The unix hater's handbook. Yep, semi-humorous, but a lot of truth to it. I like parts of unix, I'm a big proponent to Linux, but many parts I could do without. It is always good to keep in mind there are more than 1,2 or even 3 ways to do something.
However, what if those photos/movies turned out to be intimate moments with his wife? Do I have this right to take it? No. Do I even have the right to investigate further to decide? No.
Would the same be true if I copy his spreadsheets or Quickbook files?
The bottom line is if I go snooping for the sake of snooping - I am not doing my job but instead getting my jollies as a voyeur. If I or someone else am copying files that is not related to work, it is a problem. I am not hired for that, hence I do not do it.
This is not a grey area or a moral dillema. This isn't moral relativism. AFAIAConcerned, it is pretty cut and dried. 99% of the arguments about this is rationalizing.
I don't expect the car lot attendant to take my car for joyrides or the carwash guy (if you mean detailer) to steal whatever he finds inside.
It's not to say that it doesn't happen, but we don't have to pretend they are doing an ethical or good job.
BTW, I am an ethical IT guy. I don't want to see other people's stuff. I don't look for it either. But some people are so sloppy with their computers they do the equivalent of leaving porno mags or money in the driver's seat. Even then, I really don't care, as long as it isn't something clearly illegal which would put me in a bind I never wanted to be in. I don't think I'm rare. You are correct, you just won't be finding me working for Best Buy or other bottom of the barrel job. But I would imagine that there are enough ethical people starting out in such a job.
You are saying that as if the grandparent did not suffer. Yes, he did not suffer financially but he did suffer physical pain. Not even 99.999% of "masochists" go out for that type of hurt.
He also said he only went twice to the doctor in 30 years. Contrast this to America where you do pay. Without knowing much about him, I would wager he has likely paid more into the system than he has taken out.
People do stupid things. Stupid things also happen. This is the case in any type of system. Unless statistics are procured, we cannot say if this is more common in a system like the U.S. or a socialist system. I doubt it is much different either way.
What drives up healthcare insurance costs is the legal requirement to treat people without insurance. Who bears that cost? The people paying for insurance. This is the wrong model as well.
I don't fully get what you are saying.
In the U.S., who bears the cost is the taxpayer, not those who pay the insurance (not directly) as the insurance company is not charged in those instances - the government is billed.
And a legal requirement to treat people without insurance is a good thing. Yes, some take advantage of the system. But to do otherwise is simply barbaric imo.
The law should mandate that the employers provide healthcare to any full-time employee (or the employee pays like 25% of it). This is enforced in Germany, even down to a McDonalds. Yes, it increases prices for some things (McDonalds is slightly more expensive) but also enough discount places (Germany is Aldi's home country, food is cheaper there IMO but I am digressing).
Look at it this way, each and everybody who works needs to use their salary to buy health insurance anyway - this money will not come magically from Heaven. However, in America, employees like Wal-mart let their employees fall below the poverty line, don't let many get in full-time hours, etcetara and the result is that many Wal-mart employees do not have insurance and the government (i.e. the taxpayers) foot the bill. The result is that Wal-mart gets to have "lower" prices (hidden cost to society), drive more scrupulous competitors out of business, and so on and so forth.
Wal-Mart, in Germany, failed. They were under the same rules on how to treat employees. Last year they pulled out their 80 supercenters and sold them to a competing chain store. They claimed that they could not compete (Germany has many discount chains) -- this is part of the reason. They were not allowed to unload the hidden costs to society - they had to play fair.
I would buy software for linux. But only for needs I have which free software does not already fill. Hence, no ftp programs and the like.
BUT... the big problem is, if there is a free alternative, I'll take the free alternative first. Windows users do the same or they often pirate (at home). The difference is that Linux has a ton of decent software for free. And that linux users used to be more technically apt so they could make their own small utilities. This freezes a lot of small time Windows users out who used to make small programs and make a healthy living off of them. Programs for Linux can't be so simple.
The other problem is that a lot of software for Windows are only made to make up for the built in unnecessary deficiencies of Windows - adaware, windows start-up monitor, registry cleaners, etcetera. Linux has less deficiencies and it also generally does what the user tells it to without overwriting settings on whim. So that market is out.
Another problem is an easy installer for Joe Average (no CLI) but without package management. I think Click-n-Run, when ported to Ubuntu later this year by Linspire, will offer a great opportunity for non-free software - for the first time on a widely popular distro software can be PURCHASED easily.
I think there is opportunity for nonfree apps on Linux, but the market is different and one has to recognize that. One such software would definitely be turbotax or an alternative. Another would be something like an eBay Blackthorne (auction management software).
There are niches to be filled, to be sure - and I think a lean, enterprising developer will be able to take advantage of it. With click-n-run on Ubuntu, Ubuntu on Dells, etcetera - the situation is shaping up soon where some business can be made. The market for Linux is smaller, but that ecosystem is not yet saturated by developers either - so there are advantages/disadvantage either way you look at it.
As well, all three major platforms (OS X, Linux, Windows) can be programmed for simultaneously with a toolkit like Qt - so the risk does not have to be taken while the same advantages gained.
I don't really believe in Roswell or spend too much time thinking about it as it is a waste of time but:
As much as I want to believe aliens are among us, it just doesn't make sense that a civilization advanced enough to cross interstellar space would crash in New Mexico.
Shit happens. It didn't make sense that Italy would get bogged down in backwards Ethiopia in WW2, that the English would lose a few battles to Zulus with spears, or that with our technology we can't conquer Iraq. Weirder things have happened.
Technology can break down. Maybe rarer as the farther one advances, but I still bet there are mishaps.
And the chances of aliens being humanoid in appearance are close to zero.
We have no way of knowing this unless we meet aliens. Perhaps being humanoid has certain advantages in handling machinery and setting off an industrial revulotion. Afterall, scientists love pointing out our opposable thumbs in relation to most other animals as being an advantage to using tools.
I have problems with the whole UFO thing, mostly that they hide from us seems to be more of a contrived book plot than anything, but some issues are nonissues. Until aliens do come and reveal themselves or something like SETI gets results, it's a waste of time obsessing over the 1,000,000s of conspiracies that exist.
I suspect it will take several iterations to get a good reader, like 2-5 years down the road.
I like the sony, but for my reading (textbooks) I'm hoping a reader with a 8x11 inch screen comes out. That would be a great size. Color could come later as it's nice but not a dealbreaker.
Several years back, Apple bought up a company that made multitouch keyboards and pads and employed the two professors who made it. It's not just software, the hardware is fundamentally different than single touch.
Sell your printers at cost, please, and let ink be just ink.
Or better yet, sell it at a profit and sell each ink at a reasonable, not outrageous, profit.
I am all for letting businesses making money (each Nintendo Wii brings profit to Nintend, like $50) because if they had to sell the printers at cost -- it would still force them to sell ink at higher prices than normal. What is at cost anyway? The manufacturing cost? What about R&D, and more closely, customer support and the warranty costs money too.
I moved to laser a long time ago for varying reasons. I bought two good quality lasers (Color, and BW) and am very happy - I suspect that the companies made a bit of money just from those purchases. But my cartridges are very cheap and the customer service has been superb. And the linux/mac/pc drivers work well.
I don't think I ever had as good experience with any inkjet.
If it works for you that is good, but the screen size is too small and the backlighting kills it for me. That is why e-ink is exciting to me.
Now only if the readers would sink in price. Larger screens (8x10 please) would seal the deal, and color would also be good but not 100% necessary yet.
Well, I think you missed my point. I did not mean they don't want books, I meant they don't want the downside of books. The space it takes. Americans move an average of every 7 years. In Europe, less so, but there you have to contend with apartment size, same with Japan. I would imagine, that if people were offered to store all their reading in a space the size and weight of a loaded shelf or one the size of an ereader + external harddrive - most would take the harddrive.
I had to let go of a lot of books simply because of space. Same with newspapers and magazines. I am sure most people are like that, at least with newspapers/magazines. Once a solution is offered where all this can be kept locally but in a convenient and nonintrusive way, I don't see why paper is preferable to e-ink.
As for actual physical forms of books, e-ink emulates the page. It does not have blacklight and actually looks like a printed page. Perhaps flipping through the book won't be as effortless -especially on the first models, but there will be upsides such as instant search, that paper could never match.
Ebooks just never took off before because of the screens, who wants to stare at a backlighted, computer screen all day? That's not relaxing.
If you really meant that they want loads and loads of bound paper, well, I love to read, but I could do without the hassle of a physically printed page.
It will happen. The problem is that no one wants to read books on a computer screen. Enter E-ink. It has the best of both worlds.
The problem is that the readers are now $700. When it gets to under $99-$199, it will take off. People, being as mobile as they are today, don't want libraries at home anymore that takes shelves upon shelves away. Plus it would be nice to be able to carry your library with you.
Who really cares what the msm and academia think? They are usually way behind in what is going on in many areas and don't push the edge anyway. The MSM, in particular, let something become safe before touching it. In other words, they are irrevelent.
Ultimately, they are all competing for the same resource - people's attention and that leads to money.
As such, it's in the RIAA's best interests to shut down avenues which would introduce people to musicians outside their control. This is what it is all about.
And the government is helping them maintain their monopoly.
I have mostly positive to things to say about the iPhone, get annoyed at the naysayers predicting its doom for shortsighted geek reasons (same things were said about the iPod), but isn't all this overkill on at&t's part?
I can see the iPhone being a good seller, I don't think it will be an albatross like the PS3, but I don't see it reaching Wii/iPod popularity until the 3rd or 4rd revision where the price comes down to about $299.
There are a number of phones that come standard with the features loaded in the iPhone.
Yet another person mistaking a feature check list as an all comprehesive judgement on a phone, regardless of feature usability, convenience, or UI.
Give me a break, there are enough valid criticisms on the iPhone but don't give me this bullshit. My run-of-the-mill phone can play music, but I never use it for that -- it's too much of a hassle. And Windows Mobile sucks. It really does. Maybe that's not objective, but it's my final conclusion.
There are features I wish it had, there are things I think Apple could have done better (Cingular) but to say the iPhone is a been there, done that device is missing the mark by a wide shot.
Slashdot Mirror
If that was what you arguing, then I agree. But as this article shows, there can always be some type of surveillance.
But then no one capable of that will be bringing their computer to a computer shop anyway.
http://www.simson.net/ref/ugh.pdf
The unix hater's handbook. Yep, semi-humorous, but a lot of truth to it. I like parts of unix, I'm a big proponent to Linux, but many parts I could do without. It is always good to keep in mind there are more than 1,2 or even 3 ways to do something.
However, what if those photos/movies turned out to be intimate moments with his wife? Do I have this right to take it? No. Do I even have the right to investigate further to decide? No.
Would the same be true if I copy his spreadsheets or Quickbook files?
The bottom line is if I go snooping for the sake of snooping - I am not doing my job but instead getting my jollies as a voyeur. If I or someone else am copying files that is not related to work, it is a problem. I am not hired for that, hence I do not do it.
This is not a grey area or a moral dillema. This isn't moral relativism. AFAIAConcerned, it is pretty cut and dried. 99% of the arguments about this is rationalizing.
I don't expect the car lot attendant to take my car for joyrides or the carwash guy (if you mean detailer) to steal whatever he finds inside.
It's not to say that it doesn't happen, but we don't have to pretend they are doing an ethical or good job.
BTW, I am an ethical IT guy. I don't want to see other people's stuff. I don't look for it either. But some people are so sloppy with their computers they do the equivalent of leaving porno mags or money in the driver's seat. Even then, I really don't care, as long as it isn't something clearly illegal which would put me in a bind I never wanted to be in. I don't think I'm rare. You are correct, you just won't be finding me working for Best Buy or other bottom of the barrel job. But I would imagine that there are enough ethical people starting out in such a job.
But does it match my patent for the water holding container with mouth interface?
What happened? People first took games too seriously because of violent content, now since MMORPGs, gamers also take it too seriously in general.
What happened?
You are saying that as if the grandparent did not suffer. Yes, he did not suffer financially but he did suffer physical pain. Not even 99.999% of "masochists" go out for that type of hurt.
He also said he only went twice to the doctor in 30 years. Contrast this to America where you do pay. Without knowing much about him, I would wager he has likely paid more into the system than he has taken out.
People do stupid things. Stupid things also happen. This is the case in any type of system. Unless statistics are procured, we cannot say if this is more common in a system like the U.S. or a socialist system. I doubt it is much different either way.
In the U.S., who bears the cost is the taxpayer, not those who pay the insurance (not directly) as the insurance company is not charged in those instances - the government is billed.
And a legal requirement to treat people without insurance is a good thing. Yes, some take advantage of the system. But to do otherwise is simply barbaric imo.
The law should mandate that the employers provide healthcare to any full-time employee (or the employee pays like 25% of it). This is enforced in Germany, even down to a McDonalds. Yes, it increases prices for some things (McDonalds is slightly more expensive) but also enough discount places (Germany is Aldi's home country, food is cheaper there IMO but I am digressing).
Look at it this way, each and everybody who works needs to use their salary to buy health insurance anyway - this money will not come magically from Heaven. However, in America, employees like Wal-mart let their employees fall below the poverty line, don't let many get in full-time hours, etcetara and the result is that many Wal-mart employees do not have insurance and the government (i.e. the taxpayers) foot the bill. The result is that Wal-mart gets to have "lower" prices (hidden cost to society), drive more scrupulous competitors out of business, and so on and so forth.
Wal-Mart, in Germany, failed. They were under the same rules on how to treat employees. Last year they pulled out their 80 supercenters and sold them to a competing chain store. They claimed that they could not compete (Germany has many discount chains) -- this is part of the reason. They were not allowed to unload the hidden costs to society - they had to play fair.
I would buy software for linux. But only for needs I have which free software does not already fill. Hence, no ftp programs and the like.
BUT... the big problem is, if there is a free alternative, I'll take the free alternative first. Windows users do the same or they often pirate (at home). The difference is that Linux has a ton of decent software for free. And that linux users used to be more technically apt so they could make their own small utilities. This freezes a lot of small time Windows users out who used to make small programs and make a healthy living off of them. Programs for Linux can't be so simple.
The other problem is that a lot of software for Windows are only made to make up for the built in unnecessary deficiencies of Windows - adaware, windows start-up monitor, registry cleaners, etcetera. Linux has less deficiencies and it also generally does what the user tells it to without overwriting settings on whim. So that market is out.
Another problem is an easy installer for Joe Average (no CLI) but without package management. I think Click-n-Run, when ported to Ubuntu later this year by Linspire, will offer a great opportunity for non-free software - for the first time on a widely popular distro software can be PURCHASED easily.
I think there is opportunity for nonfree apps on Linux, but the market is different and one has to recognize that. One such software would definitely be turbotax or an alternative. Another would be something like an eBay Blackthorne (auction management software).
There are niches to be filled, to be sure - and I think a lean, enterprising developer will be able to take advantage of it. With click-n-run on Ubuntu, Ubuntu on Dells, etcetera - the situation is shaping up soon where some business can be made. The market for Linux is smaller, but that ecosystem is not yet saturated by developers either - so there are advantages/disadvantage either way you look at it.
As well, all three major platforms (OS X, Linux, Windows) can be programmed for simultaneously with a toolkit like Qt - so the risk does not have to be taken while the same advantages gained.
Well, as dictionary.com defines it:
1. the act of stealing; the wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal goods or property of another
With identity theft, you are taking someone else's reputation/credit and depriving them of it (by ruining it)
I always wondered what happened to the spirit of the people in the 60s and 70s who were willing to gather by the thousands to protest something.
The facts are out there, it's just that the masses don't care enough anymore, it seems.
Technology can break down. Maybe rarer as the farther one advances, but I still bet there are mishaps.We have no way of knowing this unless we meet aliens. Perhaps being humanoid has certain advantages in handling machinery and setting off an industrial revulotion. Afterall, scientists love pointing out our opposable thumbs in relation to most other animals as being an advantage to using tools.
I have problems with the whole UFO thing, mostly that they hide from us seems to be more of a contrived book plot than anything, but some issues are nonissues. Until aliens do come and reveal themselves or something like SETI gets results, it's a waste of time obsessing over the 1,000,000s of conspiracies that exist.
I suspect it will take several iterations to get a good reader, like 2-5 years down the road.
I like the sony, but for my reading (textbooks) I'm hoping a reader with a 8x11 inch screen comes out. That would be a great size. Color could come later as it's nice but not a dealbreaker.
Several years back, Apple bought up a company that made multitouch keyboards and pads and employed the two professors who made it. It's not just software, the hardware is fundamentally different than single touch.
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http://www.fingerworks.com/
Look under news:
http://fingerfans.dreamhosters.com/forum/viewtopi
I am all for letting businesses making money (each Nintendo Wii brings profit to Nintend, like $50) because if they had to sell the printers at cost -- it would still force them to sell ink at higher prices than normal. What is at cost anyway? The manufacturing cost? What about R&D, and more closely, customer support and the warranty costs money too.
I moved to laser a long time ago for varying reasons. I bought two good quality lasers (Color, and BW) and am very happy - I suspect that the companies made a bit of money just from those purchases. But my cartridges are very cheap and the customer service has been superb. And the linux/mac/pc drivers work well.
I don't think I ever had as good experience with any inkjet.
If it works for you that is good, but the screen size is too small and the backlighting kills it for me. That is why e-ink is exciting to me.
Now only if the readers would sink in price. Larger screens (8x10 please) would seal the deal, and color would also be good but not 100% necessary yet.
Well, I think you missed my point. I did not mean they don't want books, I meant they don't want the downside of books. The space it takes. Americans move an average of every 7 years. In Europe, less so, but there you have to contend with apartment size, same with Japan. I would imagine, that if people were offered to store all their reading in a space the size and weight of a loaded shelf or one the size of an ereader + external harddrive - most would take the harddrive.
I had to let go of a lot of books simply because of space. Same with newspapers and magazines. I am sure most people are like that, at least with newspapers/magazines. Once a solution is offered where all this can be kept locally but in a convenient and nonintrusive way, I don't see why paper is preferable to e-ink.
As for actual physical forms of books, e-ink emulates the page. It does not have blacklight and actually looks like a printed page. Perhaps flipping through the book won't be as effortless -especially on the first models, but there will be upsides such as instant search, that paper could never match.
Ebooks just never took off before because of the screens, who wants to stare at a backlighted, computer screen all day? That's not relaxing.
If you really meant that they want loads and loads of bound paper, well, I love to read, but I could do without the hassle of a physically printed page.
It will happen. The problem is that no one wants to read books on a computer screen. Enter E-ink. It has the best of both worlds.
The problem is that the readers are now $700. When it gets to under $99-$199, it will take off. People, being as mobile as they are today, don't want libraries at home anymore that takes shelves upon shelves away. Plus it would be nice to be able to carry your library with you.
music from Prince as his prime was before my time.
Now I'm looking him up and may get something. He probably is getting his money's worth.
Who really cares what the msm and academia think? They are usually way behind in what is going on in many areas and don't push the edge anyway. The MSM, in particular, let something become safe before touching it. In other words, they are irrevelent.
Ultimately, they are all competing for the same resource - people's attention and that leads to money.
As such, it's in the RIAA's best interests to shut down avenues which would introduce people to musicians outside their control. This is what it is all about.
And the government is helping them maintain their monopoly.
am a man of strong convictions.
I agree, it is overhyped.
I have mostly positive to things to say about the iPhone, get annoyed at the naysayers predicting its doom for shortsighted geek reasons (same things were said about the iPod), but isn't all this overkill on at&t's part?
I can see the iPhone being a good seller, I don't think it will be an albatross like the PS3, but I don't see it reaching Wii/iPod popularity until the 3rd or 4rd revision where the price comes down to about $299.
Give me a break, there are enough valid criticisms on the iPhone but don't give me this bullshit. My run-of-the-mill phone can play music, but I never use it for that -- it's too much of a hassle. And Windows Mobile sucks. It really does. Maybe that's not objective, but it's my final conclusion.
There are features I wish it had, there are things I think Apple could have done better (Cingular) but to say the iPhone is a been there, done that device is missing the mark by a wide shot.