Here's analysis of AACS that was blogged last December.
One interesting point mentioned is that there is no requirement to wait for keys to get compromized before revocation begins. They can revoke keys whenever they want, publicly claim it was due to hackers, and stimulate new equipment sales any time they want.
Any organization that want to "manage" their network infrastructure will make policy decisions about what is and isn't an acceptable use.
Bandwidth costs money, period, and you have to prioritize if you have a fixed budget. For Universities, the goals are research and education. That's what the network is there for. Are you learning anything by using Skype? No. Is it advancing research? No.
Yes, and if you live in Amerika as I do, then you are guilty of publishing information that describes how to bypass copy-protection measures. I believe that is also prohibited.
Many years ago, when the GNU/Linux crusade began, I contacted the FSF and told them that I had installed the GNU toolset on a Solaris system.
I then asked them if they thought I should be referring to them as GNU/Solaris systems.
They said "yes".
I was hoping to point out the absurdity of diluting Sun's trademarked Solaris just because of the presence of some third-party software, but they didn't recognize that issue at all.
Why does GNU get first billing in GNU/Linux anyway? The GNU Project does not contribute to the Linux kernel, nor do they distribute a Linux product (a la RedHat Linux).
Are we going to be as happy with this type of trademark dilution when Microsoft decides to sell MS-Linux? There's nothing to prevent it. Linus has already made it a practice of NOT defending the trademark... That's how we got GNU/Linux in the first place.
Some of the things that have helped me deal with this:
Deborah Tannen: "You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation"
Second thing is to realize that there are other interesting things in the world than JUST what you're interested in... And since you (eventually) need to talk to other people anyway, why not get them to talk about what they're interested in and find some aspect in it you can appreciate.
It's hard to get people to shut up about things they're interested in, so (1) it helps make you a good listener, and (2) helps you to recognise the need to shut up in your own life.
You need to read about things other than what you like, just so you can talk intelligently about topics others are interested in.
I spent 9 solid months in grad school learning how to do these things because I had no life, no friends outside my specialization, and no dating skills whatsoever.
It may start out as an intellectual exercise, but it gets internalized eventually and becomes easier.
Yes, but I find this statement to be more interesting...
The will help us a lot and if we execute we could exit and Unix componients we have build potentially back to Microsoft or MCS.
Doesn't this look like SCO would be interested in selling it's Unix properties to Microsoft if they're actually successful in solidifying their position?
Instead of building a giant kluge, why didn't they buy a few Quantum DX-30s? Each one only takes up 4U, holds 20 drives, and the internal software emulates a tape library so it easily integrates with enterprise backup software from Legato or Veritas. If your environment requires off-site storage, you could attach a tape library to clone the backups and then store the tapes off-site.
I don't think the intent is to ban firewalls and NAT, although the current versions would outlaw some features.
The real target of the "concealment" provisions would appear to be anonymous re-mailers and FreeNet. I think MPAA/RIAA want to outlaw FreeNet because it is an anonymized P2P service. The fact that these laws would ban ALL types of anonymous (on-line) speech is just an extra bonus to all those cloak-n-dagger types who find our civil liberties sooo inconvenient.
The Texas version of this bill has its' own definition of a "communications service" that would make every home pc with a jabber server a "communications service provider". The FCC definition of a "communications service" is completely irrelevant.
Yes, but RIAA isn't offering me a communications service. You'd only be defrauding or harming RIAA if you subscribed to one of their services and were redistributing their content on Kazaa/Gnutella/Freenet...
If you think we don't need an anonymous publishing methods then, clearly, you haven't tried driving across Texas with a "I support gun control and gay rights" bumper sticker on your car.
Publicly advocating unpopular ideas, even if you're right, can get you killed.
> Perhaps it is because they aren't worried
> about hurting students self esteem?
That's probably because we're geeks and preserving our self-esteem only leaves us with unrealistic expectations for the workplace. After all, we're going to be managed by PHBs and be made to feel worthless anyway, so why not start in college?
The theory referred to in the earlier message probably refers to the Anhydride Theory of C. Warren Hunt
(google link).
His theory is that there are subterranian bacteria that get their energy by stripping hydrogen off of methane (which is common in the earth's interior). The resulting anhydride is a bacterial waste product that eventually becomes oil.
If this theory is valid, then that means all of our oil reserves are probably a renewable resource.
I'm sorry, I have a lot of respect for Stallman, but not on this. Any OS that has slow/buggy serial comm and has problems with 2+GB partitions is just soooooo 1980s'. It's going to be years before this OS is relevant to anything anyone's trying to do, and it's just going to be re-inventing Unix all over again. All those man-hours and creativity would be better spent creating something like a worthy successor to BeOS. Besides, who's ever going to want to admit to running an operating system that rhymes with "Hurl".
The same techniques used to compromise our civil liberties after 9/11 will be used to make non-DRM equipment illegal. All the players (Microsoft, Intel, AMD, Hollywood, RIAA, FCC, etc) will agree on how they want to **** us. They'll mandate it in the EULA for all new products and updates. And then to lock us firmly in the shackles they'll either wait for (or create) a 9/11 type e-mergency that'll convince our lawmakers to pass laws mandating DRM everywhere.
These tribulations will last for about seven years, which is about how long it'll take for all our old computers to break, and then Jesus will return and take all us Linux geeks to Heaven... Leaving behind everyone else in a Micro$oft-based License-6.0/DRM hell, wailing and gnashing their teeth.
We roll our own because our OS licensing costs are negligible, and because we have had severe problems getting Dell to provide the level of service we need. We have enough expertise in-house that we can fix the problem in less time than we would spend on the phone trying to convince Dell to fix it...
Besides, once you change a Dell machine away from their factory install configuration you'll have one hell of a time trying to get good help out of the monkeys they hire to man the phones.
Slashdot Mirror
Here's analysis of AACS that was blogged last December. One interesting point mentioned is that there is no requirement to wait for keys to get compromized before revocation begins. They can revoke keys whenever they want, publicly claim it was due to hackers, and stimulate new equipment sales any time they want.
Any organization that want to "manage" their network infrastructure will make policy decisions about what is and isn't an acceptable use.
Bandwidth costs money, period, and you have to prioritize if you have a fixed budget. For Universities, the goals are research and education. That's what the network is there for. Are you learning anything by using Skype? No. Is it advancing research? No.
It's not YOUR network, get over it.
Usability and Security may be inversely related, but the constant of proportionality is arbitrary.
U * S = W
I usually call that constant W, because it is possible to make a system that is secure AND useable... It's just that it takes a lot of Work.
Microsoft has been historically insecure because it's a highly useable system produced with the minimum necessary effort.
Yes, and if you live in Amerika as I do, then you are guilty of publishing information that describes how to bypass copy-protection measures. I believe that is also prohibited.
Many years ago, when the GNU/Linux crusade began, I contacted the FSF and told them that I had installed the GNU toolset on a Solaris system.
I then asked them if they thought I should be referring to them as GNU/Solaris systems.
They said "yes".
I was hoping to point out the absurdity of diluting Sun's trademarked Solaris just because of the presence of some third-party software, but they didn't recognize that issue at all.
Why does GNU get first billing in GNU/Linux anyway? The GNU Project does not contribute to the Linux kernel, nor do they distribute a Linux product (a la RedHat Linux).
Are we going to be as happy with this type of trademark dilution when Microsoft decides to sell MS-Linux? There's nothing to prevent it. Linus has already made it a practice of NOT defending the trademark... That's how we got GNU/Linux in the first place.
Some of the things that have helped me deal with this:
Deborah Tannen: "You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation"
Second thing is to realize that there are other interesting things in the world than JUST what you're interested in... And since you (eventually) need to talk to other people anyway, why not get them to talk about what they're interested in and find some aspect in it you can appreciate.
It's hard to get people to shut up about things they're interested in, so (1) it helps make you a good listener, and (2) helps you to recognise the need to shut up in your own life.
You need to read about things other than what you like, just so you can talk intelligently about topics others are interested in.
I spent 9 solid months in grad school learning how to do these things because I had no life, no friends outside my specialization, and no dating skills whatsoever.
It may start out as an intellectual exercise, but it gets internalized eventually and becomes easier.
- The will help us a lot and if we execute we could exit and Unix componients we have build potentially back to Microsoft or MCS.
Doesn't this look like SCO would be interested in selling it's Unix properties to Microsoft if they're actually successful in solidifying their position?Become a licensed electrician. You'll make more money. Your knowledge won't be worthless in 5 years. You'll be able to get union protection.
And they can't outsource your job to India.
As of 4:40pm CST, two of Google's top 10 search results for "litigious bastards" returned something related to SCO...
Keep up the good work, guys.
I looked at the web page for Pivotal and found that one of the high-ranking members is Rich Sonntag in Utah.
What are the chances that this Sonntag isn't related to Chris Sonntag of SCO?
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me...
-me
Noone has talked about what happens to one of these things if it gets hit with a surface-to-air missile
Well, at least Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf has a job now...
Teraflops per dollar is important, let's not forget that.
BSA Audit
Instead of building a giant kluge, why didn't they buy a few Quantum DX-30s? Each one only takes up 4U, holds 20 drives, and the internal software emulates a tape library so it easily integrates with enterprise backup software from Legato or Veritas. If your environment requires off-site storage, you could attach a tape library to clone the backups and then store the tapes off-site.
I don't think the intent is to ban firewalls and NAT, although the current versions would outlaw some features. The real target of the "concealment" provisions would appear to be anonymous re-mailers and FreeNet. I think MPAA/RIAA want to outlaw FreeNet because it is an anonymized P2P service. The fact that these laws would ban ALL types of anonymous (on-line) speech is just an extra bonus to all those cloak-n-dagger types who find our civil liberties sooo inconvenient.
The Texas version of this bill has its' own definition of a "communications service" that would make every home pc with a jabber server a "communications service provider". The FCC definition of a "communications service" is completely irrelevant.
Yes, but RIAA isn't offering me a communications service. You'd only be defrauding or harming RIAA if you subscribed to one of their services and were redistributing their content on Kazaa/Gnutella/Freenet...
If you think we don't need an anonymous publishing methods then, clearly, you haven't tried driving across Texas with a "I support gun control and gay rights" bumper sticker on your car. Publicly advocating unpopular ideas, even if you're right, can get you killed.
You can't avoid offensive products when there is an effective monopoly.
> Perhaps it is because they aren't worried > about hurting students self esteem? That's probably because we're geeks and preserving our self-esteem only leaves us with unrealistic expectations for the workplace. After all, we're going to be managed by PHBs and be made to feel worthless anyway, so why not start in college?
The theory referred to in the earlier message probably refers to the Anhydride Theory of C. Warren Hunt (google link). His theory is that there are subterranian bacteria that get their energy by stripping hydrogen off of methane (which is common in the earth's interior). The resulting anhydride is a bacterial waste product that eventually becomes oil. If this theory is valid, then that means all of our oil reserves are probably a renewable resource.
I'm sorry, I have a lot of respect for Stallman, but not on this. Any OS that has slow/buggy serial comm and has problems with 2+GB partitions is just soooooo 1980s'. It's going to be years before this OS is relevant to anything anyone's trying to do, and it's just going to be re-inventing Unix all over again. All those man-hours and creativity would be better spent creating something like a worthy successor to BeOS. Besides, who's ever going to want to admit to running an operating system that rhymes with "Hurl".
These tribulations will last for about seven years, which is about how long it'll take for all our old computers to break, and then Jesus will return and take all us Linux geeks to Heaven... Leaving behind everyone else in a Micro$oft-based License-6.0/DRM hell, wailing and gnashing their teeth.
We roll our own because our OS licensing costs are negligible, and because we have had severe problems getting Dell to provide the level of service we need. We have enough expertise in-house that we can fix the problem in less time than we would spend on the phone trying to convince Dell to fix it... Besides, once you change a Dell machine away from their factory install configuration you'll have one hell of a time trying to get good help out of the monkeys they hire to man the phones.