I'll bet that the Blackberrys will be on the flat rate plan rather than charged per inquiry:
From their site:
"Introducing LP-Police Unlimited Flat Rate
LP-Police's unlimited low monthly rate of only $74.99 is unmatched by any other database available today! This database is restricted to use by Government and Law Enforcement only. LP-Police is an extensive database that includes searchable and cross-referenced public information on approximately 98% of the United States adult population. Subscribers to LP-Police are given unlimited access to the following searches: Telephone/Mobile/Cellular information, Address Information, Motor Vehicle Registration, Online Criminal and Sexual Offender information, Corporations and UCC and Real Estate Property."
I've worked in "Open Plan" environments where there were no walls or dividers, just a vast sea of desks or work stations.
I've worked in "Cubical Farms" where each individual prairie dog had his or her own burrow to nest in.
I've worked in "Office" environments where we all had out own offices with walls, doors, and ceilings.
I know my preference, an office is my first choice, and a well defined and closed in cubical my second.
Thing is, not everyone likes that environment.
Some folks actually like the "sea of desks in a large room" with no divisions at all. It helps them feel connected to their peers and helps them to share.
Others prefer to never see a peer, to work from home, to not set foot in an office.
I'm really not at all sure that people who are so psychologically different in their needs for workspace can compromise on just one single plan for "the office experience."
As an engineer I would often need unbroken stretches of concentration with zero interruptions to plan out a job or to work on some fine detail that just would NOT cooperate. When I was doing tech writing, interruptions were the LAST thing I wanted.
Being one buoy in a sea of desks wouldn't allow me that.
Other times I would welcome the break of someone stopping by to chat about their and my latest triumphs and defeats.
For me having an office, like the one I had at Bell Labs where 95% of the time my door would be open and you were welcome to a cup of coffee and some freiendship, but 5% it would be closed and you were NOT welcome, was the absolute best.
Second to that was a good, roomy, cubical with high-wall dividers to keep distractions away, and a yellow rope with magnets on the end to string across the opening to indicate "now" was not the time for a chat.
A lot will depend on the type of job(s) being done in the office, and the personalities of the people doing them.
I even worked one place that was a low-wall cubical farm where you could see most everyone, but there were some shared offices where you could sign up and shut yourself in when you needed the privacy.
Good luck on trying to find the one best way, but I don't believe there is one.
I've seen various comments that falsifying important research data in an employer's project is not sufficient cause for the uni to 'recall' the ex-doctor's PhD. I believe it was.
The PhD is more than just a 'rating' given to a person on completion of the required work, but is a 'stamp of quality' given to the person by the uni, and a direct reflection on the uni.
If they were to just laugh and not do anything, it could (and should) affect how others view the 'quality' of a doctorate from that institution. Their 'correcting' their bestowal of the doctorate on this person by removing their 'stamp of quality' should also reflect on how people view the quality of a doctorate they issue.
... there would be a huge effect on the economy and on future development of computer operating systems and other softwear.
If Microsoft were to vanish, it would become very difficult to maintain or improve their closed, proprietary software. If their softwear wer to vanish along wioth them, it would be utter disaster for a good while until everything could be pieced back together with other softwear.
Some of us would only have secondary effects felt because others use Microsoft softwear. For example none of my computers have any Microsoft softwear installed, and I try to ensure it remains that way.
A related question is "Would I *like* Microsoft to disappear."
No, I wouldn't. I'd very much like for them to be broken into independent, managable-sized pieces ("bite sized chunks"), as that wouild likely help innovation and pricing by making it possible for others to compete without suddenly vanishing away...
-- Tomas
"But o beamish nephew, beware of the day If your snark be a boojum for then, you will softly and suddenly vanish away and never be met with again." (Lewis Carrol)
Hmmmmm... Since SCOsource thinks they own any software that has in any way been in contact with UNIX, would they accept for purchase of a license some pieces of blank paper guaranteed to have been in contact with real money?:^)
I'll bet they's toast your flying machine pretty quickly if you sent it into their airspace...
Be fun to try, though.
Oh, yeah, have a realtime video link back to your base - I doubt if you'd get your video camera back. In fact, I doubt you'd really want to ask for it...
Now we can fully understand why the new federal CanSPAM law overrides existing state laws that alowed individuals to sue spammers for spam (often at about $500 per received spam).
The politicians built in not only a specific exemption for their own SPAM, but at the same time took away from the victims the ability to sue on their own.
-- "Very funny, Scotty, now beam down my clothes."
The Loved One
on
Space Burial
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
Why was my first thought the 1965 movie (with "Something to Offend Everyone!") The Loved One?
Maybe it was the business with launching dead pets into space for burial, or maybe Aimee Thanatogenos taking that ride, eh?
Hmmmm. I'll have to find a copy of that movie somewhere. Haven't seen it for years.
No, not really. They handed me one document to read and sign and I in turn produced an alternative document for THEM to read and sign. They signed it.
There was a space of about two weeks between the two acts, since I didn't need to sign the document until I'd flown coast-to-coast (Seattle -> Newark) and shown up at my new office.
There was no pressure for them to sign, and what I presented them was simply their suggested contract with one change that made it acceptable to me (they would not own anything I developed that did not use any knowledge, material or worktime from them).
I could have crossed out the one line that was objectionable, but chose instead to provide a much neater reprint of the document with the change made.
(And yes, they shouldn't just assume, they should read what they sign - it was only one page, afterall.)
The only time I ever had to sign a very restrictive employment contract (when working in a research lab environment) I saw an opportunity and took a chance: The "OFFICIAL" document was on the mainframe, and printed using a laser printer.
I grabbed a copy of the file, made the changes I had to have, kept the "look and feel" of the contract document itself almost identical to the original, printed it on a laser printer and had them sign as well as me. They didn't notice the changes, and signed without hesitating or reading.
I still have my copy...
I lucked out in a number of ways there, so it is a risk...
Best advice: Have a lawyer go over it with an eye to YOUR needs and state law. If he suggests changes, ask for them. Some they might go for, some not. Decide if the compromise is worth it.
(As a backup, it is good to practice the phrases "Would you like fries with that?" and "Paper or Plastic?" until you can say them repeatedly with a smile and without error.)
I've been using the same two e-mail addresses (from mail.com) for over six years, through several ISP changes.
My outgoing e-mail originates from my ISP's servers, not my mail.com address, so would show as "non-validated" using such a simple-minded and poorly thought out system as this.
Yes, we need a "fix" for the SPAM problem and the MS virus/worm/trojan-of-the-day problem in our e-mails. but this is NOT it.
Could you give some examples of titles that you think won't be released on DVD?
Some 'older' movies that don't seem to have enough of a market to push a re-release (The President's Analyst with James Coburn would be one example), and some music videos that now seem to be out-of-date (10,000 Maniacs Un-Plugged and Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits are examples there).
BTW: I'm still trying to find an NTSC copy of Frankie's House (1992 TV movie - see IMDB) if anyone has one...:o)
This is the whole POINT of backwards compatibility! If your old player breaks, no big deal, because the new player can play them.
Duh!
I know that, and I realize that this time the new format will be fully backward compatible.
That does not mean that the future is always going to be bright and cheery and that the next upgrade won't be to something wildly different (and not spinning-disc mechanical) and DVD players will no longer be made.
If you hadn't hacked up your quote of my post one could still see I was referring to a far different format as a historical reference, and cautioning that it could happen to any format, even DVDs, in the future.
Well, better get to work rebuying your entire video collection, again.
Even of there is full backward compatibility this is still something to worry about with most formats.
I have several hundred 12 inch LaserDiscs that still deliver a fine image - but if my player ever breaks they become useless. Many of the releases have never been re-released on DVD, and likely never will.
BUT... What if AT&T did a bit of research and found that this technique was first mentioned on, oh, let's say USENET, by an AT&T employee years ago?
Having worked for AT&T/Bell Labs/Bell System I'm familiar with the idea that one's patentable ideas while employed by them are likely theirs.
If we assume that to be the case (or something similar, at least - it could even be internal memos/e-mails), they may have 'prior art' effectively covered.
In any case, I certainly wouldn't want to go up against AT&T in court...
I called and left a message with The Honorable Lee R. West's staff to let him know that I, as one of the 50 million on the FTC list did not appreciate his ruling.
I was very polite, as was his court clerk.
The following is the contact information:
U.S. Courthouse
200 N.W. Fourth St. Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Rm 3001, Courtroom 303, Third Floor
Chambers Telephone: 405-609-5140
Chambers Facsimile: 405-609-5151
I really believe he needs an increased volume of calls to drive home the dislike of his ruling.
I have read his order, etc. and disagree with his findings and action. You can read it too at the court's website.
Slashdot Mirror
From their site:
"Introducing LP-Police Unlimited Flat Rate
LP-Police's unlimited low monthly rate of only $74.99 is unmatched by any other database available today! This database is restricted to use by Government and Law Enforcement only. LP-Police is an extensive database that includes searchable and cross-referenced public information on approximately 98% of the United States adult population. Subscribers to LP-Police are given unlimited access to the following searches: Telephone/Mobile/Cellular information, Address Information, Motor Vehicle Registration, Online Criminal and Sexual Offender information, Corporations and UCC and Real Estate Property."
Have a good day!
Tomas
There is no other word.
*sigh*
--
Tomas
I've worked in "Open Plan" environments where there were no walls or dividers, just a vast sea of desks or work stations.
I've worked in "Cubical Farms" where each individual prairie dog had his or her own burrow to nest in.
I've worked in "Office" environments where we all had out own offices with walls, doors, and ceilings.
I know my preference, an office is my first choice, and a well defined and closed in cubical my second.
Thing is, not everyone likes that environment.
Some folks actually like the "sea of desks in a large room" with no divisions at all. It helps them feel connected to their peers and helps them to share.
Others prefer to never see a peer, to work from home, to not set foot in an office.
I'm really not at all sure that people who are so psychologically different in their needs for workspace can compromise on just one single plan for "the office experience."
As an engineer I would often need unbroken stretches of concentration with zero interruptions to plan out a job or to work on some fine detail that just would NOT cooperate. When I was doing tech writing, interruptions were the LAST thing I wanted.
Being one buoy in a sea of desks wouldn't allow me that.
Other times I would welcome the break of someone stopping by to chat about their and my latest triumphs and defeats.
For me having an office, like the one I had at Bell Labs where 95% of the time my door would be open and you were welcome to a cup of coffee and some freiendship, but 5% it would be closed and you were NOT welcome, was the absolute best.
Second to that was a good, roomy, cubical with high-wall dividers to keep distractions away, and a yellow rope with magnets on the end to string across the opening to indicate "now" was not the time for a chat.
A lot will depend on the type of job(s) being done in the office, and the personalities of the people doing them.
I even worked one place that was a low-wall cubical farm where you could see most everyone, but there were some shared offices where you could sign up and shut yourself in when you needed the privacy.
Good luck on trying to find the one best way, but I don't believe there is one.
Take care,
Tom
The PhD is more than just a 'rating' given to a person on completion of the required work, but is a 'stamp of quality' given to the person by the uni, and a direct reflection on the uni.
If they were to just laugh and not do anything, it could (and should) affect how others view the 'quality' of a doctorate from that institution. Their 'correcting' their bestowal of the doctorate on this person by removing their 'stamp of quality' should also reflect on how people view the quality of a doctorate they issue.
One last thing I'd like to mention is that my opinion(s) from the original SlashDot article in 2002 haven't changed.
Tomas
Actually some of the recent worms out in the wild have done the 'roomful of BSOD' quite well at many locations ...
Tomas
... there would be a huge effect on the economy and on future development of computer operating systems and other softwear.
...
If Microsoft were to vanish, it would become very difficult to maintain or improve their closed, proprietary software. If their softwear wer to vanish along wioth them, it would be utter disaster for a good while until everything could be pieced back together with other softwear.
Some of us would only have secondary effects felt because others use Microsoft softwear. For example none of my computers have any Microsoft softwear installed, and I try to ensure it remains that way.
A related question is "Would I *like* Microsoft to disappear."
No, I wouldn't. I'd very much like for them to be broken into independent, managable-sized pieces ("bite sized chunks"), as that wouild likely help innovation and pricing by making it possible for others to compete without suddenly vanishing away
--
Tomas
"But o beamish nephew, beware of the day
If your snark be a boojum for then,
you will softly and suddenly vanish away
and never be met with again." (Lewis Carrol)
Luckily I don't use Hotmail (or any other Microsoft product).
Hmmmmm ... Since SCOsource thinks they own any software that has in any way been in contact with UNIX, would they accept for purchase of a license some pieces of blank paper guaranteed to have been in contact with real money? :^)
--
Tomas
Oh, I'd expect the downwash from a chopper would down it well enough.
If not, drop a net on it or yes, have the guy riding 'shotgun' in the chopper use his, uh, shotgun on it.
Many military 'base security' types actually are issued shotguns - incredibly effective at the ranges required for close security jobs.
--
Tomas
I'll bet they's toast your flying machine pretty quickly if you sent it into their airspace ...
...
Be fun to try, though.
Oh, yeah, have a realtime video link back to your base - I doubt if you'd get your video camera back. In fact, I doubt you'd really want to ask for it
Now we can fully understand why the new federal CanSPAM law overrides existing state laws that alowed individuals to sue spammers for spam (often at about $500 per received spam).
The politicians built in not only a specific exemption for their own SPAM, but at the same time took away from the victims the ability to sue on their own.
--
"Very funny, Scotty, now beam down my clothes."
Maybe it was the business with launching dead pets into space for burial, or maybe Aimee Thanatogenos taking that ride, eh?
Hmmmm. I'll have to find a copy of that movie somewhere. Haven't seen it for years.
No, not really. They handed me one document to read and sign and I in turn produced an alternative document for THEM to read and sign. They signed it.
There was a space of about two weeks between the two acts, since I didn't need to sign the document until I'd flown coast-to-coast (Seattle -> Newark) and shown up at my new office.
There was no pressure for them to sign, and what I presented them was simply their suggested contract with one change that made it acceptable to me (they would not own anything I developed that did not use any knowledge, material or worktime from them).
I could have crossed out the one line that was objectionable, but chose instead to provide a much neater reprint of the document with the change made.
(And yes, they shouldn't just assume, they should read what they sign - it was only one page, afterall.)
Tom
The only time I ever had to sign a very restrictive employment contract (when working in a research lab environment) I saw an opportunity and took a chance: The "OFFICIAL" document was on the mainframe, and printed using a laser printer.
...
...
I grabbed a copy of the file, made the changes I had to have, kept the "look and feel" of the contract document itself almost identical to the original, printed it on a laser printer and had them sign as well as me. They didn't notice the changes, and signed without hesitating or reading.
I still have my copy
I lucked out in a number of ways there, so it is a risk
Best advice: Have a lawyer go over it with an eye to YOUR needs and state law. If he suggests changes, ask for them. Some they might go for, some not. Decide if the compromise is worth it.
(As a backup, it is good to practice the phrases "Would you like fries with that?" and "Paper or Plastic?" until you can say them repeatedly with a smile and without error.)
Tom (Retired EE)
I've been using the same two e-mail addresses (from mail.com) for over six years, through several ISP changes.
My outgoing e-mail originates from my ISP's servers, not my mail.com address, so would show as "non-validated" using such a simple-minded and poorly thought out system as this.
Yes, we need a "fix" for the SPAM problem and the MS virus/worm/trojan-of-the-day problem in our e-mails. but this is NOT it.
Sorry. Try again.
-= This post made from a Microsoft Free Zone =-
... not a metallic element they are refering to? It looks "silver."
...
... )
You know, uh, like, uh "orange" paint isn't really made from oranges, it's just that color
Yeah! that's it!
(And if you believe that
--
Tomas
Could you give some examples of titles that you think won't be released on DVD?
... :o)
Some 'older' movies that don't seem to have enough of a market to push a re-release (The President's Analyst with James Coburn would be one example), and some music videos that now seem to be out-of-date (10,000 Maniacs Un-Plugged and Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits are examples there).
BTW: I'm still trying to find an NTSC copy of Frankie's House (1992 TV movie - see IMDB) if anyone has one
--
Tomas
This is the whole POINT of backwards compatibility! If your old player breaks, no big deal, because the new player can play them.
Duh!
I know that, and I realize that this time the new format will be fully backward compatible.
That does not mean that the future is always going to be bright and cheery and that the next upgrade won't be to something wildly different (and not spinning-disc mechanical) and DVD players will no longer be made.
If you hadn't hacked up your quote of my post one could still see I was referring to a far different format as a historical reference, and cautioning that it could happen to any format, even DVDs, in the future.
--
Tomas
Well, better get to work rebuying your entire video collection, again.
Even of there is full backward compatibility this is still something to worry about with most formats.
I have several hundred 12 inch LaserDiscs that still deliver a fine image - but if my player ever breaks they become useless. Many of the releases have never been re-released on DVD, and likely never will.
==
Tomas
Even assuming that whoever posted the information on FatWallet early was breaking an NDA by doing so, that does not make it a DMCA copyright case.
At most it is a contract case (for breaking the NDA) between the person posting and Best Buy.
A DMCA 'takedown notice' is Best Buy's quick and dirty (and incorrect) way of trying to get the information out of circulation as fast as possible.
Hopefully FatWallet will win and put this sort of misuse to rest.
--
Tomas
BUT ... What if AT&T did a bit of research and found that this technique was first mentioned on, oh, let's say USENET, by an AT&T employee years ago?
...
Having worked for AT&T/Bell Labs/Bell System I'm familiar with the idea that one's patentable ideas while employed by them are likely theirs.
If we assume that to be the case (or something similar, at least - it could even be internal memos/e-mails), they may have 'prior art' effectively covered.
In any case, I certainly wouldn't want to go up against AT&T in court
Tomas
I was very polite, as was his court clerk.
The following is the contact information:
U.S. Courthouse
200 N.W. Fourth St. Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Rm 3001, Courtroom 303, Third Floor
Chambers Telephone: 405-609-5140
Chambers Facsimile: 405-609-5151
I really believe he needs an increased volume of calls to drive home the dislike of his ruling.
I have read his order, etc. and disagree with his findings and action. You can read it too at the court's website.
-- Tomas
Doesn't that mean that the soundtrack CD's should be cheaper if you use the same logic, though?
--
Tomas
I believe it's MBride, rather than M$Bride ...
--
Tomas
I just asked them to clarify where I stand with my 1985 SCO Xenix source license and the machine I still have that has it as it's OS ...
;^)
Does that still cover me?
Yes, that machine is in storage - it's slow and 8 inch DSDD IBM floppies are getting too hard to find.
Tomas