The only problem with this, however, is that the key is needed at registration time too, and that would require that you connect to Blizzard's server to register, to use the product at all. If there is a key verification scheme in the program itself, no remote access is necessary. I will admit, however, this is no longer as big a problem as it once was, as XP makes you do this anyway, or so I hear, but when Starcraft, etc. came out, people may have simply used it single-player, without connectivity.
What makes the most difference in a child's education is a GOOD teacher, not a machine. This is just one more instance of society expecting a machine to do the work that people are supposed to do, just like the stupid parents who leave their kids in a store watching Barney and friends instead of arrange appropriate supervision. Anyone with a good technical background usually makes twice what a teacher makes (although in this economy that might not quite be true), but no sane person would go into teaching in the current environment...too much hassle with too little pay. And don't start with the "vacation" thing. Try teaching for a while before you even start with that--it is NOT as easy as it looks. Computers are great teaching TOOLS, but I think when our politicians clamor for "a computer in every classroom" they don't have their priorities straight.
It's the average idiot user that manages to foul up a system in ways the designer never considered. Like coating the voting buttons with peanut butter, or saying "these shows suck" when given a touch screen display. Make something idiot proof and the universe will only build a better idiot.
The idea of "blocking out" spamming hosts and such seems at first glance like a useful tool to block unwanted solicitations and such, but blocking an entire host at the IP level essentially cuts off a portion of the web to a client, as shown by the macromedia example. This is essentially like filtering software, where the "parent" is the ISP.
Personally, while I detest spam, I think giving a few people the power to arbitrarily cut off traffic from an IP is far too broad a power, because it is something that can be used insideously. Sure, cut off some major corporate websites, and have them rattle their sabres, and say "sorry, our mistake", but what happens when the little guy who may just have an opinion that is controversial? I would prefer the spam to the eerie silence of the alternative.
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The only problem with this, however, is that the key is needed at registration time too, and that would require that you connect to Blizzard's server to register, to use the product at all. If there is a key verification scheme in the program itself, no remote access is necessary. I will admit, however, this is no longer as big a problem as it once was, as XP makes you do this anyway, or so I hear, but when Starcraft, etc. came out, people may have simply used it single-player, without connectivity.
What makes the most difference in a child's education is a GOOD teacher, not a machine. This is just one more instance of society expecting a machine to do the work that people are supposed to do, just like the stupid parents who leave their kids in a store watching Barney and friends instead of arrange appropriate supervision. Anyone with a good technical background usually makes twice what a teacher makes (although in this economy that might not quite be true), but no sane person would go into teaching in the current environment...too much hassle with too little pay. And don't start with the "vacation" thing. Try teaching for a while before you even start with that--it is NOT as easy as it looks. Computers are great teaching TOOLS, but I think when our politicians clamor for "a computer in every classroom" they don't have their priorities straight.
It's the average idiot user that manages to foul up a system in ways the designer never considered. Like coating the voting buttons with peanut butter, or saying "these shows suck" when given a touch screen display. Make something idiot proof and the universe will only build a better idiot.
The idea of "blocking out" spamming hosts and such seems at first glance like a useful tool to block unwanted solicitations and such, but blocking an entire host at the IP level essentially cuts off a portion of the web to a client, as shown by the macromedia example. This is essentially like filtering software, where the "parent" is the ISP.
Personally, while I detest spam, I think giving a few people the power to arbitrarily cut off traffic from an IP is far too broad a power, because it is something that can be used insideously. Sure, cut off some major corporate websites, and have them rattle their sabres, and say "sorry, our mistake", but what happens when the little guy who may just have an opinion that is controversial? I would prefer the spam to the eerie silence of the alternative.