Surely terrorism is a long way down the list of risks when travelling abroad. 1000's of American holiday-makers are killed each year in holiday car crashes, how many are killed in road side bombs?
Virtually none (discounting Iraq - not that its big on tourism at the moment anyway).
Local tourist sales people will love it. Imagine how good it would be for them if they could get hold a machine that could locate nearby Americna tourists alowing them to approach them first before the hundreds of other "you want cheap watch?" sellers.
"MPAA spokesman Matt Grossman denied the MPAA's system, which sends out 100,000 notices of claimed infringement on an annual basis was flawed."
Surely if a legitimate website recieved a letter threatening leagal action when it shouldn't have then the system IS flawed regardless of whether it was a human or machine error.
Besides ultimatly all errors are human errors (if you blame machine errors on the programmer/engineer).
"cover the cost of tapping into the communications of terrorists"
I hate how official statements like this, especially ones concerning civil liberties, always refer primarily to the anti-terrorist factors.
Everyone knows the terrorists don't use phones.
I bet that anti-terrorism is the reason behind the wiretap in only a tiny, miniscule number of cases and yet it is touted in a way implying it is one of the main reasons and therefor everyone should be happy about it as everyone needs to remeber to be scared of the terrorists.
They should just admitt that the vast majority of the time the wiretaps will be used to combat fraud and people trying to take sickies from work.
But when did Java actually 'go away' for it to "return". Sure, it doesn't have its new cutting-edge, wonder kid programming language status of a few years ago.
From what I've seen working for a couple of big companies is that Java usage has been steadily increasing, with Java now being at its most used ever (as one would expect if new software built on it gets steadily released).
Also, nearly all universities I know of now teach IT students Java as default.
Not sure what that means about its life, but considering most these companies now using Java apps were previously (just before switching to Java) using Fortran and C programs from the 1980's, I don't think it is going away soon.
Attracting woman into Computer Science (CS) isn't something which can be done by taking a 20 year old female and saying "have a job in CS". At the moment, such drives seek to undo the 20 years of the female being told both directly and (almost constant) indirectly that industries like CS and similar technical subjects aren't for them and that they should look more at people-focused industries (which just happen to be the lower paid industries like the service industry etc.).
This aptitude is enforced right from early childhood with the increased cuddling of baby girls and the buying of barbie dolls right through to all the ads telling them to spend their teenage allowance on cosmetics and other items in preperation for their 'need' to find a husband and start a family in their early 20's.
Yet most female recruitment drives seem to think they can undo this lifetime of enforcing a aptitude of "technical stuff isn't for girls" in a few weeks or less.
Ofcourse its not going to work, not that I can think of any method that actually would work. Would need a smart person.
The rewards would be large however, I have that if such attitudes were gotten rid of, the benefit to the economy would be the single biggest positive effect ever noticed, millions of extra workers and all.
In most places, this sounds like the view the courts take (with an exception created if the tool is deemed only/primarily useful for unlawful purposes).
Most state attornies would therefor recongnize this. I think this stinks of heavy lobbying and pressurizing from media companies/organisations to the point where state attornies have basically conceeded "Their not doing anything wrong but we'll send them some warning letters out if you'll shut up for a minute"
I just wonder how long it is till the same heavy lobbying leads to new laws stating that tools which could concievably (rather than primarily) be used to breach copyright are illegal....and just like usual (DMCA, Patriot, Software Patents, etc.) we will be told by our politians how this is for our own benefit (and not just for the benefit of the rich companies funding their campaigns).
Don't you just love modern corporate run democracy!
surely though the decrease in driving ability due to use of a hands-free kit would be pretty much the same as say talking to a passanger, which itself is meant to be less dangerous than driving even slightly tired, driving while under anxiousness or stress is meant to also be dangerous at times.
My point is that many factors contribute to decreasing driver ability, none however (apart from drink-driving, which is obviously also banned) are nearly as bad having to hold a phone to your ear while talking/listening to it.
You make a good point about traffic jams though, I guess however it would be hard to police, and slow-moving, packed-in jams are meant to be quite dangerous in terms of small bumps etc.
I disagree, the law has been in place here in the UK for about 9 months or so now and wheras A year ago it was quite common-place to see drivers using mobiles and often (although not always ofcourse) I would notice a large decrease in the driver's ability to control the car (persuming they won't all just really bad drivers).
Also, you say smoking a cigarette is more dangerous, which it may or may not be, but I remember regularly seeing people doing both!
Also in the UK most people still buy stupid manual cars for some reason and then every 100 metres when they have to change gear, one hand needs to operate the gearstick, one hand is holding the phone... whats going on with the steering wheel?
Sure, there was a bit of confusion over what type of hands-free kits were legal but it was a bit silly really as we were all bombarded with informatry ads in the month or so leading up to the ban. All that really occured in my opinion was a bit of your usual media scare-mongering.
I think the ban has been a success as there are a lot less people swerving about wildly on the road due to them making a call and basic hands-free kits are very cheap (and are starting to be inbuilt in most new cars).
If you think about it, anything can be called a "terrorist act".
Shoplifting, for example: steal a can of coke, the state (as in the government and the governing collective) loose x cents taxation. Hence, you have just committed an attack against the state and can be immediatly sent for an indefinate stay at a small jail in Cuba during which friends and relatives may or may not be told about your detention.
Hitler and Stalin would both of envied being able to do such legally....ofcourse they won't living in a time where we all ought to be scared for are very lives due to the intense, widespread terrorist activity presently occuring in the USA.
This is quite an amazing, almost unbelievable event.
Whats next, the USA joining the rest of the world and switching to metric?
It is intereasting how the main (and quite plausable) reason used by the USA authorities against going metric is due to the huge cost/effort which would be involved doing all the convertions. Yet, I would of thought changing the common shopkeepers barcoding system would be one of the few convertions which would require een more cost/effort.
I wonder as to why they've agreed to change one system and not the other?
I think the title to this article:
"The Future of Symbian"
is a bit misleading, seeing just the headline I was under the impression that Symbian were at that stage (you know, the one Sun's at) where the future of the company is at stake (or maybe on a stake in Sun's case?).
Anyway, doesn't really indicate that the article is regarding Symbian starting a program certification uh... program.
A fe days ago I visited a local sewerage treatment site and was impressed by the way that the filtered out 'sludge' (mainly biomass) was then pumped into large tanks which were heated to around 40 degrees celcius to help it breakdown.
What was impressive, I thought, was the way it was the methane omitted by this sludge which was being burnt to heat the sludge itself (with a little spare gas which was used to heat a couple of buildings).
"To the government MS is simply a healthy company bringing in a boatload of cash"
Not to mention contributing a healthy boatload to George Bush's campaign funds.
I've always thought it odd how Microsoft were on the verge of being broken up 4 years ago, then they gave money to the soon-to-be president's electoral campaign. He then won and soon after it was decided rather than be broken up Microsoft actually only needed a slap on the wrist.
I would rather see a large base/settlement built on the moon and then a later trip launched to mars rather than simply a trip to mars.
If we look at the apollo missions, although they were cool in that they went to a heavenly body and all, the actual contribution to science and the benefits to us these days of those missions was little for the money spent.
I think a mission to mars would be similar in that although there is prestige in getting there, what would be the major benefit to us earthlings?
A permanently inhabited base on the moon however would be the first step to unlocking the many benefits it can provide to mankind.
If they made it so I could go play superman-golf on the moon it would be even better!
More costs due to Geroge Bush's big "terrorism" propaganda ploy.
As a European its funny to see how American's totally believe the rubbish that they are all in imminent danger of a terrorist attack after having one incident almost 3 years ago.
The amount of deaths due to this incident were totally insignificant compared to say American gun-deaths that have occured since, yet while gun laws remain unchanged, every area of American has undergone change to take into account a threat which has so far actually affected 0.000018% of Americans.
and sure everything that seems cool has to be a bit pricey. But, like so many other cool civil engineering/construction type projects I don't understand why they are soo, soo expensive.
Take the International Space Station, sure, putting a science base the size of a soccer pitch into space must cost a lot but why does it cost the billions upon billions it supposably costs? surely a few thousand steal beams and few hundred computer chips etc. doesn't cost 100's of billions.
The same goes for maglev. If this is the case, the main problem needing to be overcome is not a need for new/cheaper technology but a need to cut out the waist.
Anyone actually know why maglev (and the ISS for that matter) costs so much?
All sources of power generation have enviromental impact, it is quite arguable that alternative power sources such as hydro-electricity and geo-thermal (which in most cases isn't actually renewable) are both more enviromentally damaging.
I suppose if we all went back to living in caves and started only eating organicly grown slime we wouldn't need power at all!
I agree, people get irrationally scared about the prospect of nuclear powered rockets just like they get irrationally scared of nuclear power in general.
I always find it funny how every year hundreds of people die in coal mining and other conventional power production incidents yet apart from maybe a small paragraph midway through national newspapers for the more major incidents (i.e. when dozens die at once), no-one hears a thing about it.
Yet a single death or birth defect attributed to a nuclear power plant is major news and can lead to plant shutdown.
Tens of thousands more people have died due to coal power (without even counting the possible millions of deaths due to world-wide coal pollution: increased asthma, fog etc.) compared to nuclear power, yet ask anyone on the street and they will nearly all ofcourse say coal power is much safer!
The deaths due to pollution caused by widespread conventional rocket use would be many, many times more then the deaths caused by the extremely remote chance of a launch accident.
Qube is guide for net friendly home appliances
on
Sun Opens Cobalt Code
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
I use to work at a small company (about 6 full staff) which used an old Qube 2 box for distributing email around the office. Although restrictve and sometimes basic customisation required diving into the horrible world of 70's style telnet-based command line editing. Despite this, I thought the web-based administration system used was amazing.
No mucking about, simply point web-browser at the Qube, type in user-name and password and then a few simple web-pages allowed common adiministration tasks to be performed by the most unskilled of 16 year old work experience kids.
I always thought this provided the ideal interface for computer/network-controlled home appliances. Personally I'd find it really useful to log into my house from work and make sure lights are switched off (or switched on before I arrive home), pre-heat oven, turn hot water on etc.
Surely such control is already technoloically viable using simply a qube style interface, an always-on home internet connection and a computer linked into lighting/kitchen systems (for examples above).
Does anyone know of any projects/progress for this sort of thing?
"China still jails their citizens for the slightest criticism of government policy"
So does America, its just that they call them anti-capatalists or terrorists first, then jail them, which makes it ok.
"regularly suppresses religious freedom by putting leaders of congregations in jail"
America does this also, they just call them cultists (although they arrest several thousand each year).
"requires (REQUIRES!!) abortions in many, many situations."
In America, abortion is illegal (ILLEGAL!!) in many, many situations. Many people around the world consider this just as bad.
Sounds like the typical American properganda to me, watch out everyone, china are about to try take over the world! (statement ignores the agressor in the major wars of last few years).
why should a good suggestion be considered a troll?
If there is one thing I also would like to see come out of htis also it would be everyone using one standardised media distrobution format.
I Suppose the poster should have known Slashdot isnt the place to place constructive comments though
Slashdot Mirror
You don't need hi-tech equipment for that!
;-)
If you live in a tourist area, its simply a matter of comparing size. If you see a big ass, chances are its going to be an American tourist.
Surely terrorism is a long way down the list of risks when travelling abroad. 1000's of American holiday-makers are killed each year in holiday car crashes, how many are killed in road side bombs?
Virtually none (discounting Iraq - not that its big on tourism at the moment anyway).
Local tourist sales people will love it. Imagine how good it would be for them if they could get hold a machine that could locate nearby Americna tourists alowing them to approach them first before the hundreds of other "you want cheap watch?" sellers.
Surely if a legitimate website recieved a letter threatening leagal action when it shouldn't have then the system IS flawed regardless of whether it was a human or machine error.
Besides ultimatly all errors are human errors (if you blame machine errors on the programmer/engineer).
I know what you mean.
...preferably one which doesn't involve cryptic console commands?
Some sort of Red Carpet system would be good.
I tried to install it earlier but got stuck, haven't got time to sort out whatever stupid small thing is stopping it.
I'm no Linux newbie (obviously not an expert either) but reguarly have problems trying to install such large update software.
Is there an automated system for such updates/installs for dumb people like myself
I hate how official statements like this, especially ones concerning civil liberties, always refer primarily to the anti-terrorist factors.
Everyone knows the terrorists don't use phones.
I bet that anti-terrorism is the reason behind the wiretap in only a tiny, miniscule number of cases and yet it is touted in a way implying it is one of the main reasons and therefor everyone should be happy about it as everyone needs to remeber to be scared of the terrorists.
They should just admitt that the vast majority of the time the wiretaps will be used to combat fraud and people trying to take sickies from work.
Probably been already mentioned.
But when did Java actually 'go away' for it to "return". Sure, it doesn't have its new cutting-edge, wonder kid programming language status of a few years ago.
From what I've seen working for a couple of big companies is that Java usage has been steadily increasing, with Java now being at its most used ever (as one would expect if new software built on it gets steadily released).
Also, nearly all universities I know of now teach IT students Java as default.
Not sure what that means about its life, but considering most these companies now using Java apps were previously (just before switching to Java) using Fortran and C programs from the 1980's, I don't think it is going away soon.
Attracting woman into Computer Science (CS) isn't something which can be done by taking a 20 year old female and saying "have a job in CS". At the moment, such drives seek to undo the 20 years of the female being told both directly and (almost constant) indirectly that industries like CS and similar technical subjects aren't for them and that they should look more at people-focused industries (which just happen to be the lower paid industries like the service industry etc.).
This aptitude is enforced right from early childhood with the increased cuddling of baby girls and the buying of barbie dolls right through to all the ads telling them to spend their teenage allowance on cosmetics and other items in preperation for their 'need' to find a husband and start a family in their early 20's.
Yet most female recruitment drives seem to think they can undo this lifetime of enforcing a aptitude of "technical stuff isn't for girls" in a few weeks or less.
Ofcourse its not going to work, not that I can think of any method that actually would work. Would need a smart person.
The rewards would be large however, I have that if such attitudes were gotten rid of, the benefit to the economy would be the single biggest positive effect ever noticed, millions of extra workers and all.
In most places, this sounds like the view the courts take (with an exception created if the tool is deemed only/primarily useful for unlawful purposes).
...and just like usual (DMCA, Patriot, Software Patents, etc.) we will be told by our politians how this is for our own benefit (and not just for the benefit of the rich companies funding their campaigns).
Most state attornies would therefor recongnize this. I think this stinks of heavy lobbying and pressurizing from media companies/organisations to the point where state attornies have basically conceeded "Their not doing anything wrong but we'll send them some warning letters out if you'll shut up for a minute"
I just wonder how long it is till the same heavy lobbying leads to new laws stating that tools which could concievably (rather than primarily) be used to breach copyright are illegal.
Don't you just love modern corporate run democracy!
Microsoft ought to be pleased, they are no longer the most internationally renowned 'evil' company in the IT industry.
surely though the decrease in driving ability due to use of a hands-free kit would be pretty much the same as say talking to a passanger, which itself is meant to be less dangerous than driving even slightly tired, driving while under anxiousness or stress is meant to also be dangerous at times.
My point is that many factors contribute to decreasing driver ability, none however (apart from drink-driving, which is obviously also banned) are nearly as bad having to hold a phone to your ear while talking/listening to it.
You make a good point about traffic jams though, I guess however it would be hard to police, and slow-moving, packed-in jams are meant to be quite dangerous in terms of small bumps etc.
"Hasn't really worked though"
I disagree, the law has been in place here in the UK for about 9 months or so now and wheras A year ago it was quite common-place to see drivers using mobiles and often (although not always ofcourse) I would notice a large decrease in the driver's ability to control the car (persuming they won't all just really bad drivers).
Also, you say smoking a cigarette is more dangerous, which it may or may not be, but I remember regularly seeing people doing both!
Also in the UK most people still buy stupid manual cars for some reason and then every 100 metres when they have to change gear, one hand needs to operate the gearstick, one hand is holding the phone... whats going on with the steering wheel?
Sure, there was a bit of confusion over what type of hands-free kits were legal but it was a bit silly really as we were all bombarded with informatry ads in the month or so leading up to the ban. All that really occured in my opinion was a bit of your usual media scare-mongering.
I think the ban has been a success as there are a lot less people swerving about wildly on the road due to them making a call and basic hands-free kits are very cheap (and are starting to be inbuilt in most new cars).
If you think about it, anything can be called a "terrorist act".
...ofcourse they won't living in a time where we all ought to be scared for are very lives due to the intense, widespread terrorist activity presently occuring in the USA.
Shoplifting, for example: steal a can of coke, the state (as in the government and the governing collective) loose x cents taxation. Hence, you have just committed an attack against the state and can be immediatly sent for an indefinate stay at a small jail in Cuba during which friends and relatives may or may not be told about your detention.
Hitler and Stalin would both of envied being able to do such legally.
This is quite an amazing, almost unbelievable event.
Whats next, the USA joining the rest of the world and switching to metric?
It is intereasting how the main (and quite plausable) reason used by the USA authorities against going metric is due to the huge cost/effort which would be involved doing all the convertions. Yet, I would of thought changing the common shopkeepers barcoding system would be one of the few convertions which would require een more cost/effort.
I wonder as to why they've agreed to change one system and not the other?
I think the title to this article: "The Future of Symbian" is a bit misleading, seeing just the headline I was under the impression that Symbian were at that stage (you know, the one Sun's at) where the future of the company is at stake (or maybe on a stake in Sun's case?). Anyway, doesn't really indicate that the article is regarding Symbian starting a program certification uh... program.
A fe days ago I visited a local sewerage treatment site and was impressed by the way that the filtered out 'sludge' (mainly biomass) was then pumped into large tanks which were heated to around 40 degrees celcius to help it breakdown.
What was impressive, I thought, was the way it was the methane omitted by this sludge which was being burnt to heat the sludge itself (with a little spare gas which was used to heat a couple of buildings).
Not to mention contributing a healthy boatload to George Bush's campaign funds.
I've always thought it odd how Microsoft were on the verge of being broken up 4 years ago, then they gave money to the soon-to-be president's electoral campaign. He then won and soon after it was decided rather than be broken up Microsoft actually only needed a slap on the wrist.
I would rather see a large base/settlement built on the moon and then a later trip launched to mars rather than simply a trip to mars.
If we look at the apollo missions, although they were cool in that they went to a heavenly body and all, the actual contribution to science and the benefits to us these days of those missions was little for the money spent.
I think a mission to mars would be similar in that although there is prestige in getting there, what would be the major benefit to us earthlings?
A permanently inhabited base on the moon however would be the first step to unlocking the many benefits it can provide to mankind.
If they made it so I could go play superman-golf on the moon it would be even better!
More costs due to Geroge Bush's big "terrorism" propaganda ploy.
As a European its funny to see how American's totally believe the rubbish that they are all in imminent danger of a terrorist attack after having one incident almost 3 years ago.
The amount of deaths due to this incident were totally insignificant compared to say American gun-deaths that have occured since, yet while gun laws remain unchanged, every area of American has undergone change to take into account a threat which has so far actually affected 0.000018% of Americans.
Maglev's are cool.
and sure everything that seems cool has to be a bit pricey. But, like so many other cool civil engineering/construction type projects I don't understand why they are soo, soo expensive.
Take the International Space Station, sure, putting a science base the size of a soccer pitch into space must cost a lot but why does it cost the billions upon billions it supposably costs? surely a few thousand steal beams and few hundred computer chips etc. doesn't cost 100's of billions.
The same goes for maglev. If this is the case, the main problem needing to be overcome is not a need for new/cheaper technology but a need to cut out the waist.
Anyone actually know why maglev (and the ISS for that matter) costs so much?
All sources of power generation have enviromental impact, it is quite arguable that alternative power sources such as hydro-electricity and geo-thermal (which in most cases isn't actually renewable) are both more enviromentally damaging.
I suppose if we all went back to living in caves and started only eating organicly grown slime we wouldn't need power at all!
I agree, people get irrationally scared about the prospect of nuclear powered rockets just like they get irrationally scared of nuclear power in general.
I always find it funny how every year hundreds of people die in coal mining and other conventional power production incidents yet apart from maybe a small paragraph midway through national newspapers for the more major incidents (i.e. when dozens die at once), no-one hears a thing about it.
Yet a single death or birth defect attributed to a nuclear power plant is major news and can lead to plant shutdown.
Tens of thousands more people have died due to coal power (without even counting the possible millions of deaths due to world-wide coal pollution: increased asthma, fog etc.) compared to nuclear power, yet ask anyone on the street and they will nearly all ofcourse say coal power is much safer!
The deaths due to pollution caused by widespread conventional rocket use would be many, many times more then the deaths caused by the extremely remote chance of a launch accident.
I use to work at a small company (about 6 full staff) which used an old Qube 2 box for distributing email around the office. Although restrictve and sometimes basic customisation required diving into the horrible world of 70's style telnet-based command line editing. Despite this, I thought the web-based administration system used was amazing.
No mucking about, simply point web-browser at the Qube, type in user-name and password and then a few simple web-pages allowed common adiministration tasks to be performed by the most unskilled of 16 year old work experience kids.
I always thought this provided the ideal interface for computer/network-controlled home appliances. Personally I'd find it really useful to log into my house from work and make sure lights are switched off (or switched on before I arrive home), pre-heat oven, turn hot water on etc.
Surely such control is already technoloically viable using simply a qube style interface, an always-on home internet connection and a computer linked into lighting/kitchen systems (for examples above).
Does anyone know of any projects/progress for this sort of thing?
So does America, its just that they call them anti-capatalists or terrorists first, then jail them, which makes it ok.
"regularly suppresses religious freedom by putting leaders of congregations in jail"
America does this also, they just call them cultists (although they arrest several thousand each year).
"requires (REQUIRES!!) abortions in many, many situations."
In America, abortion is illegal (ILLEGAL!!) in many, many situations. Many people around the world consider this just as bad.
Sounds like the typical American properganda to me, watch out everyone, china are about to try take over the world! (statement ignores the agressor in the major wars of last few years).
why should a good suggestion be considered a troll? If there is one thing I also would like to see come out of htis also it would be everyone using one standardised media distrobution format. I Suppose the poster should have known Slashdot isnt the place to place constructive comments though