I hammer GWB over his environmental record because he is my elected representative and he has done a very piss poor job of representing my environmental views.
What Saddam did was in the middle of war; we are prepared at any time to fire nuclear missles at other countries, which just might be a bit worse on the environment than Saddam's oil fires. FYI when Saddam asked the US about invading Kuwait, Bush Senior's administration told him they had no opinion on the matter. Not that I'm defending him, but I can see how he might have been a bit bitter on his way out of Kuwait.
...are a thriving breed, amongst I count myself member. I know many an advanced degree student who put all sorts of assignments off. They expect it, honestly. This year the computer engineering senior projects final project specification requirements (40 pages) were handed out on monday and due that friday.
I don't know why but for some reason I just can't work any other way but under the gun; without urgency I tend to just lose intrest. With literature on subjects I really want to learn about just a click away it becomes even more difficult.
I'm effectively an internet junkie. It is very easy to slip off whatever project I'm working on for a second and check to see if any one of those news post sites I check have updated. Well something cool gets posted and I fall further off. I start reading the message board about it and I find a few more links. It takes discipline to stay on task when you have so much shit more interesting than whatever BS you should be doing exactly one click away (My coveted firefox homepage)
I hope they're not just giving kids a computer and telling them to go learn this topic or that topic. You need focused software to focus their minds if you expect satisfactory educational results.
An as aside, has anyone ever seen educational software packages? I've seen the kind they show education majors at the top education college in the state; It is absolutely aweful. The interfaces are so poor they make you wince.
And that is something you personally cannot do. I've met so many homeschooled kids who have no idea how to act around people; you have to expose them regularly to peers to avoid this.
Also, as much as you instictively want to protect them from the big bad world, going too far could really screw them up. The super-sheltered kids I know are almost to the individual annoying, and have difficulty adjusting to new environments (i.e. college).
To begin you are 100% right about the embedded system solution to the insulin pump. I will admit that it was poor example in the context.
Since you've said `no Windows OS'... what OS (since you seem to think it's an OS thing) do *you* think is safe enough? (This should be good...)
It is and it is not an OS thing. All those systems you listed out of the box (or hot off the ftp) would not qualify for a critical system. However, a firm with the neccessary resources could take any of those open OS's and focus them into a proper system. Windows is a notoriously unreliable closed source desktop system. Not only does it require downtime for many upgrades, but you cannot even get into the source to cut out unneccessary or undesirable features.
Like it or not, people *do* use Windows 2000 (or 20003, XP, etc.) for situations where if it fails `their business or project is screwed'. And there are certainly cases where the wrong Windows failure can cause people to be hurt or killed. It may not be smart, but it its done, and merely saying `mod this parent way down' isn't going to change it.
That is a sad and scary fact, and I don't expect it to change magically with my slashdot post. But I am not going to stand idle when someone posts bullshit and people mod it up. Truth should be heard, and people should wake up and realize just how poor Windows is from a reliability engineering standpoint.
I'm betting that your livelyhood depends on a Windows 2000 server for your e-buisiness. In that case, go learn about some real systems and then you can talk with the grown-ups. How many times you had to reboot your Windows 2000 server for updates? That sort of behavior is unacceptable in a truly critical system such as the saftey systems in a nuclear reactor, or a large naval vehicle's navigation system. Win 2k breaks down and in three hours you're back to selling dog food. The nuclear reactor's saftey system breaks down and you have a much larger problem.
By the way, MS has already stopped supporting 2k's IE. It's only be a matter of time before 2k development is halted and you have a choice between continiously increasing insecurity (as more bugs/holes are found) or an upgrade to 2k3 server.
Windows 2000 is not critical system stable. I'm not going to trust my grandma's insulin to any sort of Windows OS.
"critical system" implies the world is going to end if the system goes down. Basicly either you're buisiness is screwed, your project is screwed, or someone gets hurt/killed. Engineering these systems are a painstaking process generally guided by strict rules. Windows 2000 does not satisfy these rules and should not be used when proper functioning is of the utmost importance.
If they can't take 5 minutes to add an HP scanner then you've got the wrong guys in IT.
Because things always work the first time? Don't forget however long it takes to get to the deployment location, the large chance that they haven't taken the scanner out of the box or even made room.
As long as the IT department is large/trained well enough for the number of seats it really shouldn't be a problem.
Ever heard of budget limitations? Maybe you should try thinking before you call an IT department lazy. My department works its ass off to get shit done, and if we had to stop by John Q. User's office every time they wanted to install anything we would need at least 50% more staff. That is intolerable so I think we'll just take the occasional infestation. I don't care how well trained you are it simply takes manpower to install stupid programs, and even more when budget limits the speed of the machines.
They've violated many more UN sanctions than Saddam's Iraq; why don't we take them over too? Not to mention they actually do have nuclear weapons.
There's also a strong possibility that Israel operatives planted a car-bomb in another nation. Last time I checked that was called terrorism.
You can say that Israel is our ally but at the same time there was soom hooplah about them actually having an intelligence op in the Rumsfeld office. No one has ever said yay or nay about it.
Saddam was bad, but there are much more imminent threats. What the hell is the States doing there? It's the double-standard that is so fishy.
Re:slapped together instruction set...
on
Less Might Be More
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Don't forget embedded systems developers too. In fact I'll bet you'd be suprised how often asm gets broken out in the industry.
As far as the compiler goes, I'd be willing to bet intel's limited register usage bottlenecks optimization all the time. There's no good reason to only have multiplication/division instructions acting only on a single, already heavily demanded register, and that's just a single example.
I'll admit that the instuction set doesn't matter to most programmers but that's still no excuse.
The problem is that there is no feasible way to prove that the instructions in main memory on every voting machine corresponds, without exception, to the source code on a piece of paper.
If you use ROM for the code as I suggested, and these identical rom cards are already mass produced, then where's the problem? Consumer groups could validate the instructions and you'd have voting chips.
How the hell are you going to dump the "right" code from memory when you're using rom? Assuming intel-style achitecture you could implement CS and IP (Code Segment and Instruction Pointer) register limitations making it impossible to execute instructions outside of the ROM. With care taken to ensure main memory clears every new ballet things are looking pretty deterministic to me.
Now keep in mind I don't think we're ready for computerized voting yet, but a well-made electronic voting system will increase accuracy and decrease cheating in elections. Whether is is 4,10, or 20 years down the road it is coming and could smooth things out in the long run.
The problem isn't HOW to perform the validation, the problem is that you NEED validation in the first place.
All systems, electronic or otherwise need validation. When you vote conventionally, how can you confirm that the ballot is lined up correctly, or the counters are properly calibrated? You have to trust that the current system and that someone went around and made sure all the ducks are in a row.
The analog of this process the in the electronic voting systems would be much more complex. This isn't just validation making sure the systems can't be tampered with. This also includes making sure it doesn't have a logical hiccup and forget your vote, or what if the power dies in the middle of your ballet.
Just because you personally can't imagine a valid solution to this problem doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Although the design of this theoretical system is fraught with difficulties, I've produced solutions to all of the issues you've brought up.
Comparing a service like paypal to the uptight, anal assed stand-alone systems I'm describing is very flawed logic. Try again.
Of course corruption within the corporation could screw things. That's where validation comes in.
I wasn't saying that ROM is going to fix everything, that's stupid. I'm just saying it is possible to engineer a good electronic voting system, and ROM is an answer to the problem presented.
Now allow me to elaborate on my vision. Obviously these voting machines are going to have to be validated. Several third parties should be involved in testing the system's reliability, security, etc. To which you could respond what if they're all being bought off. Well screw that, you're just going to have to assume you'll get at least one trustable firm. Don't forget that engineering companies have reputations, and releasing flawed critical systems is a good way to ruin it.
The most of Europe is more unionized than the United States, and I believe it includes the "rest of the world" where the cost of building is "half" that of the United States. I still believe that's a bullshit statistic and you still haven't showed me otherwise.
You do realize that there are contractors out there that don't use union workers, right? Why aren't they building on the cutting edge?
And how about some evidence to support your claims, especially those correlations in your previous post.
And $50/hr for a painter? Where the does that happen? From what I understand carpenters are towards the top of the wage ladder and their not near 50, least everywhere I've seen.
Fact of the matter is it looks like you're just pulling all sorts of numbers and rhetoric directly from your ass.
That problem right there could be eliminated by loading instructions into rom at a factory. Good luck clobbering that.
My opinion is that if electronic voting is to be implemented you're going to have to treat it as a super-critical system, and some of the problems will probably require some custom hardware.
Unless there's a good bit of pressure I find it difficult to do anything at all. In crisis mode I'm a maniac but if I don't feel rushed I'm lethargic. It's the source of my all-nighters in college. Believe me though, if the shit hits the fan you're (as a coworker) gonna love my ass.
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What Saddam did was in the middle of war; we are prepared at any time to fire nuclear missles at other countries, which just might be a bit worse on the environment than Saddam's oil fires. FYI when Saddam asked the US about invading Kuwait, Bush Senior's administration told him they had no opinion on the matter. Not that I'm defending him, but I can see how he might have been a bit bitter on his way out of Kuwait.
I don't know why but for some reason I just can't work any other way but under the gun; without urgency I tend to just lose intrest. With literature on subjects I really want to learn about just a click away it becomes even more difficult.
Like you need a satelite and a DSL line. Hope DSL is available in you area; otherwise I guess you're just screwed. Condolances if that's the case.
(An oh yea, this is IE's)
An as aside, has anyone ever seen educational software packages? I've seen the kind they show education majors at the top education college in the state; It is absolutely aweful. The interfaces are so poor they make you wince.
I just sent a bullshit one and apparently it has already been sent to the FCC.
Also, as much as you instictively want to protect them from the big bad world, going too far could really screw them up. The super-sheltered kids I know are almost to the individual annoying, and have difficulty adjusting to new environments (i.e. college).
Since you've said `no Windows OS' ... what OS (since you seem to think it's an OS thing) do *you* think is safe enough? (This should be good ...)
It is and it is not an OS thing. All those systems you listed out of the box (or hot off the ftp) would not qualify for a critical system. However, a firm with the neccessary resources could take any of those open OS's and focus them into a proper system. Windows is a notoriously unreliable closed source desktop system. Not only does it require downtime for many upgrades, but you cannot even get into the source to cut out unneccessary or undesirable features.
Like it or not, people *do* use Windows 2000 (or 20003, XP, etc.) for situations where if it fails `their business or project is screwed'. And there are certainly cases where the wrong Windows failure can cause people to be hurt or killed. It may not be smart, but it its done, and merely saying `mod this parent way down' isn't going to change it.
That is a sad and scary fact, and I don't expect it to change magically with my slashdot post. But I am not going to stand idle when someone posts bullshit and people mod it up. Truth should be heard, and people should wake up and realize just how poor Windows is from a reliability engineering standpoint.
By the way, MS has already stopped supporting 2k's IE. It's only be a matter of time before 2k development is halted and you have a choice between continiously increasing insecurity (as more bugs/holes are found) or an upgrade to 2k3 server.
"critical system" implies the world is going to end if the system goes down. Basicly either you're buisiness is screwed, your project is screwed, or someone gets hurt/killed. Engineering these systems are a painstaking process generally guided by strict rules. Windows 2000 does not satisfy these rules and should not be used when proper functioning is of the utmost importance.
They're good at marketing. P.R. is quite another story.
Of course they're going to play it down. It should be expected.
There's even an article from Texas.
I wonder if Time-Warner is starting to regret it.
Because things always work the first time? Don't forget however long it takes to get to the deployment location, the large chance that they haven't taken the scanner out of the box or even made room.
As long as the IT department is large/trained well enough for the number of seats it really shouldn't be a problem.
Ever heard of budget limitations? Maybe you should try thinking before you call an IT department lazy. My department works its ass off to get shit done, and if we had to stop by John Q. User's office every time they wanted to install anything we would need at least 50% more staff. That is intolerable so I think we'll just take the occasional infestation. I don't care how well trained you are it simply takes manpower to install stupid programs, and even more when budget limits the speed of the machines.
There's also a strong possibility that Israel operatives planted a car-bomb in another nation. Last time I checked that was called terrorism.
You can say that Israel is our ally but at the same time there was soom hooplah about them actually having an intelligence op in the Rumsfeld office. No one has ever said yay or nay about it.
Saddam was bad, but there are much more imminent threats. What the hell is the States doing there? It's the double-standard that is so fishy.
Don't forget embedded systems developers too. In fact I'll bet you'd be suprised how often asm gets broken out in the industry.
As far as the compiler goes, I'd be willing to bet intel's limited register usage bottlenecks optimization all the time. There's no good reason to only have multiplication/division instructions acting only on a single, already heavily demanded register, and that's just a single example.
I'll admit that the instuction set doesn't matter to most programmers but that's still no excuse.
is a pain in the ass slapped together instruction set.
Why bother to lobby against it? I mean in theory, your superior product should take hold in the corporate world where it matters most.
If you use ROM for the code as I suggested, and these identical rom cards are already mass produced, then where's the problem? Consumer groups could validate the instructions and you'd have voting chips.
How the hell are you going to dump the "right" code from memory when you're using rom? Assuming intel-style achitecture you could implement CS and IP (Code Segment and Instruction Pointer) register limitations making it impossible to execute instructions outside of the ROM. With care taken to ensure main memory clears every new ballet things are looking pretty deterministic to me.
Now keep in mind I don't think we're ready for computerized voting yet, but a well-made electronic voting system will increase accuracy and decrease cheating in elections. Whether is is 4,10, or 20 years down the road it is coming and could smooth things out in the long run.
But first you have to take care of the problems.
All systems, electronic or otherwise need validation. When you vote conventionally, how can you confirm that the ballot is lined up correctly, or the counters are properly calibrated? You have to trust that the current system and that someone went around and made sure all the ducks are in a row.
The analog of this process the in the electronic voting systems would be much more complex. This isn't just validation making sure the systems can't be tampered with. This also includes making sure it doesn't have a logical hiccup and forget your vote, or what if the power dies in the middle of your ballet.
Just because you personally can't imagine a valid solution to this problem doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Although the design of this theoretical system is fraught with difficulties, I've produced solutions to all of the issues you've brought up.
Comparing a service like paypal to the uptight, anal assed stand-alone systems I'm describing is very flawed logic. Try again.
I wasn't saying that ROM is going to fix everything, that's stupid. I'm just saying it is possible to engineer a good electronic voting system, and ROM is an answer to the problem presented.
Now allow me to elaborate on my vision. Obviously these voting machines are going to have to be validated. Several third parties should be involved in testing the system's reliability, security, etc. To which you could respond what if they're all being bought off. Well screw that, you're just going to have to assume you'll get at least one trustable firm. Don't forget that engineering companies have reputations, and releasing flawed critical systems is a good way to ruin it.
You do realize that there are contractors out there that don't use union workers, right? Why aren't they building on the cutting edge?
And how about some evidence to support your claims, especially those correlations in your previous post.
And $50/hr for a painter? Where the does that happen? From what I understand carpenters are towards the top of the wage ladder and their not near 50, least everywhere I've seen.
Fact of the matter is it looks like you're just pulling all sorts of numbers and rhetoric directly from your ass.
That problem right there could be eliminated by loading instructions into rom at a factory. Good luck clobbering that.
My opinion is that if electronic voting is to be implemented you're going to have to treat it as a super-critical system, and some of the problems will probably require some custom hardware.
Unless there's a good bit of pressure I find it difficult to do anything at all. In crisis mode I'm a maniac but if I don't feel rushed I'm lethargic. It's the source of my all-nighters in college. Believe me though, if the shit hits the fan you're (as a coworker) gonna love my ass.