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User: mabhatter654

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  1. Re:New Industry? on Creating A Super-Router (For Free) · · Score: 1
    Because generally the company DMCAs you because you crack some proprietary sauce added for just that purpose!!! LinkSys really can't presue hackers because their source is mostly Linux & GPL'd. That was a business choice they made up front that management can't simply take back whenever they want.

    On a side note there are third party drivers for many things: Bios, Video cards, Sound cards, etc. It's not a big market now, but with Win98 going away and Linux rapidly rising to take it's place there may be some serious growth to come!!!

  2. Re:This will certainly ... on Creating A Super-Router (For Free) · · Score: 1

    Intel's problem with Centrino drivers was that the full radio control was in CPU software! That means that the radio could be reprogrammed illegally for any purpose...hacking networks, boosting power, snooping other nearby protected bands, etc. Frankly, it was a design/marketing error on Intel's part. The Centrino Wi-fi cards are basicly the same as winmodems! The smart thing would have been for them to forsee Linux use from the start and design the hardware with built in control circuitry to always be properly in FCC compliance...but the market-roids took the cheap MS-only way out and now have a mess of broken hardware to clean up.

  3. Re:FCC might get upset on Creating A Super-Router (For Free) · · Score: 1
    as far as power level hackers, they have that problem without software hackers. As far as LinkSys is concerned, they have done their part by using "non-standard" connections...so hackers have to deliberately cobble something that can't be Bought at a store.

    I could see problems if the wi-fi drivers were put in software like the desktop versions are...that could cause problems with the radios using unlicensed bands...but this is a closed box, so the drivers for the radios are most likely burned into seperate rom for stability/ cost sake.

  4. Re:Readability? on US Govt Makes Times New Roman 14 Official Font · · Score: 1
    Courier is the type of mass-produced legal copy. Stuff that spits out of line printers on triplicate at 100 lines a minute! Check out court papers, legal notices, things like that where there's legality if words are "mistyped" or "illegable"...really, lawyers get people off for this stuff.

    Also, it's easy to format, especially when dealing with triplicate forms. It's important in many documents that numbers line up in boxes and tabbed columns match exactly to prescribed samples. It's a big legal deal because stuff has to be printed by machine en mass...often going directly to folders without human interaction!!!

  5. Re:Times new roman is not best choice on US Govt Makes Times New Roman 14 Official Font · · Score: 1

    This is LAWYERS we're talking about. They're going to print the whole thing ALL CAPS JUST LIKE THIS ANYWAY. Even then, It'd still be in legaleese...and with money involved you'd be hard pressed to find two LAWYERS who aggreed on what it meant!!!

  6. Re:Fonts Matter on US Govt Makes Times New Roman 14 Official Font · · Score: 2, Interesting

    But Times New Roman 14 is specifically a MS Word font!!! Note that courier is so old it's generic...whereas TNR is copyrighted. Now nobody can send Offical docs without MS licensing approving. It's one of those small things that has profound repercussions in the world of lawyers.

  7. Re:Yeah, nice use of taxdollars. on US Govt Makes Times New Roman 14 Official Font · · Score: 1
    Duh, it would use Courier! Because you have to type out and send the memo in offical format. Of course memo is immediately obsolete and would need to be retyped in TNR...so would they distribute the original version, or the TNR version? Which gets stored for posteity?

    Now what would happen if the original memo also mentioned putting a cat in a sealed box? I'm getting dizy...

  8. Re:Yeah, nice use of taxdollars. on US Govt Makes Times New Roman 14 Official Font · · Score: 1
    Mod you up!! Every body knows the Real Bible was the words of Jesus written by King James!!! How dare you suggest it was written by a bunch of arabs.... that's unamerican and unpatriotic...you may hope the televangelist is willing to bless your soul for any amount of money.

    Note: that was just for fun... The majority of the OT is written in Hebrew starting with the first books by Moses. The NT is primarily Aramaic, greek and perhaps Latin. They were just letters written by Galiean fishermen [northern Israel/southern Lebenon] who primarily spoke aramaic..except for Paul who was a roman citizen so knew greek [macedonia] and latin [Rome] and wrote letters specifically to those areas in their own language.

  9. Duhhh...It's MS Word Default!!!!! on US Govt Makes Times New Roman 14 Official Font · · Score: 0
    Does anybody else get this...Times New Roman 14 is the DEFAULT FONT of Microsoft Word!!!! The real reason they changed the spec is that it's way too much work for the govt IT guys to go to all those small scattered farm offices and change every installed copy of Word to use a different default....that and stupid politicians' secrataries that can't change fonts too!!!

    If the govt was really serious about open communication they would have used Bitstream Vera Serif....most /.rs should know why!!!

  10. What about SD cards? on GameCube-Powered Webserver · · Score: 1
    I was looking on Gamespy at GC parts and accessories right after I bought mine and I found a SD card to GameCube memory adaptor. They only had 64MB cards showing, but now there are SDs up to 1Gb [?] With two slots, what would it take to use them as bootable drives??? Although I suppose you'd need the Phantasy star game to legaly use load the hacked game save [avoid that pesky DMCA thingy]

    One of the neatest things about GC is that it's got enough smarts burned into it to run without any discs or cards inserted. perhaps nintendo can be talked into releasing a Linux "bootable" disc...

  11. Roaming Computer Gypsies! on Which Screw Goes Where? · · Score: 1
    I get mine from the local roaming computer show. One of the vendors stocks nothing but spare parts...brand new pieces of all those little things that geeks loose. I bought a container of like 100 assorted screws, washer, spacers, [like in the little baggie] in a little plastic box for like $8.

    If you don't have a local computer show....too bad! You might try some of the larger PC vendors like newegg for spare parts.

  12. How will we search microsoft.com now? on Google v. Microsoft · · Score: 1

    lets face it...if google wants to survive they need to play just as dirty as MS! For starts, they should stop providing results for microsoft.com...after all, it's quicker and easier to use google to search MS' own website!!!! until MS fixes that basic "misuse" of google, google will always win in mindshare!!!

  13. Re:Is Free Software Innocent? on Microsoft Violates Human Rights in China · · Score: 1
    Correct, but the article is a call for said sanctions, laws, public outcry, etc....to bring attention to this behavior and perhaps curb it. Like I said in a different post, most common people [or politicians] haven't really heard about how much these companies are really helping out dictators by creating tech to "track" people...of couse they don't do the catching or abusing...but that's not the point. We in the US believe in freedom...so much that our government employs hackers to "pirate" broadcast into these countries via radio, print, and web.. while at the same time our corps are selling technology to block our own messages of freedom!!! but worse still selling tools used to track down and harass our political "allies" that might affect changes in these countries. I don't buy that it's OK because it brings a little [well actually A LOT] of coin in to some corperat purses. On a side note, how long before OUR govt starts using those tools against US!!! I'd prefer it was "economically unviable" for US corps to develop these tools at all...allowing US corps to take money from foreign govts for such projects is an affront to the very principles of the country. I'd almost consider any profits to be "blood money" similar to trafficing in something like asian child prostetution...Really I find it that deplorable what they are doing!!!!

    As far as MS not having a duty to the US people...I'd propose that corps in general DO have social/political duties to the citizens of the country beyond just making a buck...they are in no way considered "citizens", nor do they have rights like free speech, freedom of association, etc. [my opinion is that if you don't want to put out the requirements of a corp...then stay sole proprietor or partnership...incorporating is an individual choice, not a right!!!] They enjoy their legal protections under charter and legal protections of the government...although my argument in that direction would be more general than just this case, there's much more general need to make US corps accountable to the people and goals of the USA in general.

  14. Re:There may be something the people didn't expect on Recycle some of your 100 million Pepsi Songs · · Score: 1

    Many die-hard /.rs that don't drink the Dew will hit their quotas in only a week or two...that may get some bad karma for pepsi!!!

  15. Re:Open Source Equally Culpable on Microsoft Violates Human Rights in China · · Score: 1
    you miss the point, if Colt sold a boat load of guns directly to somebody like Saddam, they Yeah, they'd be in trouble. But actually if you look at weapons sales, they are all strictly regulated outside the US...in most cases the US govt is required to be the middleman to all but closly allied countries. So there is LOTS of legal culpability there. Note we treat computing horsepower the same way...hardware makers like IBM or Intel have restrictions on what they are allowed to export...so it's not used for modeling attacks against the US! So there is lots of precedent to restrict/limit actions of tech companines.

    On a similar note, why can't I get "serviced" underaged girls overseas? [I'm not a sicko, but only because it's a topic of equal humanitarian scope but handled much differently because it's BAADD!] That's a huge human rights violation world over...but it's punishible IN THE US because of the UN sanctions...even if it's NOT ILLEGAL where & when it would happen [i.e. it's against US law to seek it out or perform it, even if you don't get caught there, you still broke the law here]!!! Our govt has no problem following UN recommendations..when it suits them. So there's lots of precedent to regulate INDIVIDUAL actions of US citizens...even out of the country... But it's not OK to use such laws to protect free speech, the fundamental right in the US!!!! So why can't we tell companies like MS or Cisco what software techs they can and can't sell overseas...or to whom? I'd like to know, because I put US Corporations selling spyware to dictators to oppress their people to be a crime equal or above trade in foriegners selling their children to individual travelers for sex!!!!

  16. Re:Misleading/slanderous headline on Microsoft Violates Human Rights in China · · Score: 1
    good thing /.rs have short memories....the Eds have posted stuff like this about once a month for the last 2 years....so actually, WE probably know more about what's really going on than the people who wrote the article. They'd be pressing legal action if they knew what WE know... It's an Open Secret MS and other companies consult with China. Much of the software they write is used by US govts and companies to effectively "spy" on their own workers...to improve the bottom line...right...it's just that these companies have found a nice quiet place to develop the stuff that's "under the radar" of the average US citizen. While the govt leaders milk the great stock prices from such action.

    I'd also note to everyone that the govt strictly regulates computing hardware over certian Flops. the tech companies like IBM and Intel have strict legal sanctions placed upon them for selling kit to places like china or iraq. So it's not unheard of for the govt to restrict access to computing technologies...it's just that these particular technologies wouldn't get off the ground in the US...because we don't believe in them!!!

    remember, the worst evil is when good men do nothing! Which is EXACTLY what's happening here in the name of $$$.

  17. Re:Is Free Software Innocent? on Microsoft Violates Human Rights in China · · Score: 2, Interesting
    But free software is created by the people...without the goverment's sanction. The people individually did it on their own as Citizens. Multinational corporations are created under charter of the US government to do what's good for the US people! Selling spy systems to Communist governments is NOT good for the US people!!! The difference it that corporations are selling this stuff [i.e. collecting legal money] for profit not simply providing "free speech" software. In many cases, there are corperate consultants sent over to "help with the details" ...often even the development is done on US SOIL... and people in the media worry about petty things like cloning or homosexuals going on...

    The "second order" effect is that when the US govt seeks to censor it's own people the tech will already be developed, by US corps...When spying tech gets good enough, the govt will have plug-n-play services available....don't you think that's WRONG!!!!

  18. Re:I dont blame microsoft on Microsoft Violates Human Rights in China · · Score: 1
    but it's software sold to the Chinese communist government! It's not sold "off the shelf", it's sold specifically to a foriegn govt with known human rights violations...an plans to use the software for MORE. How do they think they'll use it. I'd be like US gun makers selling to a openly known mob shell... But ultimately it amounts to US corps have to stop following the almighty dollar and start sticking up for our countries ideological values. After all, the only "right" they have to exist is to further the goals of the people of the United States of America....helping Communist dictators is definately not on the list of those goals!

    On a side note, why would the US govt allow this...unless our own officals in corporation and government plan to use china as a testing ground for "spying on the populace" and then buy the working tech to use against US citizens? sounds like a plan to me. After all, if we don't belive in developing a certian type of software, why should we allow OUR companies to develop it somewhere else? think about that!!!

  19. Re:It's hard to see how Microsoft can win on Microsoft Violates Human Rights in China · · Score: 1
    But China is still an "enemy" state to the US...if not directly at least politically. The problem is US multinationals selling stuff to what amounts to third world dictators...imagine the outcry if MS sold a business license to Saddam used to encrypt and track his WMDs.... This isn't about Personal user responsiblity....this is about a US multinational corporation [i.e. govt sanctioned & organized US citizens!] developing and selling software to the ideological enemy GOVERNMENT of the US...on top of that it's software used to thwart our own govts political, human rights goals in the region. these multinationtionals can't simply stick their heads in the sand like they do with "criminal" activity like downloading MP3s.

    Our govt has let the multinationals "sell the farm" to openly hostile foriegn governments in the name of "free trade" and "stock market viability"...and it's costing us our jobs too!

  20. Re:I can't say it's the wisest move on Switching from Another Industry to Engineering/CS? · · Score: 1
    I think most Doctors suffer burn out just before they get the loans paid off...and simply want OUT...because all the money they got went to loans, insurance, etc.. It's only OLD Drs that have money.

    Of course going from Mecidine to computers is going out of the pan and into the fire... I mean you can work 60 hour weeks, 6 days, and at the end you don't even get "happy" customers....just a boss who complains you took an afternoon off.

    Of course going into medical related IT could be a good thing! There's lots of money to be made in modernizing hospitals...most are in the stone ages compared to modern factories or IT shops. Figure out how to use your CS/IT knowledge with your MD and you have a niche few people in the country cover...

    To the poster, you underestimate Drs at going to school! The one's I've met study most "hobby projects" at Master's level...really anoying when it's something like carpendry or cooking...great when it's something like CS. I'd expect the DR to complete a CS degree in LESS time than most slashdotters...while working too!

  21. Scratch and itch! on Switching from Another Industry to Engineering/CS? · · Score: 1
    I'd suggest that you "scratch an itch" in your physician's field. I've known several Drs. that presue other fields and they always do VERY well....something about suffering thru 10 years After high school...

    But seriously, look at IT type projects related to what you already do. That way you already have contact in fields you understand. Medical computing is still in in its infancy. I have several people in medicine [Dr, nurse, RT] in my family, at Christmas we were discussing how most Hospitals don't implement basic IT standards or process methods that even mom -n-pop machine shops implement... There's a lot of work to be done...and it takes somebody with some "reputation" to pull it off...the medical community has problems with IT because of the Geek factor.

  22. Re:Competition will be better in the long run... on Sun and Eclipse Squabble · · Score: 1
    They had 5 years to get it right....until IBM saw a need for doing it "better" and rallied everybody else around their Ecllipse. I aggree that plugins should work across IDEs but really it's dependant on the IDE structure...and Eclipse provides much better facilities for plugins than Sun's...

    In short, Sun had it's invite to the party and didn't come! IBM stole the show and Sun's crying they want it back...Oops! Nobody's saying Sun can't write "netbeans" for Ecllipse!!

  23. Re:Patents on Why Hasn't the DVI Interface Replaced D-Sub? · · Score: 1
    You've got a point....although I don't think it's as much that Apple will refuse as that board makers simply won't pay ANYBODY royalties....that was the situation with Firewire...Untill apple stopped collecting royalties (only like $1 per port! not much) everybody refused to put them on machines except sony...an apple partner already.

    You may be right that they don't want to give up their "edge" for macs...but I thought that the original DVI implementation spec supported the USB uplink [i.e. Apple's version] when the papers were written....now we know why W3C is so resistant to patent-encumbered specs, hun!

  24. Re:The person who thought of this should be fired on Disney's Disposable DVDs Deemed Duds · · Score: 1
    not really! The point is to kill off movie rental of any kind...the studios consider it "cheating"!

    The goal is to make it easier to get the $7 disc at the checkout when you kid is screaming and save you two trips to the rental store! Of course, the only way it would ever work effectively is to never ever release a "normal" DVD of said title... Thereby forcing even the rental stores to carry the "broken" ones or simply not carry the latest and greatest hits. Finding Nemo would have been a great intro...lots of fans wanting something right now and lots of moms and dads picking the cheaper option at the checkout. The only competition for these is the actual DVDs...but if they don't ever make those...

  25. Re:My question on Spirit 'Will Be Perfect Again' · · Score: 1
    That makes perfect sense because the operation code is all burned in Eprom...and data is on the Flash...hence both the problem and solution!

    They were saying on tech TV last night that the Flash is used basicly for data backup...hence the problem. The system reboots...but when it gets to make a backup of some step...it can't write to the Flash. And it's not programmed to wipe the flash because that's where any debug, telemetry, etc data would be....so it's a chicken egg problem.