About three years ago I decided to give linux a spin. I had used a command-based OS (DOS) extensively on my first computer, and I was somewhat accustomed to Unix from my account at college.
At the time I had a custom (shop built) system with a lot of wierd hardware. Very few of my components were detected. It took me a week to get my monitor working in X Windows, since its configurator crashed everytime I tried to change settings, leaving me to alter the file by hand. Once I finally got my monitor working, I concentrated on the modem. Although I never got it working, but I did manage to destroy my monitor's functionality in the process. After about 2-3 months I gave up, concluding that Linux was not ready for prime time (and certainly not ready for my hardware).
So I figured they needed time. I've got a newer system now, and I was much more careful about getting standard hardware. I waited for mozilla and openoffice.org to approach 1.0, and finally put linux on a dual boot a few months ago. I even paid for a copy of lycoris (because I like what they're doing) and was generally pleased with it. My install was pretty easy; my DSL modem and printer worked.
I used it for a few weeks, but was ultimately unhappy with it. I couldn't install KDE 3.0 or Evolution and couldn't figure out how to get my CD burner to work. So I decided that even though I like this distribution, I needed something more flexible.
So I put on Red Hat 7.3. The install seemed to go smoothly, but it barely autodetected anything. My netgear fa-311 doesn't work, instead it sends the message "link up" every three seconds for reasons I cannot fathom. (I'm connecting through a DHCP server). Deja-google can't help me with this problem. My windows drive doesn't mount automatically (without text editing of cfg files - ugh), I can't browse my roommate's files via the network, my modem won't dial, and I still can't burn a CD in it. In short, I'm not happy with it.
I'll admit I haven't invested more than a few hours into configuring Red Hat, but that's the whole point. It doesn't matter how many spiffy features you put into the OS if I can't get it working easily. Quite honestly, I've got better things to do than mess around with config files. I spend 8 hours a day at work on a computer, and the last thing I want to do when I get home is jump through hoops so that I can check my e-mail.
Come to think of it, I haven't even booted into linux in about two weeks because I just haven't been in the mood to deal with this kind of crap. I was planning to try another distribution, but I'm not sure I have the energy or the patience.
Yes I remember how long it took windows to get plug-n-play right, but you guys have got to realize that easy installation is key. It looks like I'll still be waiting to convert my desktop (but still using mozilla and openoffice, which are incredible programs).
It sounds like these guys have a severe short-term cashflow problem, rather than a longterm profitability problem... otherwise they could have asked staff to take the cut over the next six months, or take 2 weeks unpaiod vacation some time over the year, etc.
Or it could mean that they are incapable of long-term financial planning and are forced to rely on short-sighted, stopgap measures just to pay bills and keep their stock price up.
I've never heard of this company, but when I hear that a company is screwing top employees (not execs) with minimal notice, I'm not immediately imbued with confidence in their future performance. How many of their skilled employees are going to stick around when their paychecks are undependable? And how about the deadweight slackers that can't find other jobs?
Leave this sinking ship, leave and don't look back. - Nofx
Even if the FBI physically seized the vault, legally or otherwise, it's supposed to be just about impossible for the cops to crack. Iliev's program runs on an IBM 4758 cryptographic coprocessor, designed to destroy itself if it detects an intrusion attempt. (emphasis added)
I'm curious about this passage from the article. Would the ISP have a backup copy or does it completely eradicate the information? Would it destroy all the Carnivore data at an ISP or just the files that a "hacker" was trying to access?
And finally, if the FBI got a warrant(?) to request the e-mails from a certain person, couldn't that person engineer a "hack" attempt on his own files, thus triggering their destruction before the FBI could access them?
Off-topic, billboard defacing is quite a sport here. You may have seen a March of Dimes billboard feature Daisy Fuentes and the tagline, "Daisy takes folic acid. Do you?" The "folic" has been blacked out on many of these:)
In New York, they don't have to do that kind of thing. The billboards are already like that.
The Verichip is nothing more than a passive microchip that is implanted in the subject. This technology has been used since 1985 to track livestock and is currently being marketed to the upscale, urban pet markets. Strays are often routinely chipped, in order to see how often they end up in the pound. If they're in-and-out, then well, they're put down.
The reason that the FDA determined that the Verichip is not a medical device is because it really isn't. It is rather small and is implanted through a large syringe. It leaves a small scar, not horrible but noticable. The chips are coated with a special protein to avoid rejection; the host's cells assume that it is native organic material. (Interestingly, sometimes this is ineffective and the chip will "migrate" throughout the host's body)
As speculated in the thread, the only information a particular chip contains is a single, unique number. Anytime the chip's circuit is activated by a scanner, it will reply with this number. It is not encrypted in any form at this point. It should be noted, however, that now that these chips are approved, other, more secure chips could be brought to market. Think of this ruling as a "foot in the door".
The company that makes the Verichip already sells GPS tracking chips that are not implantable (used in bracelets, watches, etc.). It is reasonable to assume that the Verichip 2.0 will contain this functionality. They are currently marketing this technology as a "cure" for corporate kidnappings in South America, which are much more common than you might imagine.
The company swears (at this point) that they will not sell the chips to anyone who makes them mandatory, including corporations, prisons, and governments.
This technology is upon us. It is important to understand it and make strides to avoid its abuse.
vector based filtering
on
Google Juice
·
· Score: 5, Informative
In addition to other spam prevention methods, google uses complex matrix/vector filtering to ignore link circles. Basically, if (say) the same 100 different sites link to the same set of 20 other sites, and no one else links to them, Google will map them out and realize that they are all working in a concerted effort.
That way if a spammer sets up 100 ostensibly independent sites and then links them all to his e-commerce sites, google will realize what he is doing and penalize his rankings for it. The only way that a spammer can 'bomb' google is if he gets a large array of other sites (for instance weblogs) that have significant traffic and link to other, different sites, as well as the ones that the spammer is trying to promote.
The long-and-short of it is that a group of bloggers could bomb google with a large effort, but the average spammer would have to set up an incredibly complex web of interwoven pages that garner significant traffic to fool google. Even if large groups of spammers formed a cabal to promote their varied interests, it would likely be discovered by humans working at google.
So, I'd put away that violin.
Come on, taking on the role of a mentally-retarded person has been the cheesy cliche thing to do for years in Hollywood.
I think that Sam I Am got the nod because it took the huge risk of casting an actually mentally retarded person to play the roll of Sam.
Slashdot Mirror
Wow. Weblogs being used to reduce the amount of drivel on the internet? This is a brave new world, indeed.
Here's a partial list of my priorities when it comes to having a cellphone:
.
.
.
1) Geographic range
2) Sound quality
3) Dropped calls
75) Playing tetris
76) Browsing the web
77) Checking e-mail
It's a phone, for God's sake.
No, everything seems to be fine over here in Atlanta. I've already downloaded 600,000 feature length films today and it's not even 5:00 yet.
About three years ago I decided to give linux a spin. I had used a command-based OS (DOS) extensively on my first computer, and I was somewhat accustomed to Unix from my account at college.
At the time I had a custom (shop built) system with a lot of wierd hardware. Very few of my components were detected. It took me a week to get my monitor working in X Windows, since its configurator crashed everytime I tried to change settings, leaving me to alter the file by hand. Once I finally got my monitor working, I concentrated on the modem. Although I never got it working, but I did manage to destroy my monitor's functionality in the process. After about 2-3 months I gave up, concluding that Linux was not ready for prime time (and certainly not ready for my hardware).
So I figured they needed time. I've got a newer system now, and I was much more careful about getting standard hardware. I waited for mozilla and openoffice.org to approach 1.0, and finally put linux on a dual boot a few months ago. I even paid for a copy of lycoris (because I like what they're doing) and was generally pleased with it. My install was pretty easy; my DSL modem and printer worked.
I used it for a few weeks, but was ultimately unhappy with it. I couldn't install KDE 3.0 or Evolution and couldn't figure out how to get my CD burner to work. So I decided that even though I like this distribution, I needed something more flexible.
So I put on Red Hat 7.3. The install seemed to go smoothly, but it barely autodetected anything. My netgear fa-311 doesn't work, instead it sends the message "link up" every three seconds for reasons I cannot fathom. (I'm connecting through a DHCP server). Deja-google can't help me with this problem. My windows drive doesn't mount automatically (without text editing of cfg files - ugh), I can't browse my roommate's files via the network, my modem won't dial, and I still can't burn a CD in it. In short, I'm not happy with it.
I'll admit I haven't invested more than a few hours into configuring Red Hat, but that's the whole point. It doesn't matter how many spiffy features you put into the OS if I can't get it working easily. Quite honestly, I've got better things to do than mess around with config files. I spend 8 hours a day at work on a computer, and the last thing I want to do when I get home is jump through hoops so that I can check my e-mail.
Come to think of it, I haven't even booted into linux in about two weeks because I just haven't been in the mood to deal with this kind of crap. I was planning to try another distribution, but I'm not sure I have the energy or the patience.
Yes I remember how long it took windows to get plug-n-play right, but you guys have got to realize that easy installation is key. It looks like I'll still be waiting to convert my desktop (but still using mozilla and openoffice, which are incredible programs).
Who cares about life saving rats? Don't you guys realize that someone invented robots that can open beer?
Sheesh, where are your priorities?
It sounds like these guys have a severe short-term cashflow problem, rather than a longterm profitability problem... otherwise they could have asked staff to take the cut over the next six months, or take 2 weeks unpaiod vacation some time over the year, etc.
Or it could mean that they are incapable of long-term financial planning and are forced to rely on short-sighted, stopgap measures just to pay bills and keep their stock price up.
I've never heard of this company, but when I hear that a company is screwing top employees (not execs) with minimal notice, I'm not immediately imbued with confidence in their future performance. How many of their skilled employees are going to stick around when their paychecks are undependable? And how about the deadweight slackers that can't find other jobs?
Leave this sinking ship, leave and don't look back. - NofxEven if the FBI physically seized the vault, legally or otherwise, it's supposed to be just about impossible for the cops to crack. Iliev's program runs on an IBM 4758 cryptographic coprocessor, designed to destroy itself if it detects an intrusion attempt. (emphasis added)
I'm curious about this passage from the article. Would the ISP have a backup copy or does it completely eradicate the information? Would it destroy all the Carnivore data at an ISP or just the files that a "hacker" was trying to access?
And finally, if the FBI got a warrant(?) to request the e-mails from a certain person, couldn't that person engineer a "hack" attempt on his own files, thus triggering their destruction before the FBI could access them?
In New York, they don't have to do that kind of thing. The billboards are already like that.
Do you really think people are going to listen to a cow? I mean, they can't even spell.
The Verichip is nothing more than a passive microchip that is implanted in the subject. This technology has been used since 1985 to track livestock and is currently being marketed to the upscale, urban pet markets. Strays are often routinely chipped, in order to see how often they end up in the pound. If they're in-and-out, then well, they're put down.
The reason that the FDA determined that the Verichip is not a medical device is because it really isn't. It is rather small and is implanted through a large syringe. It leaves a small scar, not horrible but noticable. The chips are coated with a special protein to avoid rejection; the host's cells assume that it is native organic material. (Interestingly, sometimes this is ineffective and the chip will "migrate" throughout the host's body)
As speculated in the thread, the only information a particular chip contains is a single, unique number. Anytime the chip's circuit is activated by a scanner, it will reply with this number. It is not encrypted in any form at this point. It should be noted, however, that now that these chips are approved, other, more secure chips could be brought to market. Think of this ruling as a "foot in the door".
The company that makes the Verichip already sells GPS tracking chips that are not implantable (used in bracelets, watches, etc.). It is reasonable to assume that the Verichip 2.0 will contain this functionality. They are currently marketing this technology as a "cure" for corporate kidnappings in South America, which are much more common than you might imagine.
The company swears (at this point) that they will not sell the chips to anyone who makes them mandatory, including corporations, prisons, and governments.
This technology is upon us. It is important to understand it and make strides to avoid its abuse.
In addition to other spam prevention methods, google uses complex matrix/vector filtering to ignore link circles. Basically, if (say) the same 100 different sites link to the same set of 20 other sites, and no one else links to them, Google will map them out and realize that they are all working in a concerted effort. That way if a spammer sets up 100 ostensibly independent sites and then links them all to his e-commerce sites, google will realize what he is doing and penalize his rankings for it. The only way that a spammer can 'bomb' google is if he gets a large array of other sites (for instance weblogs) that have significant traffic and link to other, different sites, as well as the ones that the spammer is trying to promote. The long-and-short of it is that a group of bloggers could bomb google with a large effort, but the average spammer would have to set up an incredibly complex web of interwoven pages that garner significant traffic to fool google. Even if large groups of spammers formed a cabal to promote their varied interests, it would likely be discovered by humans working at google. So, I'd put away that violin.
Come on, taking on the role of a mentally-retarded person has been the cheesy cliche thing to do for years in Hollywood. I think that Sam I Am got the nod because it took the huge risk of casting an actually mentally retarded person to play the roll of Sam.