"So, you're a computer programmer for the military and that means you know all about the costs involved in transporting oil from Kuwait to Bagdad?"
I work in the logistics command of the Navy; I believe I come from a stronger position of knowledge on the subject than the average disgruntled Slashdotter.
"I don't like the president so that means everything I say is factually incorrect?
No, but that bias should be considered when weighing the credibility of your statements.
I must apologise to you, as apparently you are distinguished and all-knowning..."
"I pointed out that $40 a gallon sounded extrordinarily expensive in another posts, but it got modded down as flamebait."
And it was rightfully moderated flamebait, as you A. obviously lack sufficient knowledge of wartime logistics (I work for the military and know what I'm talking about), and B. come from an undisguised position of bias against the current Commander-in-Chief.
As such, your comments should be taken with a truckload of salt.
"For one thing, you cannot set up a Verizon DSL account -- absolutely the most affordable broadband around -- without running their custom Windows or Mac software."
Not true AFAIK. I had Verizon DSL in 2001 (and please let me know if they've since changed things) and my gateway/router was able to use the service just fine, regardless of what OS the machines connected to it were running.
I have developed an acute sense for when people are engaging in psuedointellectual pissing contests trying to outduel their colleagues by publishing works filled with flowery but supstance-absent and oft-repeated rhetoric.
Such practice is common among both professors and liberal arts majors, but a combination of the two produces rubbish of such marginal value that even "academics" hesitate to associate themselves with such a level of arrogance and stupidity.
...but what other health factors might 6 cups of coffee per day have, besides brown teeth?
I don't think it's wise to increase coffee intake just for the reduced diabetes risk. Besides, there's other healthier things one can do to reduce the risk, like (heaven forbid) better diet and exercise habits.
It's amazing how simple commercial software works: if you don't like the product or the restrictions the maker put on it, simply don't buy it. Nobody's telling you you shouldn't be allowed to use Linux or any other free software. They're just saying that their product is better and worth paying for. Whether you agree or disagree with that assertion is YOUR choice!
And people don't trust free software, not because the EVIL BSA have brainwashed them into believing that free software is bad, but because there is often a better product out there that they have determined is worth paying for.
Face it, there is less than zero technical support for most free software (unless you count "RTFM"), let alone any warranty to speak of in the event that it ruins something on an unwitting user's computer.
Now go wipe the anti-capitalist foam that's managed to build up around your mouth.
"Without people like Mr. Stallman, The free software movement would not be where it is today."
And exactly where is the free software movement today? Remember this is in terms of the FSF; the open source movement is something entirely separate from what RMS preaches.
"non-free software carries with it an antisocial system that prohibits coopoeration and community"
If most people's expectation of software was to create "cooperation and community", RMS mmight be onto something here. But the truth is that most people and businesses want software that fulfills a particular need (or set of needs).
As long as RMS continues to deny the purpose of software for most people, free software will never meet the needs of the masses.
"If a distribution requires people to go online and start asking questions before it works, it is a failed distribution."
Simply the most insightful post I've seen in a long time. While an extensive community knowledge base is a nice "feature", it shouldn't be necessary to get the distribution to do the basic necessities.
While the parent is 100% dead-on correct, not buying CDs will only work if the RIAA doesn't have ammunition to blame decreased sales on P2P file-sharing.
Whether or not they ARE in fact losing money due to P2P is irrelevant. All they have to do is 'convince' a congress-monkey that they're right. If fewer and fewer of their songs are present on P2P networks, the less of a case they have.
"Once a court upholds that I cannot be sued for downloading such files, be it using direct connect, gnutella, KaZaa, then we'll have gotten to the next step."
And why would/should they do that? I think the RIAA is well within their rights to sue people who download songs they did not purchase.
If you want to listen to the music the RIAA sells, you should pay for it. If you don't want to pay for it, you shouldn't listen to it.
If you insist on making the third choice, downloading/listening to music you haven't paid for, then you have accepted the risk that you may be caught and sued, and therefore have no grounds to piss and moan if you do get caught.
Now that may not be in the best interests of the RIAA's public perception, but until they wise up and embrace new business models (and they're starting to), play by the rules or don't play at all.
Slashdot Mirror
I'm sorry, but somebody had to say it...
But then of course this has nothing to do with the RIAA. ;)
I work in the logistics command of the Navy; I believe I come from a stronger position of knowledge on the subject than the average disgruntled Slashdotter.
"I don't like the president so that means everything I say is factually incorrect?
No, but that bias should be considered when weighing the credibility of your statements.
I must apologise to you, as apparently you are distinguished and all-knowning..."
There's hope for you yet!
And it was rightfully moderated flamebait, as you A. obviously lack sufficient knowledge of wartime logistics (I work for the military and know what I'm talking about), and B. come from an undisguised position of bias against the current Commander-in-Chief.
As such, your comments should be taken with a truckload of salt.
I KNEW this was an article about Linux!
Not true AFAIK. I had Verizon DSL in 2001 (and please let me know if they've since changed things) and my gateway/router was able to use the service just fine, regardless of what OS the machines connected to it were running.
Such practice is common among both professors and liberal arts majors, but a combination of the two produces rubbish of such marginal value that even "academics" hesitate to associate themselves with such a level of arrogance and stupidity.
I'm sorry, but since when was any vote-counting system designed to interpret what a voter's intent was, beyond correctly-cast votes?
If people don't/can't vote correctly using even the simplest methods, then perhaps even they did not know what their intent was.
"So lets not jump on academia and say it is ALL a bunch of crap."
But with a PhD in Liberal Arts, I would expect you to be an expert on that particular subject.
If ANYBODY here did not know that... well, kill yourself. You have no right to be anywhere near a computer, let alone a "News for Nerds" site.
I don't think it's wise to increase coffee intake just for the reduced diabetes risk. Besides, there's other healthier things one can do to reduce the risk, like (heaven forbid) better diet and exercise habits.
And people don't trust free software, not because the EVIL BSA have brainwashed them into believing that free software is bad, but because there is often a better product out there that they have determined is worth paying for.
Face it, there is less than zero technical support for most free software (unless you count "RTFM"), let alone any warranty to speak of in the event that it ruins something on an unwitting user's computer.
Now go wipe the anti-capitalist foam that's managed to build up around your mouth.
And exactly where is the free software movement today? Remember this is in terms of the FSF; the open source movement is something entirely separate from what RMS preaches.
If most people's expectation of software was to create "cooperation and community", RMS mmight be onto something here. But the truth is that most people and businesses want software that fulfills a particular need (or set of needs).
As long as RMS continues to deny the purpose of software for most people, free software will never meet the needs of the masses.
Simply the most insightful post I've seen in a long time. While an extensive community knowledge base is a nice "feature", it shouldn't be necessary to get the distribution to do the basic necessities.
Or you could keep your DVD collection away from your son.
Whether or not they ARE in fact losing money due to P2P is irrelevant. All they have to do is 'convince' a congress-monkey that they're right. If fewer and fewer of their songs are present on P2P networks, the less of a case they have.
And why would/should they do that? I think the RIAA is well within their rights to sue people who download songs they did not purchase.
If you want to listen to the music the RIAA sells, you should pay for it. If you don't want to pay for it, you shouldn't listen to it.
If you insist on making the third choice, downloading/listening to music you haven't paid for, then you have accepted the risk that you may be caught and sued, and therefore have no grounds to piss and moan if you do get caught.
Now that may not be in the best interests of the RIAA's public perception, but until they wise up and embrace new business models (and they're starting to), play by the rules or don't play at all.
Seriously foolks, how does one "steal" cable? Did they back a truck up to the back of the cable company building and steal a spool of cable?
Oh, you mean they're "stealing" information? But but but... INFORMATION WANTS TO BE FREE!!!
These people are LIBERATING cable, not "stealing" it!
Not at all, friend! But I prefer the moat surrounding my home webserver filled with ill-tempered sea bass (with frickin' lasers!).
Tho Forno is mostly correct in his assertions, I would take him MUCH more seriously if his argument wasn't riddled with immature name-calling.
Perhaps the Iraq operation wouldn't be such a clusterfuck today if Clinton hadn't cut our military in half.
The myth is addressing the assumption that people who use said software will contribute to its development with patches and improvements to the code.
...the bicycle-pedal powered laptop/PC! Environmentally friendly and provides exercize as well as free CPU cycles!
If they come with Linux pre-installed, do you really expect them to give the hardware away for free?
Sorry...