The input from the user should be accepted as often as possible. The assumption that text typed into the URL window, without http:// in front, is a valid one.
For example, where I go to school, everyone on campus has the same area code and same prefix. When you ask someone for their number you either get 1) 2 digits if you're in the same dorm or 2) 4 digits if they're in a different one.
Find something worth while to bitch about.
Genomes, Gattaca, and Brave New World
on
Planet Gattaca
·
· Score: 2
There seems to be a bit of a misconception as to what the Human Genome Project is doing, from what I can gather from the posts I've read.
The Human Genome Project was set up to sequence a specific set of DNA. Sequencing has absolutely nothing to do with decoding. In other words, what they're going to have when the finish is not a map that says this strand of DNA produces this result, but rather they'll end up with a list of Gs,Ts,Cs, and As.
Even if the Genome Project was able to completly decode an entire genetic sequence, that does not mean that they would be able to take a peice of DNA and explain what the result would be. The problem is that the DNA does not directly create a life form. RNA "reads" off the DNA, and protiens fold, and during this process, which we don't funny understand, life eventually gets made.
What makes this even more difficult is that fact that there is no "normal" gene for several traits. For example, there are about 500 different types of hemoglobin. Of these, about 450 of them actually work, IIRC. (The rest are in someway deficient) Not only that, but due to genetic polymorphism, several different strands of DNA could produce the same type of Hemoglobin.
This makes it very, very, very difficult to take an arbitrary strand of DNA and predict the outcome.
As such, it would also be very hard to create a strand of DNA that would produce a certain effect. Even if scientists find a certain DNA sequence (say, to produce blue eyes) there might be a problem with a population that shares too much DNA. Sort of like how the farmers who use all the same type of seed can loose everything to one obscure plant desise.
This makes a "Gattaca" type "build-ya-own-baby" very unlikely. The more interesting option is "Brave New World", where instead of genetically creating new humans, a certain fertalized egg is divided multiple time. These "Bokanovsky Groups" are all genetically identical, and are pre-ordained to become a certain class. During their growth that would normally be pregnency, the lower classes are treated with alcohol to prevent mental development.
Everyone is trained to enjoy their job, and thus everyone is happy to do the job the were created to do. IIRC, the entire reason the society became this way was that people were willing to give up certain rights in order to be safe. (Was this from a massive war, I can't remember)
In any event, I don't see too many people who actually want to have kids, and who are able to have kids, going to a clinic and having one designed. I think we need to worry more about Big Brother than we do about a bunch of guys who will have an undecodable list of Gs, Ts, As, and Cs.
Napster was designed to help transmit MP3s. An MP3 file in and of it's self is _not_ illegal. There are several examples of when they are perfectly legal. If the artist explicitly said the MP3s are free, then it's fine. If you have the CD yourself, then it's legal too.
Napster is a way to share those legal files. How could they be doing something illegal? That's akin to saying that the file transfer feature of ICQ is illegal because people can transmit warez across it.
Although I agree that ISPs should not be held accountable for content on subscribers pages, it is different from your Ma Bell example.
If Ma Bell were to listen in on every phone call and terminate those that it found to be obscene, offensive, or otherwise bad then it would be something different. Because Ma Bell is simply a carrier for the information, they are not held responsible.
If the ISP _ever_ monitored or removed offensive information, then they are showing that they are not carries. Lots of ISPs don't allow certain types of webpages and remove the offending ones. If Free-Web-Service X doesn't allow poronography and removes any pornographic webpages that they find on their site, then they are not longer just carries. If a defametory web site is posted there should they be responsible for it?
Thank you for that incredibly well informed and wonderfuly articulated argument.
My ATI All-in-Wonder card works great for me. I've had absolutely no problems with it, and now that ATI has relased the specs for it, I'm really looking forward to being able to use it for video capture.
Is there any particular reason you don't like ATI?
No, no, no... We're going to have to set up a meta-monitoring system to monitor everyone. We could give everyone Karma based on how the act, and when it gets above a certain level, all of their monitoring gains Score: +1!!
I'd love to use XMMS, but I can't afford the RAM! I've only got about 64 megs or RAM in this box, and XMMS often shows up as taking up as much or more RAM than XFree. Why does an MP3 player take up so much RAM? As it runs it takes up more and more, leading me to beleive in some sort of a memory leak.
I'd much rather use XMMS, but mpg123 works fine and doesn't take up nearly as much memory. I just wish it could do visualization plugins and stuff.
What about the possibility of the companies filing counter-suits against those sueing them? They could claim frivolous lawsuits or damage to reputation. After a handful of people loose those cases, they'd probably be a lot less likely to persue such lawsuits just for a quick buck.
Alternatively, we could wait until the trail date and just take out all the jerks suing....
The closet thing I could find about "face recognition" was this article about face recognition on ATMs. It wanted to charge me $1.95 to read the article... too bad.
On topic, however, I'm not so sure I like the idea of having these cameras all over the place. This seems to be almost the equivilent of having a wire tap on your phone at all times. Whenver you go into a public place you're subject to monitoring. I really don't like that.
perhaps I'm a tad paranoid, but when I know people can be watching me, I usually assume that I am being watched... and that makes me nervous. I'm sure it will be (has been?) deployed without them telling us about it for a few years.... and when it does finally come up, they'll be able to say "Yes, but we caught X really bad guys with it!"
Sometimes I get really confused by the postings on here, often from the same people. Now here's where the confusion is: If someone mentions a computer running WinXX then someone else always says "That sux, why don't you run a real operating system?"
Of course, when someone actually creates a product that makes it easy for people to install and begin to use Linux then the tune changes all together. "They're just trying to be 31337 h4x0rs!"
So which is it? Do you want more people running Linux or not? Or will you complain no matter which way it turns out. If everyone moves to Linux then will it just be something to be shuned as being too mainstream? If no one new starts using it will you complain that they don't know what's going on?
Here's my rambling point: Allowing the average Joe User to install and experience Linux easily is a Good Thing(tm). If he likes his experience then he might swtich over all together... it extends choice to those who are not of the technologicaly elite.
So make up your minds. Either help people use see that they have a choice, or convince them to be locked into the MS world. Don't change your tune to make yourself feel better.
I can't wait for flat screens to drop in price dramatically. This bulky CRT takes up about half my desk... if I could have this display as a flat screen hanging on the wall right behind my desk I would have so much more room and be able to work more effectivly. (Ohh.. a REAL desktop.)
The other thing flat screens could be used for are terminals around the house. Imagine a flat screen hanging on the wall in your living room. When you're not using it it shows your favorite Monet print, but you could use it to check email quickly or have it display stocks prices, news headlines, etc.
One in your kitchen could show that Picasso you love, and also be used to display the recipies that you're trying to make.
Of course, I'm off in a dream world as this is pretty hard to do until prices drop enough. But all those linked to a central computer (running as a multiheaded system?) would be one of the coolest things ever. Plus you could change your artwork fairly easily. A "picture" hanging on your wall could change to a new one from your photoalbum automatically every day.
What's need now is an easy way for end users to use encryption in everyday life. SSH is an easy replacement for telnet and ftp (scp, that is)... GNUpg is a wonderful program, but integration into Mail clients and the the like is very important to help people actually use it...
I'd encrypt / sign all my mail if it were easier... I guess I'm way too lazy to type a message, run it through GNUpg, then replace the text in the email all by hand... I've seen some decent apps for Win32 that do nice things (e.g. adding a right click option on text to do PGP encryption / signing)...
I'd love to see more encryption being used... I know a few Linux mail clients "plan" to have support for GNUpg, but none that I know of right now do and offer enough features to be worth using....
If I had a laptop then I'm sure I'd have Linux running on it for sure. I don't have much use for a laptop right now though. Everywhere I go when I need to use a computer there's always a workstation right next to me. This is a definate plus of being at a university though. There are labs all over the place.
Even in the dorms most rooms have a box of some sort connected to the network. From there I can just SSH to my box and do whatever it is I need to do.
A wireless networkable handheld would be what would make my life easier.. something to do email from... scheduling, etc... That's what I need.
I've got to agree here... while perhaps the average home user doesn't really care or might even like the odd colors of the iMacs, can you imagine one in a real coporate environment?
Apperance does count... It's like being the best at what you do, but showing up at the office in a clown suit.
Of course, unless you ARE a clown. Then it would make sense. Clowns are scary. But I digress..
Actually, ICQ is _not_ client-server... by default it tries to do peer to peer... if that doesn't work then it will fall back onto client-server.
Since it's usually peer-to-peer, it makes sense that the software would have to know what the IP address is... They have an option to "hide IP" from other people, but only the official client actually does, and even that is easily broken.
You don't really think all those files you transmit through ICQ actually go through the ICQ servers do you? Where would they get THAT much bandwith?
I must admit that I'm not too familiar with PPC at all... What's the performence/cost ratio like? What sort of compatability issues are there with hardware and the like? Will a PPC box use my PCI video card?
However, I still don't think that posting something in a comment yesterday makes this old news today. I don't read every comment on every article on a slashdot... I read a lot of them, but I don't always have time to read them all. I think that the fact that XFS is being released under GPL is enough for it's own article.
And I also hate it when people who whine about slashdot. If you don't like it, don't come back.
Old News? Oh really.. when did they tell _you_ how they were going to release it? That's right.. you know MONTHS ago if they were going to use a BSD style liscense or go with the GPL. Well it's very rude of you to not tell us. In case you're too thick to get it, this IS news. We knew XFS was being released but not how. Now we know both.
>How many more postings must we put up with >telling us "news" which has already been >mentioned and covered in previous posts and >comments?
>No, clearly from context, one knows that comedians in >a club or on TV are telling jokes and are not to be taken seriously.
Exactly... And from the conext of a Harrier Jet next to a Baseball cap, one knows that it is not to be taken seriously.
The other major point you made was that PepsiCo was offering prizes, hence it was a promotion... The spot on TV is still a commercial, and I still think that companies have the right to use humour in their ad. It is unreasonable to make every promotion exclude any sort of humour... I'm just a little fed up with the amount of litigation in todays society.
Oh well... not like we can do anything about it anyway... Thanks for the rational response though...:-)
Great... you people who keep crying "Pepsi should have to pay!" are really getting on my nerves for the following reasons:
1) Companies have a right to use humour in their commercials. Pepsi hats, jackets, bags, skateboards, etc are OBVIOUSLY not the on the same level as a FREAKIN JET. Any moron can see that. Yes. ANY MORON.
2) You people are the reason people who make pet shampoo have to put warning like "Don't microwave pet to dry" and their bottles. "But it didn't say!" Hey! I got this knife, and it didn't say not to stab anyone! I'm gonna sue!
3) You're supporting frivolous law suits. This man KNEW it was a joke. Do you HONESTLY BELIEVE that he thought he was going to get the plane? Hell no, he even raised money for the law suit BEFORE TRYING TO GET THE PLANE!
4) If you guys had your way every comedian would have to stop at the end of each joke and explain that it was just a joke.
5) I'm going to go sue segfault for their articles!!! Who cares if they're obviously bogus, I'm too stupid to realize it!
6) The taco bell comercial where the dog is having a lawn sale where everything is $.39.... I mailed in $.39 for the Baby Grand piano.. I didn't get it!! LAWYER!!!
I'm not trying to be overly rude here, but I'm really upset that this many people are THAT stupid. I saw they settle by taking him on a ride in a harrier... just tie him to the back of the engine...
Slashdot Mirror
> "more adults" ?
> Can't think of anthing to say, but screw you.
> Age doesn't change the quality (whether high or
> low) of my posts.
No one said age did. "Adult" has nothing to do with age. Never has, really. A 30 year old can be childish and a 12 year old can offer mature insight.
Would you prefer the term "Mature Individuals" instead of "Adults"?
The one thing I really like about the Corel distro is the Corel Explorer. Since I often live in a network of Window machines that do SMB sharing, it would be really nice to be able to do SMB browsing with it, and what not. In short: I like it.
IIRC, it's supposed to be open source but I have not been able to find the source or a package for it or anything else. I do remember finding a package of source that was supposed to contain it, but it wouldn't compile at ALL on a RedHat 6.1 box.
Does anyone know where to get it for other distros?
Have you you no understandng of the creation of user interfaces? The input from the user should be accepted as often as possible. The assumption that text typed into the URL window, without http:// in front, is a valid one.
For example, where I go to school, everyone on campus has the same area code and same prefix. When you ask someone for their number you either get 1) 2 digits if you're in the same dorm or 2) 4 digits if they're in a different one.
Find something worth while to bitch about.
There seems to be a bit of a misconception as to what the Human Genome Project is doing, from what I can gather from the posts I've read.
The Human Genome Project was set up to sequence a specific set of DNA. Sequencing has absolutely nothing to do with decoding. In other words, what they're going to have when the finish is not a map that says this strand of DNA produces this result, but rather they'll end up with a list of Gs,Ts,Cs, and As.
Even if the Genome Project was able to completly decode an entire genetic sequence, that does not mean that they would be able to take a peice of DNA and explain what the result would be. The problem is that the DNA does not directly create a life form. RNA "reads" off the DNA, and protiens fold, and during this process, which we don't funny understand, life eventually gets made.
What makes this even more difficult is that fact that there is no "normal" gene for several traits. For example, there are about 500 different types of hemoglobin. Of these, about 450 of them actually work, IIRC. (The rest are in someway deficient) Not only that, but due to genetic polymorphism, several different strands of DNA could produce the same type of Hemoglobin.
This makes it very, very, very difficult to take an arbitrary strand of DNA and predict the outcome.
As such, it would also be very hard to create a strand of DNA that would produce a certain effect. Even if scientists find a certain DNA sequence (say, to produce blue eyes) there might be a problem with a population that shares too much DNA. Sort of like how the farmers who use all the same type of seed can loose everything to one obscure plant desise.
This makes a "Gattaca" type "build-ya-own-baby" very unlikely. The more interesting option is "Brave New World", where instead of genetically creating new humans, a certain fertalized egg is divided multiple time. These "Bokanovsky Groups" are all genetically identical, and are pre-ordained to become a certain class. During their growth that would normally be pregnency, the lower classes are treated with alcohol to prevent mental development.
Everyone is trained to enjoy their job, and thus everyone is happy to do the job the were created to do. IIRC, the entire reason the society became this way was that people were willing to give up certain rights in order to be safe. (Was this from a massive war, I can't remember)
In any event, I don't see too many people who actually want to have kids, and who are able to have kids, going to a clinic and having one designed. I think we need to worry more about Big Brother than we do about a bunch of guys who will have an undecodable list of Gs, Ts, As, and Cs.
Napster was designed to help transmit MP3s. An MP3 file in and of it's self is _not_ illegal. There are several examples of when they are perfectly legal. If the artist explicitly said the MP3s are free, then it's fine. If you have the CD yourself, then it's legal too.
Napster is a way to share those legal files. How could they be doing something illegal? That's akin to saying that the file transfer feature of ICQ is illegal because people can transmit warez across it.
Although I agree that ISPs should not be held accountable for content on subscribers pages, it is different from your Ma Bell example.
If Ma Bell were to listen in on every phone call and terminate those that it found to be obscene, offensive, or otherwise bad then it would be something different. Because Ma Bell is simply a carrier for the information, they are not held responsible.
If the ISP _ever_ monitored or removed offensive information, then they are showing that they are not carries. Lots of ISPs don't allow certain types of webpages and remove the offending ones. If Free-Web-Service X doesn't allow poronography and removes any pornographic webpages that they find on their site, then they are not longer just carries. If a defametory web site is posted there should they be responsible for it?
Thank you for that incredibly well informed and wonderfuly articulated argument.
My ATI All-in-Wonder card works great for me. I've had absolutely no problems with it, and now that ATI has relased the specs for it, I'm really looking forward to being able to use it for video capture.
Is there any particular reason you don't like ATI?
No, no, no... We're going to have to set up a meta-monitoring system to monitor everyone. We could give everyone Karma based on how the act, and when it gets above a certain level, all of their monitoring gains Score: +1!!
I'd love to use XMMS, but I can't afford the RAM! I've only got about 64 megs or RAM in this box, and XMMS often shows up as taking up as much or more RAM than XFree. Why does an MP3 player take up so much RAM? As it runs it takes up more and more, leading me to beleive in some sort of a memory leak.
I'd much rather use XMMS, but mpg123 works fine and doesn't take up nearly as much memory. I just wish it could do visualization plugins and stuff.
Anyone else experienced this?
What about the possibility of the companies filing counter-suits against those sueing them? They could claim frivolous lawsuits or damage to reputation. After a handful of people loose those cases, they'd probably be a lot less likely to persue such lawsuits just for a quick buck.
Alternatively, we could wait until the trail date and just take out all the jerks suing....
And of course, who's in charge of the Render Farm? Old_Macdonald.
I still like my boxes:
Hookah
Shisha
Nargile
On topic, however, I'm not so sure I like the idea of having these cameras all over the place. This seems to be almost the equivilent of having a wire tap on your phone at all times. Whenver you go into a public place you're subject to monitoring. I really don't like that.
perhaps I'm a tad paranoid, but when I know people can be watching me, I usually assume that I am being watched... and that makes me nervous. I'm sure it will be (has been?) deployed without them telling us about it for a few years.... and when it does finally come up, they'll be able to say "Yes, but we caught X really bad guys with it!"
Sometimes I get really confused by the postings on here, often from the same people. Now here's where the confusion is: If someone mentions a computer running WinXX then someone else always says "That sux, why don't you run a real operating system?"
Of course, when someone actually creates a product that makes it easy for people to install and begin to use Linux then the tune changes all together. "They're just trying to be 31337 h4x0rs!"
So which is it? Do you want more people running Linux or not? Or will you complain no matter which way it turns out. If everyone moves to Linux then will it just be something to be shuned as being too mainstream? If no one new starts using it will you complain that they don't know what's going on?
Here's my rambling point: Allowing the average Joe User to install and experience Linux easily is a Good Thing(tm). If he likes his experience then he might swtich over all together... it extends choice to those who are not of the technologicaly elite.
So make up your minds. Either help people use see that they have a choice, or convince them to be locked into the MS world. Don't change your tune to make yourself feel better.
I can't wait for flat screens to drop in price dramatically. This bulky CRT takes up about half my desk... if I could have this display as a flat screen hanging on the wall right behind my desk I would have so much more room and be able to work more effectivly. (Ohh.. a REAL desktop.)
The other thing flat screens could be used for are terminals around the house. Imagine a flat screen hanging on the wall in your living room. When you're not using it it shows your favorite Monet print, but you could use it to check email quickly or have it display stocks prices, news headlines, etc.
One in your kitchen could show that Picasso you love, and also be used to display the recipies that you're trying to make.
Of course, I'm off in a dream world as this is pretty hard to do until prices drop enough. But all those linked to a central computer (running as a multiheaded system?) would be one of the coolest things ever. Plus you could change your artwork fairly easily. A "picture" hanging on your wall could change to a new one from your photoalbum automatically every day.
And while I'm at it, I want a pony.....
Hmm.. looks promising... Although I don't particularly care for XForms...
;-)
Of course, I'm using Netscape Mail right now, so I bet pretty much anything would be an improvement..
I read somewhere that you can build plugins for Netscape mail in Java... anyone know anything about this?
What's need now is an easy way for end users to use encryption in everyday life. SSH is an easy replacement for telnet and ftp (scp, that is)... GNUpg is a wonderful program, but integration into Mail clients and the the like is very important to help people actually use it...
I'd encrypt / sign all my mail if it were easier... I guess I'm way too lazy to type a message, run it through GNUpg, then replace the text in the email all by hand... I've seen some decent apps for Win32 that do nice things (e.g. adding a right click option on text to do PGP encryption / signing)...
I'd love to see more encryption being used... I know a few Linux mail clients "plan" to have support for GNUpg, but none that I know of right now do and offer enough features to be worth using....
If I had a laptop then I'm sure I'd have Linux running on it for sure. I don't have much use for a laptop right now though. Everywhere I go when I need to use a computer there's always a workstation right next to me. This is a definate plus of being at a university though. There are labs all over the place.
Even in the dorms most rooms have a box of some sort connected to the network. From there I can just SSH to my box and do whatever it is I need to do.
A wireless networkable handheld would be what would make my life easier.. something to do email from... scheduling, etc... That's what I need.
I've got to agree here... while perhaps the average home user doesn't really care or might even like the odd colors of the iMacs, can you imagine one in a real coporate environment?
Apperance does count... It's like being the best at what you do, but showing up at the office in a clown suit.
Of course, unless you ARE a clown. Then it would make sense. Clowns are scary. But I digress..
Actually, ICQ is _not_ client-server... by default it tries to do peer to peer... if that doesn't work then it will fall back onto client-server.
Since it's usually peer-to-peer, it makes sense that the software would have to know what the IP address is... They have an option to "hide IP" from other people, but only the official client actually does, and even that is easily broken.
You don't really think all those files you transmit through ICQ actually go through the ICQ servers do you? Where would they get THAT much bandwith?
I must admit that I'm not too familiar with PPC at all... What's the performence/cost ratio like? What sort of compatability issues are there with hardware and the like? Will a PPC box use my PCI video card?
How does it compare to say SPARC or something?
My apologies for sounding snippy...
However, I still don't think that posting something in a comment yesterday makes this old news today. I don't read every comment on every article on a slashdot... I read a lot of them, but I don't always have time to read them all. I think that the fact that XFS is being released under GPL is enough for it's own article.
And I also hate it when people who whine about slashdot. If you don't like it, don't come back.
Old News? Oh really.. when did they tell _you_ how they were going to release it? That's right.. you know MONTHS ago if they were going to use a BSD style liscense or go with the GPL. Well it's very rude of you to not tell us. In case you're too thick to get it, this IS news. We knew XFS was being released but not how. Now we know both.
>How many more postings must we put up with
>telling us "news" which has already been
>mentioned and covered in previous posts and
>comments?
None. Stop reading this site you fscking whiner.
>No, clearly from context, one knows that comedians in
:-)
>a club or on TV are telling jokes and are not to be taken seriously.
Exactly... And from the conext of a Harrier Jet next to a Baseball cap, one knows that it is not to be taken seriously.
The other major point you made was that PepsiCo was offering prizes, hence it was a promotion... The spot on TV is still a commercial, and I still think that companies have the right to use humour in their ad. It is unreasonable to make every promotion exclude any sort of humour... I'm just a little fed up with the amount of litigation in todays society.
Oh well... not like we can do anything about it anyway... Thanks for the rational response though...
Great... you people who keep crying "Pepsi should have to pay!" are really getting on my nerves for the following reasons:
1) Companies have a right to use humour in their commercials. Pepsi hats, jackets, bags, skateboards, etc are OBVIOUSLY not the on the same level as a FREAKIN JET. Any moron can see that. Yes. ANY MORON.
2) You people are the reason people who make pet shampoo have to put warning like "Don't microwave pet to dry" and their bottles. "But it didn't say!" Hey! I got this knife, and it didn't say not to stab anyone! I'm gonna sue!
3) You're supporting frivolous law suits. This man KNEW it was a joke. Do you HONESTLY BELIEVE that he thought he was going to get the plane? Hell no, he even raised money for the law suit BEFORE TRYING TO GET THE PLANE!
4) If you guys had your way every comedian would have to stop at the end of each joke and explain that it was just a joke.
5) I'm going to go sue segfault for their articles!!! Who cares if they're obviously bogus, I'm too stupid to realize it!
6) The taco bell comercial where the dog is having a lawn sale where everything is $.39.... I mailed in $.39 for the Baby Grand piano.. I didn't get it!! LAWYER!!!
I'm not trying to be overly rude here, but I'm really upset that this many people are THAT stupid. I saw they settle by taking him on a ride in a harrier... just tie him to the back of the engine...
I'm still not certain of it's security, but its a start.