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User: Futurepower(R)

Futurepower(R)'s activity in the archive.

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  1. Any amount for war, little for relationships. on Mysterious 'Forcefield' Tested on US Tanks · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    This is my impression of the U.S. government at this time: Any amount of money for war, little for making relationships.

    However, violence does not create security. Relationships do.

    Over a period of decades, the U.S. government paid to kill Arabs and interfere with their politics. The U.S. government also paid to train Arabs in terrorism to fight in Afghanistan. When the U.S. left, many of those turned to other violence, such as attacking Americans.

    Is it surprising that a small percentage of Arabs eventually decided to react to violence with more violence? Is it surprising that Arabs don't like being killed?

    Now, those in the U.S. who wanted violence have what they want. They can claim that there is a threat, and can make billions in largely hidden contracts for weapons and contracts for war.

    The U.S. government is more corrupt now than ever before. Here are some short reviews of books about the corruption. The article is old and needs revision and additions, but gives a small view of a very extensive subject: Unprecedented Corruption: A guide to conflict of interest in the U.S. government.

    Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in World War Two and former U.S. President General Dwight D. Eisenhower said in a famous speech that we should beware of the "military-industrial complex". Here's a quote:

    "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

    "We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes."

    Another quote:

    "The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present - and is gravely to be regarded."

    --
    Before, Saddam got Iraq oil profits & paid part to kill Iraqis. Now a few Americans share Iraq oil profits, & U.S. citizens pay to kill Iraqis. Improvement?

  2. 46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities on Useful Apps for First-Time Windows Users? · · Score: 2, Interesting

    46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities for Windows. Very good list and a good newsletter. Subscribe to the paid newsletter and get more recommendations: Extended list of 81.

    --
    Before, Saddam got Iraq oil profits & paid part to kill Iraqis. Now a few Americans share Iraq oil profits, & U.S. citizens pay to kill Iraqis. Improvement?

  3. When they don't know or care they talk nonsense. on Is Corporate Speak Invading Your IT Department? · · Score: 3, Informative

    'Corporate speak is basically the same type of "Rah-Rah" speech'

    "Corporate speak" in technical companies is often due to the speaker not having much understanding of the technology, and not wanting to learn.

    See this comment posted later in this story to test a company's credibility online.

    I'm surprised that no one has mentioned "Bullsh**t Bingo". There is a link to it at the bottom of that comment.

    --
    Before, Saddam got Iraq oil profits & paid part to kill Iraqis. Now a few Americans share Iraq oil profits, & U.S. citizens pay to kill Iraqis. Improvement?

  4. Test a company's credibility online: on Is Corporate Speak Invading Your IT Department? · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Test a company's credibility online by doing a Google search for an overused word or phrase. Limit the search to the company's web site using the "site:" prefix. For example, try the word "solution", as in "We don't sell products, we sell solutions." At the time I did the test, Google showed 640 hits for the word "solution" on the QWest Communications web site.

    Here are the first 25 hits on 08/02/2005, when I wrote this story:

    1. Whole House Digital Solution
    2. Uniform Access Solution (UAS)
    3. premises-based solution
    4. network-based solution
    5. Solution Providers
    6. Internet Port solution
    7. VoIP solution
    8. long-term solution, software solution
    9. Comprehensive Voice Solution
    10. hosted solution
    11. complete on-line trading solution
    12. VoIP solution set
    13. Web-Based Contact Center Solution
    14. Troubleshooting Guide Problem Solution
    15. Repeated: network-based solution
    16. national voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) solution
    17. iQ Networking solution, security solution
    18. preset solution
    19. e-Solution
    20. complex integrated ASP solution
    21. carrier-grade solution
    22. Repeated: Internet Port solution
    23. Business Solution
    24. Government Technology Solution, Centrex PRIME solution
    25. Qwest solution

    This is not a complaint about QWest, which seems to have good telephone and DSL service. But their marketing language may need reconsideration.

    If you need a list of over-used terms, visit the Bullsh**t Bingo web site. There's a Bulls**t Bingo movie, too. I think they should do a re-make of the movie in which, once Bingo is reached, the speaker is required to leave the room immediately. (Remember to put quote marks around phrases. We respect the ownership of any trademarks on the list.)
  5. Web site devoted to Firefox dishonesty: on Firefox Extension Guide and More · · Score: 1

    You said, "I've been seriously thinking of starting up a "FirefoxWatch" blog..."

    There is an entire web site devoted to Firefox dishonesty: Slyerfox.

  6. There is a lack of intellectual honesty. on Firefox Extension Guide and More · · Score: 0, Troll
    The problem with Firefox extensions is a lack of intellectual honesty:

    1. Mozilla Foundation actively promotes extensions.

    2. When there are problems, users are told "Do hours of work to discover which extensions are unstable with your usage patterns."

    3. Many, many people have suggested that maybe Firefox should not be so vulnerable to problems with extensions, OR maybe extensions should not be encouraged. That issue is consistently avoided. Mozilla Foundation takes NO responsibility for extensions, but that is not made clear to new users. There is no official system of approval for extensions.

    4. Firefox is sometimes unstable with a clean profile and no extensions. The issue of fundamental Firefox instability is often avoided by blaming extensions.

    5. So, the intellectual dishonesty has an angry purpose; it allows Firefox developers to hide the instabilities in Firefox.

    6. Many Firefox users experience problems with instability. It is intellectually dishonest to try to draw attention away from that fact by directing attention elsewhere.

    See the following comment. I don't know who wrote it, but in my experience everything that is said is correct: I've been seriously thinking of starting up a "FirefoxWatch" blog.
  7. Encourage extensions that cause instability? on Firefox Extension Guide and More · · Score: -1, Troll

    I think it is unfriendly to encourage people to use extensions when everyone agrees that extensions often make Firefox unstable.

    This is an excerpt from the first link in the above Google search, and it describes my experience exactly: "Firefox has been trying to get me to update to version 1.5.0.1, for a while now so I finally did today. The new version has crashed 3 times already today."

  8. You don't seem to disagree. on Firefox Extension Guide and More · · Score: 0, Troll

    You said: "... you're validly pointing out that extensions make FF even more unstable."

    You are apparently not disagreeing with the idea that it is unfriendly to encourage people to use extensions when everyone agrees that extensions often make Firefox unstable.

    You also apparently are not disagreeing with the idea that Firefox is the most unstable program in common use.

    Also you have apparently not read the linked material which explains and supports the issues intensively.

  9. Firefox is the most unstable program in common use on Firefox Extension Guide and More · · Score: -1, Troll

    Note 5 things:

    1) There is complete agreement from Firefox developers that Firefox often becomes unstable due to extensions.

    2) There are numerous pages devoted to telling users hours of highly technical things they can do when Firefix is unstable.

    3) Firefox is the most unstable program in common use.

    4) Anyone who has made any negative comment above in this story (as of 2006-04-09, 10:08 PST) has been modded down.

    5) Firefox developers become angry and disrespectful when people try to report instability and CPU hogging to Firefox Bugzilla.

    The Firefox CPU hogging bug makes a computer unusable until all Firefox windows and tabs are closed. Basically, Firefox uses first maybe 10%, then maybe 20% of the CPU, and, as Firefox windows and tabs are opened and closed, continues taking more of the CPU time until Firefox is closed. This CPU usage is with NO Firefox activity, or any activity of any program.

    This bug is more than 3 years old. It is extremely difficult to characterize; no one has succeeded yet. Here are some clues:

    Somehow Thunderbird and Mozilla share this bug. Sometimes when Firefox is taking say, 94% of the CPU, and Firefox is closed completely, Thunderbird or Mozilla will begin using a lot of CPU time. Very weird, but it often happens.

    Firefox 1.5.0.1 is much worse than 1.5, which is worse than earlier versions. This suggests that there is some resource in Firefox that is being more overused as features are added.

    The CPU hogging bug continues unchanged when Firefox 1.5.0.1 is installed with a clean profile and no extensions.

    Too many mouse clicks too closely spaced will often increase Firefox's CPU usage, or sometimes cause it to crash.

    --
    Some of those who believe they are superior are merely angry.

  10. Slashdot: U.S. government, 4 corruption, 1 health. on FCC Opens Flood Gates for Junk Faxes · · Score: 1

    There were four stories today on Slashdot about U.S. government corruption, and one about the government functioning as it should:

    IRS Leaves Taxpayer Data Largely Unprotected. If the IRS is denied the computer equipment it needs, there is more money for the government corrupters to steal.

    Former BSA VP Confirmed as Tech Undersecretary. Another unqualified person is appointed to influence U.S. technology.

    This story: FCC Opens Flood Gates for Junk Faxes. "Under the new rules, a junk faxer could visit your website and call that an existing business relationship."

    AT&T Forwarding All Internet Traffic to NSA?. The U.S. government conducts more surveillance world-wide and domestically than any agency, ever, in the history of the world.

    Today's news from Slashdot about the U.S. government is not all negative:

    FTC Levies Fine Against Big-league Spammers.

    --
    Violence does not promote democracy. It promotes more violence.

  11. Slashdot: U.S. government, 4 corruption, 1 health. on AT&T Forwarding All Internet Traffic to NSA? · · Score: 1

    There were four stories today on Slashdot about U.S. government corruption, and one about the government functioning as it should:

    IRS Leaves Taxpayer Data Largely Unprotected. If the IRS is denied the computer equipment it needs, there is more money for the government corrupters to steal.

    Former BSA VP Confirmed as Tech Undersecretary. Another unqualified person is appointed to influence U.S. technology.

    FCC Opens Flood Gates for Junk Faxes. "Under the new rules, a junk faxer could visit your website and call that an existing business relationship."

    This story: AT&T Forwarding All Internet Traffic to NSA?. The U.S. government conducts more surveillance world-wide and domestically than any agency, ever, in the history of the world.

    Today's news from Slashdot about the U.S. government is not all negative:

    FTC Levies Fine Against Big-league Spammers.

    --
    Violence does not promote democracy. It promotes more violence.

  12. Slashdot: U.S. government, 4 corruption, 1 health. on Former BSA VP Confirmed as Tech Undersecretary · · Score: 1

    There were four stories today on Slashdot about U.S. government corruption, and one about the government functioning as it should:

    IRS Leaves Taxpayer Data Largely Unprotected. If the IRS is denied the computer equipment it needs, there is more money for the government corrupters to steal.

    This story: Former BSA VP Confirmed as Tech Undersecretary. Another unqualified person is appointed to influence U.S. technology.

    FCC Opens Flood Gates for Junk Faxes. "Under the new rules, a junk faxer could visit your website and call that an existing business relationship."

    AT&T Forwarding All Internet Traffic to NSA?. The U.S. government conducts more surveillance world-wide and domestically than any agency, ever, in the history of the world.

    Today's news from Slashdot about the U.S. government is not all negative:

    FTC Levies Fine Against Big-league Spammers.

    --
    Violence does not promote democracy. It promotes more violence.

  13. Slashdot: U.S. government, 4 corruption, 1 health. on IRS Leaves Taxpayer Data Largely Unprotected · · Score: 1

    There were four stories today on Slashdot about U.S. government corruption, and one about the government functioning as it should:

    This one: IRS Leaves Taxpayer Data Largely Unprotected. If the IRS is denied the computer equipment it needs, there is more money for the government corrupters to steal.

    Former BSA VP Confirmed as Tech Undersecretary. Another unqualified person is appointed to influence U.S. technology.

    FCC Opens Flood Gates for Junk Faxes. "Under the new rules, a junk faxer could visit your website and call that an existing business relationship."

    AT&T Forwarding All Internet Traffic to NSA?. The U.S. government conducts more surveillance world-wide and domestically than any agency, ever, in the history of the world.

    Today's news from Slashdot about the U.S. government is not all negative:

    FTC Levies Fine Against Big-league Spammers.

    --
    Violence does not promote democracy. It promotes more violence.

  14. More U.S. government corruption on AT&T Forwarding All Internet Traffic to NSA? · · Score: 1

    The Bush Administration is becoming known for surveillance, torture, destroying confidence in the U.S., and generally showing disrespect.

    The Bush Administration is, in my opinion, thoroughly corrupt. Bush seems to have little comprehension of the events around him. Those who are associated with him sell government favors to the highest-bidding corrupter.

    The result is unprecedented debt, as money is vacuumed out of government into the pockets of the corrupters, by shutting down government functions.

    I wrote a short, imperfect review of a few of the books an movies about the corruption: Unprecedented Corruption: A guide to conflict of interest in the U.S. government.

    --
    Before, Saddam got Iraq oil profits & paid part to kill Iraqis. Now a few Americans share Iraq oil profits, & U.S. citizens pay to kill Iraqis. Improvement?

  15. The Bush Administration is thoroughly corrupt. on FCC Opens Flood Gates for Junk Faxes · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    The Bush Administration is, in my opinion, thoroughly corrupt. Bush seems to have little comprehension of the events around him. Those who are associated with him sell government favors to the highest-bidding corrupter.

    The result is unprecedented debt, as money is vacuumed out of government by shutting down government functions into the pockets of the corrupters.

    I wrote a short, imperfect review of a few of the books an movies about the corruption: Unprecedented Corruption: A guide to conflict of interest in the U.S. government.

    --
    Before, Saddam got Iraq oil profits & paid part to kill Iraqis. Now a few Americans share Iraq oil profits, & U.S. citizens pay to kill Iraqis. Improvement?

  16. Violence helps not democracry, but more violence. on Republicans Defeat Net Neutrality Proposal · · Score: 1

    So, you are saying that, because Saddam killed Iraqis, it is okay for the U.S. government to kill Iraqis?

    The U.S. government has killed many more Iraqis than Saddam. The U.S. government has increased the violence in Iraq, not diminished it.

    Here's some history for you: History surrounding the U.S. wars with Iraq: Four short stories.

  17. Wyden's Net Neutrality bill is still alive. on Republicans Defeat Net Neutrality Proposal · · Score: 2, Informative

    Still alive: Senator wants to ban 'fast lane' for Web.

  18. More money for big companies? on Republicans Defeat Net Neutrality Proposal · · Score: 1

    This is what we will have if we don't have Net Neutrality: Possible ad: Introducing BellWest's new Internet service tiers.

  19. Contributions come from those who want favors. on Republicans Defeat Net Neutrality Proposal · · Score: -1, Troll

    "... an obvious attempt at scoring political points..."

    Somehow it was predictable that Republicans would be against Net Neutrality. The contributions come from those who want special favors from government, not those who want to benefit everyone.

    Republicans: Borrowing money to kill Iraqis so that weapons and oil interests can profit.

    --
    Before, Saddam got Iraq oil profits & paid part to kill Iraqis. Now a few Americans share Iraq oil profits, & U.S. citizens pay to kill Iraqis. Improvement?

  20. Compression hoax number 3 on New 25x Data Compression? · · Score: 1

    This is the third time that I can recall that a Slashdot editor has accepted this same hoax.

    --
    Before, Saddam got Iraq oil profits & paid part to kill Iraqis. Now a few Americans share Iraq oil profits, & U.S. citizens pay to kill Iraqis. Improvement?

  21. U.S. Federal Deficit by Political Party on Cockroaches Make Group Decisions? · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Support for the parent statement: U.S. Federal Deficit by Political Party.

    --
    Before, Saddam got Iraq oil profits & paid part to kill Iraqis. Now a few Americans share Iraq oil profits, & U.S. citizens pay to kill Iraqis. Improvement?

  22. A very secure operating system is here now: BSD. on Microsoft Says Recovery From Malware Becoming Impossible · · Score: 1

    "A lot of things, including a very secure operating system, are possible and even desirable."

    A very secure operating system is here now, and free: OpenBSD: "Only one remote hole in the default install, in more than 8 years!"

    That contrasts with Windows, which has had more than 20 remote vulnerabilities each year since Windows 95 was released in '95.

    OpenBSD is Number One in security, by design.

    My theory, expressed in the grandparent post, is that Windows is deliberately vulnerable due to the manner of management of software development. When a company has a virtual monopoly, vulnerability increases profit.

  23. It's not common sense. It's wrong. on Microsoft Says Recovery From Malware Becoming Impossible · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "A Mac-user with common sense!"

    It's not common sense. It's wrong.

    Microsoft is in a unique position. Because it has a virtual monopoly, Microsoft makes more money when its software has a lot of security vulnerabilities. For those who are ruled by money, morality has no force; "Maximizing Shareholder Value" is the way they live their lives.

    Microsoft makes more money if it pressures its programmers to work too fast, so that they are sloppy, and then releases buggy software. Many people are fascinated by computers, and easily accept the world that Microsoft has created for them.

    Here's a story about a Microsoft VP saying, "Oh, the next Windows operating system will be secure": "Safety and security is the overriding feature that most people will want to have Windows Vista for" .

    So, Microsoft is once again telling us "The next version of Windows will be the good one." Before, Microsoft said Windows XP was "Built to be Dependable".

    However, Vista will NOT include virus protection. Jim Allchin, co-president of Microsoft's platform products and services division told CRN, an industry magazine this:

    CRN: In terms of security, how do you compare security in Vista vs. security in Windows XP SP2?

    Allchin: SP2 was a very good system but compared to Vista, it's night and day.

    CRN: Is there going to be antivirus in Vista?

    Allchin: No, there is not.

    CRN: Why?

    Allchin: It's a complicated answer as to why not.

    CRN: Was the decision based on technical concerns?

    Allchin: It wasn't technical.

    CRN: Will Vista resolve security problems once and for all?

    Allchin: I'm not going to claim perfection or near perfection, but I think we're unrivaled in the work we've done. I believe security will be a huge problem for the industry for years and years and years but this will change the landscape in a fairly dramatic way.

    Once again, Microsoft is taking advantage of the fact that most of its customers have little technical knowledge. Mr. Allchin said that "security will be a huge problem for the industry for years and years and years".

    Microsoft charges for OneCare Live. That's another way to make money. Make sloppy software, and then sell protection against the sloppiness.

    Note the emphasis on "beta testing" in Mr. Allchin's statements in the CRN interview. Someone said that Microsoft's motto is "The whole world is our beta tester."

    --
    Before, Saddam got Iraq oil profits and paid part to kill Iraqis. Now a few Americans get Iraq oil profits, and American citizens pay to kill Iraqis. Improvement?

  24. My experience is that is rare. on Britannica Attacks - Nature Returns Fire · · Score: 1

    It's wonderful that you became a reader. However, my experience is that is rare.

  25. Ignorant people don't read. on Britannica Attacks - Nature Returns Fire · · Score: 1

    "We were discussing the role of encyclopedias in developing a culture of education in the homes of poor parents."

    The role, in my experience, is close to zero. Ignorant people don't start being wise book readers just because they have books in their houses.