I'm Henery the Eighth, I am!
Henery the Eighth I am! I am!
I got married to the widow next door,
She's been married seven times before.
Every one was an Henery
She wouldn't have a Willie or a Sam
I'm her eighth old man named Henery
Henery the Eighth I am.
There! That oughta get that other song out of your head but quick. No thanks are necessary. =)
My brother ran into him in a metal bar in Akron that he used to play in. His first words were "Hey holy crap it's Marilyn Manson!" Marilyn responded, "Nope, tonight I'm just plain 'ol Brian" as he was not in his costume.
They had beers and shot the shit about the local metal scene, as my brother was in a metal band playing that bar that evening. My brother said he was a really cool guy. Super bright, lotsa fun to hang out with.
Also, because it's apropos to the thread, I'm a BSEE that was on the Dean's List 4 times. My brother, the metal bassist, scored higher than me on an IQ test by almost ten points. And we were both tested at an identical age, so there's no age bias to the results.
For about $1200, I got the extended warranty with my Prius. Bumper to bumper, 8 years or 100,000 miles. I don't think they would offer those if they expected the thing to fall apart at 100k.
Even though the article is heavily skewed, it's still interesting. It's a point I didn't consider before I bought my car.
Well, not so limited as all that. After all, every single line of code that goes into your favorite distro was made by someone in my demographic. And that's a lotta code!
I'll admit that I do have the opportunity to dig in to source more often than most. I code for a living. Usually writing software drivers. But along the way I've been in Xorg and busybox and a few other places getting a given target trying to work the way I'd like. It's part of how I think now.
And that's why Windows will make me nuts sometimes. For example, about half the time my XP machine will hang an obscenely long time on the boot. And I know that the boot is waiting for DHCP or some other thing to either complete or timeout. And I'd love to go in and dig around and find out exactly what the problem is. And then fix it. But I can't! It's galling.
Honestly - wouldn't it be nice to go in and comment out the device detection part of the boot? Think of the time you'd save. I know I'm not going to add anything new to my PC this year. So why check every time?
You don't have to be an uber-guru to go in and simply tweak a few things that you don't like. And it sounds like it certainly falls within your skill set. Try it sometime - you might wind up a machine that's faster. Or more to your liking. Or a fun part-time hobby at the least.
I'm a computer user who likes my machines to be as crash-free as possible. Failing that, I'd like access to the source code so I can fix whatever problems I perceive, rather than waiting for someone else to do it.
Ok - that's my "Linux Persona". Now let's see you cater to me.
Yes, we all know the RIAA kills puppies and causes gout. But is it too much to ask to find articles about the RIAA that simply tell the facts as they are about them? They're bad enough, and they'll stand on their own.
What "problem" are they trying to solve? From what I've heard, Google is trying to solve a bunch of problems, with about 3 people per problem. That's far fewer than a typical Microsoft team.
IMHO, the problem they are trying to solve is Google being a one-trick pony.
Their search engine is legendary. Nothing else they've done even remotely is. It's dangerous to only have one thing supporting your business. All it takes is one guy with a better idea in a garage somewhere, and bang - you're out of business.
Throwing more resources at a problem isn't always the best way to solve it. For crying out loud, if anyone should know that it's Ballmer.
A business I worked at several years ago did the same thing. Grew too fast and outpaced the market. Wound up running out of cash and having to lay off all those new hires. One guy was an employee for two weeks. I helped interview the guy, too.
I've found that when they work, it's really cool, but it does add layer of complexity that wasn't there before. Then again, having dovetails hold items together instead of screws is amazingly useful sometimes.
I've found that when they work, it's really cool, but it does add layer of complexity that wasn't there before. Then again, having screws hold items together instead of nails is amazingly useful sometimes.
They're using KDrive, one of the build options of XFree/XOrg done by Keith Packard specifically for embedded or small targets. At my last job we were compiling that for a MIPS target, and the X executable came in at around 650k IIRC.
It's the support libraries and fonts that make an X install huge. Drop those and you can easily squeak in a busybox implementation in 2 Megs.
That being said - this is a fantastic hack. Everyone in the thread is thinking embedded computers for cars, but not me. I'm thinking Geode chips, PC/104 boards and industrial control.
And since I'm thinking about it, thank you Keith if you happen to read this. The other guy I was working with on this project actually got in touch with you over IRC and you helped us out with some problems we were having. Very nice of you to give us a hand - we really appreciated it.
He had a laptop computer with basically the same kind of stuff you find on Remote Exploit, just in Win32 versions. And my buddy didn't say he had a virus problem, the machine was physically busted - most likely from a drop. He bought the laptop through Best Buy and they were returning it to the manufacturer for replacement.
And I did say to take the story with a grain of salt - I'm not sure I believe it either.
Although. Wouldn't it be funny if the guys at Dell or wherever scanned his hard drive, and found all the "evidence" he had been collecting?
I have a friend who works at Best Buy/Geek Squad. A guy came in with a government contract and a laptop, needing repairs. He was making small talk and said his job was to wardrive around and break into people's home computers and search them for child porn.
Take it with a grain of salt - the guy was just some dude with a busted laptop walking into a Best Buy. But he did have a government contract, and a lot of wireless sniffer software on his machine.
In the original piece Torkington raised the question of whether the term "open source" had lost any meaning because of companies that use the label yet largly restrict user interaction.
Just because some people disagree with or don't understand the term "open source" doesn't mean it becomes worthless. All it means is that some people don't quite get it yet.
It's like the word "extreme", which marketing has over the last few years beaten to death. Extreme doesn't mean anything anymore to most people - the mind simply edits it out. But that doesn't mean that the word is suddenly broken. It still means what it means, it's just that we're desensitized to the word through repeated misuse.
It's much the same way with open source. When you repeatedly misuse the term, it loses meaning. A good example is everybody's favorite, Microsoft. They use the term as a negative. Then turn around and use it as a positive, albeit in a somewhat misunderstood way.
1 a : a place in which literary, musical, artistic, or reference materials (as books, manuscripts, recordings, or films) are kept for use but not for sale b : a collection of such materials
Sounds exactly like a share folder to me. I wonder why nobody has used this as a defense before?
Slashdot Mirror
I can help get that outta your head - no problem!
I'm Henery the Eighth, I am!
Henery the Eighth I am! I am!
I got married to the widow next door,
She's been married seven times before.
Every one was an Henery
She wouldn't have a Willie or a Sam
I'm her eighth old man named Henery
Henery the Eighth I am.
There! That oughta get that other song out of your head but quick. No thanks are necessary. =)
Na na Na na...
Hey hey...
Goodbye!
I figured a song was in order. =)
My brother ran into him in a metal bar in Akron that he used to play in. His first words were "Hey holy crap it's Marilyn Manson!" Marilyn responded, "Nope, tonight I'm just plain 'ol Brian" as he was not in his costume.
They had beers and shot the shit about the local metal scene, as my brother was in a metal band playing that bar that evening. My brother said he was a really cool guy. Super bright, lotsa fun to hang out with.
Also, because it's apropos to the thread, I'm a BSEE that was on the Dean's List 4 times. My brother, the metal bassist, scored higher than me on an IQ test by almost ten points. And we were both tested at an identical age, so there's no age bias to the results.
I just have to tell you - that is the single biggest, most protracted and yet accurate metaphor I've ever seen.
Bravo sir. Bravo.
Does this strike anyone else as a bluff? "Here's the protocol. But there is a license before you can read it. And the license is unknown."
Technically, it's available. But it's also not at the same time.
Meow.
Too bad you didn't get modded up - you're exactly right. Buncha noobs, anyways! ;^)
For about $1200, I got the extended warranty with my Prius. Bumper to bumper, 8 years or 100,000 miles. I don't think they would offer those if they expected the thing to fall apart at 100k.
Even though the article is heavily skewed, it's still interesting. It's a point I didn't consider before I bought my car.
Ah, texting.
I don't think someone who is typing entries into Slashdot with their thumbs is in a position to call anyone a nerd, you know.
Just something for you to think about while you wait for your mom to pick you up at Hot Topic.
It's more like:
You are attempting to bash Microsoft, Allow or Deny?
Well, not so limited as all that. After all, every single line of code that goes into your favorite distro was made by someone in my demographic. And that's a lotta code!
I'll admit that I do have the opportunity to dig in to source more often than most. I code for a living. Usually writing software drivers. But along the way I've been in Xorg and busybox and a few other places getting a given target trying to work the way I'd like. It's part of how I think now.
And that's why Windows will make me nuts sometimes. For example, about half the time my XP machine will hang an obscenely long time on the boot. And I know that the boot is waiting for DHCP or some other thing to either complete or timeout. And I'd love to go in and dig around and find out exactly what the problem is. And then fix it. But I can't! It's galling.
Honestly - wouldn't it be nice to go in and comment out the device detection part of the boot? Think of the time you'd save. I know I'm not going to add anything new to my PC this year. So why check every time?
You don't have to be an uber-guru to go in and simply tweak a few things that you don't like. And it sounds like it certainly falls within your skill set. Try it sometime - you might wind up a machine that's faster. Or more to your liking. Or a fun part-time hobby at the least.
Here's my demographic.
I'm a computer user who likes my machines to be as crash-free as possible. Failing that, I'd like access to the source code so I can fix whatever problems I perceive, rather than waiting for someone else to do it.
Ok - that's my "Linux Persona". Now let's see you cater to me.
This is an Appeal to Pity.
Yes, we all know the RIAA kills puppies and causes gout. But is it too much to ask to find articles about the RIAA that simply tell the facts as they are about them? They're bad enough, and they'll stand on their own.
What "problem" are they trying to solve? From what I've heard, Google is trying to solve a bunch of problems, with about 3 people per problem. That's far fewer than a typical Microsoft team.
IMHO, the problem they are trying to solve is Google being a one-trick pony.
Their search engine is legendary. Nothing else they've done even remotely is. It's dangerous to only have one thing supporting your business. All it takes is one guy with a better idea in a garage somewhere, and bang - you're out of business.
Throwing more resources at a problem isn't always the best way to solve it. For crying out loud, if anyone should know that it's Ballmer.
A business I worked at several years ago did the same thing. Grew too fast and outpaced the market. Wound up running out of cash and having to lay off all those new hires. One guy was an employee for two weeks. I helped interview the guy, too.
I would recommend that the guys at Novell read The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus. It'll prepare them for what's to come.
Suing your own customers already has a working business model.
I've found that when they work, it's really cool, but it does add layer of complexity that wasn't there before. Then again, having dovetails hold items together instead of screws is amazingly useful sometimes.
cops hardly ever give speeding tickets to other cops.
I've found that when they work, it's really cool, but it does add layer of complexity that wasn't there before. Then again, having screws hold items together instead of nails is amazingly useful sometimes.
They're using KDrive, one of the build options of XFree/XOrg done by Keith Packard specifically for embedded or small targets. At my last job we were compiling that for a MIPS target, and the X executable came in at around 650k IIRC.
It's the support libraries and fonts that make an X install huge. Drop those and you can easily squeak in a busybox implementation in 2 Megs.
That being said - this is a fantastic hack. Everyone in the thread is thinking embedded computers for cars, but not me. I'm thinking Geode chips, PC/104 boards and industrial control.
And since I'm thinking about it, thank you Keith if you happen to read this. The other guy I was working with on this project actually got in touch with you over IRC and you helped us out with some problems we were having. Very nice of you to give us a hand - we really appreciated it.
Where did I say he had a van full of equipment?
He had a laptop computer with basically the same kind of stuff you find on Remote Exploit, just in Win32 versions. And my buddy didn't say he had a virus problem, the machine was physically busted - most likely from a drop. He bought the laptop through Best Buy and they were returning it to the manufacturer for replacement.
And I did say to take the story with a grain of salt - I'm not sure I believe it either.
Although. Wouldn't it be funny if the guys at Dell or wherever scanned his hard drive, and found all the "evidence" he had been collecting?
I have a friend who works at Best Buy/Geek Squad. A guy came in with a government contract and a laptop, needing repairs. He was making small talk and said his job was to wardrive around and break into people's home computers and search them for child porn.
Take it with a grain of salt - the guy was just some dude with a busted laptop walking into a Best Buy. But he did have a government contract, and a lot of wireless sniffer software on his machine.
In the original piece Torkington raised the question of whether the term "open source" had lost any meaning because of companies that use the label yet largly restrict user interaction.
Just because some people disagree with or don't understand the term "open source" doesn't mean it becomes worthless. All it means is that some people don't quite get it yet.
It's like the word "extreme", which marketing has over the last few years beaten to death. Extreme doesn't mean anything anymore to most people - the mind simply edits it out. But that doesn't mean that the word is suddenly broken. It still means what it means, it's just that we're desensitized to the word through repeated misuse.
It's much the same way with open source. When you repeatedly misuse the term, it loses meaning. A good example is everybody's favorite, Microsoft. They use the term as a negative. Then turn around and use it as a positive, albeit in a somewhat misunderstood way.
From Merriam-Webster:
1 a : a place in which literary, musical, artistic, or reference materials (as books, manuscripts, recordings, or films) are kept for use but not for sale b : a collection of such materials
Sounds exactly like a share folder to me. I wonder why nobody has used this as a defense before?
#define MAYBE (random()&1)