You obviously aren't a gamer or you wouldn't ask that? Warhammer is like D&D there's only one. That's the way it is. The rest are neat to play, but to most gamers GW is it! They are minitures battle games!
And just like TSR, they grew quickly a few years ago, and are shrinking due to being a fad and the ecomomy [pewter minitures aren't a big priority for unemployed] They're making increasing demands on the fans that 'mod' the game, on the shops that sell the game, and now making it harder to get the game! That's the recipe for doom in most niche hobbies! They've already been replaced with Mage Knight and HeroClicks. They don't need to keep doing damage to themselves!
I ran into a problem like that a few years back. The manufactuers marketing departments have run amok! Look at sony video cameras: there are at least 3 unique lines of mini-DV cam. one line for local shops, one for department stores, and one for electronics discounters. All the machines are basiclly the same with minor differences in features, shapes, etc. That way Best Buy doesn't sell the same model number as Sears or your local AV store does. It bites when you find one a BB then go online to Sony and find one with that one extra feature you need only to find out that "line" is for local shops only!
Hopefully with the economic slow-down these things will get to be too expensive to keep going--then my local shops will have exactly the same as online--I won't have to look elsewhere!
Again, I'm proposing a system change without changing the law!
The key isn't cost, but time! Example: I probably only send a dozen emails a day tops, usually to only 1-5 people. My ISP should know that and if my machine suddenly cranks out a hundred messages to a thousand recipients, the server should automatically slow me down! Something's wrong here! Again, not just cut me off, but tie up my connection; forcing my connection to their server to be tied up for hours sending each message to each recipient one-at-a-time at 1K until their all sent. No stopping/reatarting to fool it!
For me at home it would be OK. I may have needed to email everyone at slashdot--I'd expect it to take a while, it's a one-time thing. But for a spammer it'd kill business! Spamming only works because you can send a long string of addresss at DSL speeds with one messsage that the server has to repeat for every address. My idea puts all the connecting and repeating on "your" machine. Of course, there would be threashholds, businesses would have a much higher limit than home users. Ideally, it would be a TOS thing. They'd just change software at the ISP's and anyone [other ISPs] who didn't play along gets blocked, cheaters get blocked...get the idea!
Also, it would allow the open relay to make a come back! Open relay does serve a purpose in the net world for travlers, lost systems, etc. the throttle program could be put in place to allow just so many messages a day thru open relay! The ISPs could jockey for a reasonable number and stomp anyone who doesn't fall in line! The same idea applies for DNS. ISP-side software shouldn't be qureing the root servers for stupid stuff. They should be learning the answers and not just sending 'garbage' upstream!
these are easily addressed open source and net community probems. AOL seems to be taking the first steps in this direction by simply rejecting those who don't show a valid server IP in the mail headders. Just like blackhole lists, it's really mean, maybe too mean, but it's necessary to do something. The worst thing to do is to wait for a law! We all know congress can't pass tech laws worth s$%.
The real problem is that many of these people broke laws written specifically by congress to tell them to stop or not take specific actions!
This isn't a "accounting" issue like whitewater, or a "technical purgury" issue like monica. Most of those things for most people with any money would go away with a phone call or two--those were specifically political. Poindexter on the other hand, was specifically banned [by a law just for him!] from helping contras [I believe]. He not only performed the acts, but covered up for the president and vice who ordered it insite of Congress! Again, we're still paying the price for that whole arms-for-hostages thing because at the time much of that money went to people like Saddam! If his testimony was subject to the scrutiny of Clinton's he'd still be rotting in prison!
Several high-level appointees have specifically broken the law for the white house in the past. These are people that have broken the law and thrown it in the face of congress, specifically after being told what to do! This isn't missed taxes, or an epa fine, it's willful and deliberate. For starts, congress has no place confirming them at all, but these may not be confirmed seats--funny how that works.
We do need a systems change though!
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AOL Sues Spammers
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I agree, but where do ISPs fit in? Someone has to throttle the pipe somewhere! ISPs don't want to for the very same reason. You'll notice that AOL [and Yahoo, MSN] is primarily a "content" provider not an ISP. The actual ISP part is usually contracted out to a local third party company city-by-city.
I'm in favor of system throttling rather than actually identifying spam. Allow a home/guest user to only send so many mails/so fast. If they exceed the limit then slow them down! That would be a system fix not dependant on knowlage of the individual mails! Businesses could pay for a higher limit to go with the higher bandwidth. The same could be applied with a basyen routine to most internet communication. Some one suddenly DOSing the same IP, slow um down--and notify the user of the error, Virus blasting mails all over, throttle it till it can be fixed! Work to build ISP systems that "know" their users habits. When the traffic is way off there would be a problem, rather than pulling the plug, slow it down & compare it to past usage then allow it to speed up again. Much better than restrictive TSAs and port-blocking!
Send our AOL cds to Spamers mailboxes!
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AOL Sues Spammers
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Could we sign up to have AOL "donate" our AOL CD's to the King spammer from eariler. That would kill 2 birds with 1 stone! I would be free of an aol cd [i do collect them for the boxes though] and the cd would go to the mailbox of a known spammer!
You just summed up the article pretty well. As well as the current state of law enforcement!
It's disruptive police threats like these that turn people mean! In reality, the procecutor was wrong--it's not like having a gun in the front seat. Many previous cases of search warrants have turned up stolen goods [reading serial numbers from your stereo while dusting for prints, looking for drugs]. If those were not the scope of the warrant then the officer was violating rights. That's been upheld in court. I would expect Computer warrants to be equally as narrow in scope! Espically given the sensitive nature of the information.
I wonder why they couldn't just show up with the police tech, run a quick search for.jpg from the last day or so burn a disk and be on their way. If it was a business, they would be more than happy for a CD, why is it with average people they feel the need to push their weight around? They tend to view all involved parties as somwhat guilty and feel it their job to punish you just in case the courts don't get to you!
First, when the lawsuit [counter suit] gets going, can they get a deposition aginst him to discuss how he:
a. reads all of his own spam email? If not, why? Why should we? a. sends anonomus mail-and the list of addresses he sends it from. b. blocks incomming spam from his personal accounts! Does he include a "secret" header code in the spam, or block the list of addresses that he owns+ his buddies? How can I be on that list?
Did everyone make sure to slightly misspell his name, fake name, etc. when they filled out the forms [note: I only just heard about this and being a lamer have not contributed my self] This would make being removed from the lists that much harder. Of course, I'm sure he's against the "do not spam" lists--so he shouldn't expect anyone to automate the removal process for his address from the databases, now should he!
If two computers are connected, you have a network. Even the simplest of networks can take advantage of remote X! Even if you, the user, can't use it, chances are that your service tech, office manager, hardware repair shop, etc will still want those functions--The whole advantage of linux are things like telneting to a "dead" machine & can work miracles w/o rebooting.
You missed what I said. The features should be available, but redistributed. I agree with you that linux needs to change significantly to grow. You're correct that 90% of desktop users don't need all the features, but you can't just throw them away either--that forks everything. But rather than eliminate them, just move them "out of the way!" Perhaps programs could be refactored to make the very basic functions work quickly, and access the more rarely used function w/o bringing everthing into the setup all the time! What most users are after is simpler setup and more stable systems. Currently Linux is "from Scratch" system--there's no way around that untill you can start buying them preinstalled at the store.
I could see this more common. I'd like a Media Distributor in the house. Connect my cable, phone, DSL, etc to a black box in the basement connnect with network wires or wireless and access all the features from anywhere in the house! I don't see why storage wouldn't be connected the same way. I think the secrecy issues are exagerated over the invisible issues. A black box storage appliance [running ?? OS but not crashing, ever] in the basement is looking like a better option to people as they have data for years-moving it from PC-to-PC is a continuing lesson in futility--that's why most offices went to central servers years ago--home users are discovering the same thing!
Europe seems to have a much more professional "butler-like" approach to law enforcement than the US. Here, if the cops find porn, first they'll confinscate it just to "check" for illegal material. Then, they're just as likely to "leak" certian choice contents [legal mind you] to your wife, pastor, employer, adoption agencies, social workers, etc. as well as reporting the number of dirty pics to reporters with your name of course!
Law enforcement should look at the Law and nothing else when enforcing the law. Europeans seem to understand this better than americans, i'm afraid. American cops personalize way too much. It seems most of the time that you have to be publically "shamed" [specifically unconstitutional, I'd add here!] rather than just have facts that point out you broke the law presented. They've taken to trying cases with neighbors, employers, and reporters to get you harmed, even if they can't get a legal case. And neatly exempted themselves from lawsuit retribution in the process!
I guess my point it that even if you didn't do anything illegal, it still may have been "wrong" and too many US police like to wave it over your heads lately, even years later! [Think TIA here!]
your wrong!
Most of Linux's current comercial advancements require Remote Desktop to function--that's the value linux/bsd brings. The current crop of paying users need true remote access for server farms, remote offices, ISP's, etc...It's the one of the key used features! Throwing it out isn't an option! Right now geeks and engineers ARE STILL the userbase. Even in an office, the users may not need it, but the admins live by remote access to simplify/automate their work! Again, the feature adds too much value to remove!
That said, there should be some effort to "streamline" functions. A neat idea would be to look at the standard install [say debiam stable] and look at all the features all the software uses. Then Re-allocate the functions accordingly. Maybe some KDE/Gnome features belong in X, maybe some Apache features need move to X, maybe it's the other way, and X features can be move by special purpose "up" to the apps/libs that use them most often. Look at something like Knoppix, the CD has almost 1.5 GB of stuff. If it's all Open Source, couldn't the WHOLE SYSTEM be optimized to reduce the size and maintenance costs? More than anything else, that's what needs to happen with linux in general. Just admit that certian programs are "Standard Linux" and expected always to be there. Then optimize the whole group of them to work together! This would be preferable to each side trying to "tweak" it's own stuff thru "bending" the APIs to get better results for it's program and conflicting with all others!
There is a trend in SFF PCs to include media players in bios--that makes for a more "appliance-like" feel. Hopefully, they'll make the devices so that you can access the internal players from any OS! It would just be a hardware call and the licensing and protection would be taken care of! Legal Linux DVD and much better quality than other players due to matching hardware perfectly.
This is a good thing for MS and customers as well. If they would quit trying to play monopoly, and just play along they would undoubtablely still be the top dog--they just keep trying to be the only dog, which is legally and morally wrong and most people know that.
Cool! I can watch it on My AOL DSL..
I knew I had a good reason for suffering thru it! [actually DSL's not that bad because it's thru SBC. Both sides get a cut so service has been great!]
Essentially, there's no difference from your house between DSL over phone or power lines! The problem is that phone lines go more-or-less directly to the CO, whereas power lines go thru lots of step-down transformers! Power lines also don't limit the electrical noise [from 5000 ton electric presses] like phone lines do!
The one advantage they have is that they own the poles and the right-of-way! If they wanted to string fibre, they could do it very cheaply. Their other option is to co-locate their network stuff at the service stations further down the pipe--and bypass the big nasty transformers. Most power cos already use network services to manage the substations anyway, so the uplink to the net isn't an issue-but it is political.
The universities would be more helpful if the RIAA let them in on a cut of the sales! They could set up a shop at the student centers and also on the Uni's network. Drop the price way down per track say
Let's face it if online music won't work at schools with massive bandwidth and a captive audiance, then it won't work at all! RIAA--try it out or stop crying and sell records which can't be easily copied [every digital copy would be illegal/ subject to fair use only!]
More interesting than the disese itself would be how the govenments handle the situation. Singapore is known for being very strict--They seem to be trying to do the right thing without being too "Big Brotherly". Canada is our [US] nearest neighbor and they seem to be handling it with fairness as well. This is a scary thing,and they're doing their best to keep it from spreading. If that means confining people to their homes, that's far better than carting them off to "Leper" colonies or the like--people need to play along with the rules they set!
This is where a little media action [propaganda?] could actually be helpful! The CDC needs to get on CNN and Newspapers and start explaining to people what is expected should SARS land in their community! For the most part, it's not scary, they just want you to go home and stay home. There is an opportunity here to get people up to speed with dangerous disese controlls--masks, cleaning supplies, and procedures to follow. Just cause your kid brings it home from school doesn't mean the whole house will get it. BUT.. they need to get the word out Before they start locking people down, not after they start. It would reduce the fear in the public--and the public's fear of a thing is often worse than the thing itself! If it only kills one out of 25 that get it, but we have to arrest and threaten everyone who might come in contact, then our fears end up killing more people than the disease! Now is the time to inform people calmly, logically, and fairly before there is the need for more "drastic" measures.
Who knows, maybe they could get cable hooked up or at least a stay on the utilities untill the people are deemed healthy again. Non-disease considerations are as much a part of the problem as the actual quarintine. People need assurance they won't loose their jobs, utilities, food, and contact with the outside world as well as being safe for the community. Those considerations should be addressed as well!
What MS was doing was moving FTE to contract agencies to avoid the overhead! At the same time, they were bringing in temps to do the same work. Prior to the lawsuit, many of the temps were at MS for years. Working side-by-side with paid MS employees at the same work! MS hired some of them in the co--that only incriminated them more by offering that perm employement was an eventual option. My local utility co does the same thing. They laid off hundreds of employees, then brought 30% back as temps. For the exact same position. They were expected to work under the companies rules, and the agencies involved typically don't enforce their work rules on "customers"
My states Former governer was famous for all the "work" he brought to the state. Unfortunately, when most of the shops opened, the workforce was 10% smaller and 30% temps! They bragged about bringing in 1000's of jobs for big-name companies--but if you're a permatemp you don't get to actually work for the company and get the rewards!
The whole issue is about honesty of management! I've come to the concusion that most company management executives will not follow the law unless it's at gunpoint! [hence the need for more gun control!] They are not "honest" people: they're scammers. I've worked for union shops that the union was the only thing saving the boss's a$$ from the slammer due to his illegal decisions! I'm not a big union freak, but they represent the interests of the employees for the most part. I find it funny that employers don't mind industry "associations" that set wages and jobs, but think that unions of employees are unamerican and against their owner's "rights". Bosses routinely try to break the rules as often as possible-the first year at my current job, they changed the rulebook 4 times because things worked "too well" for the workers. In tech, I don't think unions are the answer, things move too quickly. I do think that Unemployment Insurance laws should be changed to count all employees at your site, not just on your "books". Another interesting thing is the bosses version of "honesty": What you tell them in passing banter, at interviews, etc is expected to be absolute truth, concerns you have about your work don't need to be in writing; When you expect them to do something though, the only "truth" they point to is what's on paper, not what they "might" [told you at interview, etc to get you to take the job!] have said--[that you "didn't need" to write down!]
Like another poster said though, many of these same executives are/will be paying the piper soon anyway..They've lied to the banks, IRS, vendors, customers, and stockholders as well as employees! The true irony of it all is that the same stockholders that "approve" this are generally getting their money out of the pension funds of the 60's, 70's & 80's! One day soon, they'll want to cash-out-only to find that their stocks are worthless because the younger generation working at their old employers don't have pensions or benifits that ever let them have enough money to buy stocks.
If your in a posistion where you are given a choice by management that you know to be the wrong direction for the project, start looking for the door! Especially if you have to "ask slashdot" because you're afraid of the boss.
If it's in the scope of your contract [I'll assume that it is.] Then it sounds like a policy/direction change of the project. If you were paid for consulting and they didn't ask your opinion [again, your fearful to speak up] on the proposed changes, then no matter the title, your a contractor, not a consultant! They just want a warm body for the chair, not a business committment.
Just from the fact you have to ask, they don't want your input. If you speak up, you'll just cause trouble. If you're right, but do what they ask anyway, it's still your fault. You're the contractor! You are there as a body to blame!
Personally, my boss likes to do the same thing. He brings in new people as "contractors" expecting them to make big improvements, then second-guesses every suggestion and expects the status-quo. Ask once, then do what they say. They might be up to listening, but if they brought you on to value your opinion, they should have outright asked you up front. Try not to make waves, then get the 1134 out of the way!
Lucas makes lots of comparisons of the Empire to Nazi Germany, of the Emporerer to Hitler! He's a '40s buff. We know Palpatine's a monster, but we see how he got there! Both times, innocent parties were manipulated to get the ball rolling. That was the whole point of the "staged" attack on Naboo [World Trade Center?] and of the impending war with the seperatists. [afganistan/iraq] When it was written I'm sure it was meant to be a jab at society's laziness, but it's proving to be almost prophetic and spookily accurate!
Cliche or not, it's exactly what's happening right now. I'm not enough of a nut to think someone knew about 9/11 and allowed it, but most certianly, unelected members of govt. used 9/11 to pass laws using good intensions and fear that normally never would have been considred. [remember "Patriot" was tried several times and never made it out of committe before 9/11!] Now George wants a war, and has made no indication of backing away from Iraq after we're done or of stopping the war machine from fighting another "enemy"!
We're now at war, and that makes us a legitimate target for our opponents--that's not terrorism, it's just war! In wars innocent people die--That's why many people didn't want one! BUT, Should one more "terrorist" act happen [I wouldn't put the next one past a conspiricy theory!] I forsee one more press conference telling us George is taking control during wartime--I'm sure he'll give it back too!
A week, a month, a year--expect it to be comming or get up and vote/impeach these guys out of office!
yes, the law has that huge flaw! That causes the SCOUS to be flooded with cases forcing them to pick and choose. Its the luck of the draw to get something overturned--hope you want to go to jail for it. Figure, the prosecutor is trying to get the harshest possible results and get "First Judgement" [yes, just as eagerly sought as First Post!] So even if your case is stupid on the fringe of the law you'll get full force just to try it out. In effect, the executive branches throw droves of people at the Courts burying them in cases--some good ones get thru to justice, and some innocent people get punished--but they had their "day in court" so it's fair [immoral for the exectuive branch-but legally fair]
In My state michigan, our supreme court has Judical Review before the law goes into effect. They are allowed to judge on it before an innocent person is punished for breaking it! This causes the Legeslature to think twice when they are passing a law because it can immeditely be struck down. It also lets them go back right away and fix the law shortly after passing it rather than throwing it to future generations that know nothing about it to deal with it!
I think the Founders left it to be combative to prevent corruption/collusion of the branches and the courts have traditionally considered themselves outside the Lawmaking process. They don't make 'um just judge 'um. Unfortuantely, with the "Patriot" act if you don't get a lawyer or trial, you can't overturn the law can you! The court can't rule on what they can't "see". Yes it needs fixed, but even if it was, the court would be overrun with more cases making fairness still a moot point. Unfortunately, the court can't find the other branches in contempt and lock them up-only voters can kick out CongressCritters-they're immune from most procecution in office, only congress can impeach the prez. Even if they do flat out break the law the third branch can't actually do anything about it. They can only react to actions by another branch, not take action!
Maybe that should change. But it would take an amendment to do that. The states would have to float it on their own over the heads of congress making it an order of magintude more difficult, but it could be done. What would that amendment be? Judical review would be nice--the ability to call congress out for foolish laws up front would be a good thing.
The only other thing is to make the Congress hold the Prez responsible for his departments. [of course you have to vote! to get them to do that!] Most departments answer directly to the prez...He should be solely accountable for his minion's actions! But Congress would have to start impeachment over that.. that's the only way.
After all he's got a monopoly, so 97% of computer parts should also sell a copy of windows too. If they don't buy windows, then someone is pirating. Logic sounds simple enough [cocky, but simple! Gotta love monopoly logic.] Of course, they don't believe it enough to stop hassling dealers that sell you an OEM windows with your cpu, now do they!
I do agree we should stop talking about cracks and keygens. If we stop talking about how to pirate, then people will economically be forced to look at Linux! That's a good thing and the BSA is helping the movement.
Perhaps the FSF could join the BSA. Then they could audit other BSA members for GNU compliance and advertize Linux with BSA money! "Don't Pirate. Use Open Source!" Hey, it could work!
For cryin' out loud show some backbone, show some national pride! A lot of Aussies really are decended from Pirates! [and other criminals]
Why are they letting the gun-control, *IAAs, and other people push them around! Your ancestors are probably rollin'over in their graves!
Level 20 Paladin of the network order. The last Worm I fought gave me +20 XP. Only need +100 to level up to 21.
Then you have good solid industry support for your skills and a ranking system to back up the raise you want! Just like in RPG, spending all night working on patching systems would gain you more XP than just waiting for things to go wrong. You can post rankings on battle.net where everyone can see how LEET you are!
Script kiddies could be level 1 theifs! and get XP for their expolits!
Slashdot Mirror
You obviously aren't a gamer or you wouldn't ask that? Warhammer is like D&D there's only one. That's the way it is. The rest are neat to play, but to most gamers GW is it! They are minitures battle games!
And just like TSR, they grew quickly a few years ago, and are shrinking due to being a fad and the ecomomy [pewter minitures aren't a big priority for unemployed] They're making increasing demands on the fans that 'mod' the game, on the shops that sell the game, and now making it harder to get the game! That's the recipe for doom in most niche hobbies! They've already been replaced with Mage Knight and HeroClicks. They don't need to keep doing damage to themselves!
Hopefully with the economic slow-down these things will get to be too expensive to keep going--then my local shops will have exactly the same as online--I won't have to look elsewhere!
The key isn't cost, but time! Example: I probably only send a dozen emails a day tops, usually to only 1-5 people. My ISP should know that and if my machine suddenly cranks out a hundred messages to a thousand recipients, the server should automatically slow me down! Something's wrong here! Again, not just cut me off, but tie up my connection; forcing my connection to their server to be tied up for hours sending each message to each recipient one-at-a-time at 1K until their all sent. No stopping/reatarting to fool it!
For me at home it would be OK. I may have needed to email everyone at slashdot--I'd expect it to take a while, it's a one-time thing. But for a spammer it'd kill business! Spamming only works because you can send a long string of addresss at DSL speeds with one messsage that the server has to repeat for every address. My idea puts all the connecting and repeating on "your" machine. Of course, there would be threashholds, businesses would have a much higher limit than home users. Ideally, it would be a TOS thing. They'd just change software at the ISP's and anyone [other ISPs] who didn't play along gets blocked, cheaters get blocked...get the idea!
Also, it would allow the open relay to make a come back! Open relay does serve a purpose in the net world for travlers, lost systems, etc. the throttle program could be put in place to allow just so many messages a day thru open relay! The ISPs could jockey for a reasonable number and stomp anyone who doesn't fall in line! The same idea applies for DNS. ISP-side software shouldn't be qureing the root servers for stupid stuff. They should be learning the answers and not just sending 'garbage' upstream!
these are easily addressed open source and net community probems. AOL seems to be taking the first steps in this direction by simply rejecting those who don't show a valid server IP in the mail headders. Just like blackhole lists, it's really mean, maybe too mean, but it's necessary to do something. The worst thing to do is to wait for a law! We all know congress can't pass tech laws worth s$%.
This isn't a "accounting" issue like whitewater, or a "technical purgury" issue like monica. Most of those things for most people with any money would go away with a phone call or two--those were specifically political. Poindexter on the other hand, was specifically banned [by a law just for him!] from helping contras [I believe]. He not only performed the acts, but covered up for the president and vice who ordered it insite of Congress! Again, we're still paying the price for that whole arms-for-hostages thing because at the time much of that money went to people like Saddam! If his testimony was subject to the scrutiny of Clinton's he'd still be rotting in prison!
Several high-level appointees have specifically broken the law for the white house in the past. These are people that have broken the law and thrown it in the face of congress, specifically after being told what to do! This isn't missed taxes, or an epa fine, it's willful and deliberate. For starts, congress has no place confirming them at all, but these may not be confirmed seats--funny how that works.
I'm in favor of system throttling rather than actually identifying spam. Allow a home/guest user to only send so many mails/so fast. If they exceed the limit then slow them down! That would be a system fix not dependant on knowlage of the individual mails! Businesses could pay for a higher limit to go with the higher bandwidth. The same could be applied with a basyen routine to most internet communication. Some one suddenly DOSing the same IP, slow um down--and notify the user of the error, Virus blasting mails all over, throttle it till it can be fixed! Work to build ISP systems that "know" their users habits. When the traffic is way off there would be a problem, rather than pulling the plug, slow it down & compare it to past usage then allow it to speed up again. Much better than restrictive TSAs and port-blocking!
WE all WIN!
It's disruptive police threats like these that turn people mean! In reality, the procecutor was wrong--it's not like having a gun in the front seat. Many previous cases of search warrants have turned up stolen goods [reading serial numbers from your stereo while dusting for prints, looking for drugs]. If those were not the scope of the warrant then the officer was violating rights. That's been upheld in court. I would expect Computer warrants to be equally as narrow in scope! Espically given the sensitive nature of the information.
I wonder why they couldn't just show up with the police tech, run a quick search for .jpg from the last day or so burn a disk and be on their way. If it was a business, they would be more than happy for a CD, why is it with average people they feel the need to push their weight around? They tend to view all involved parties as somwhat guilty and feel it their job to punish you just in case the courts don't get to you!
a. reads all of his own spam email? If not, why? Why should we?
a. sends anonomus mail-and the list of addresses he sends it from.
b. blocks incomming spam from his personal accounts! Does he include a "secret" header code in the spam, or block the list of addresses that he owns+ his buddies? How can I be on that list?
Did everyone make sure to slightly misspell his name, fake name, etc. when they filled out the forms [note: I only just heard about this and being a lamer have not contributed my self] This would make being removed from the lists that much harder. Of course, I'm sure he's against the "do not spam" lists--so he shouldn't expect anyone to automate the removal process for his address from the databases, now should he!
If two computers are connected, you have a network. Even the simplest of networks can take advantage of remote X! Even if you, the user, can't use it, chances are that your service tech, office manager, hardware repair shop, etc will still want those functions--The whole advantage of linux are things like telneting to a "dead" machine & can work miracles w/o rebooting.
You missed what I said. The features should be available, but redistributed. I agree with you that linux needs to change significantly to grow. You're correct that 90% of desktop users don't need all the features, but you can't just throw them away either--that forks everything. But rather than eliminate them, just move them "out of the way!" Perhaps programs could be refactored to make the very basic functions work quickly, and access the more rarely used function w/o bringing everthing into the setup all the time! What most users are after is simpler setup and more stable systems. Currently Linux is "from Scratch" system--there's no way around that untill you can start buying them preinstalled at the store.
I could see this more common. I'd like a Media Distributor in the house. Connect my cable, phone, DSL, etc to a black box in the basement connnect with network wires or wireless and access all the features from anywhere in the house! I don't see why storage wouldn't be connected the same way. I think the secrecy issues are exagerated over the invisible issues. A black box storage appliance [running ?? OS but not crashing, ever] in the basement is looking like a better option to people as they have data for years-moving it from PC-to-PC is a continuing lesson in futility--that's why most offices went to central servers years ago--home users are discovering the same thing!
Europe seems to have a much more professional "butler-like" approach to law enforcement than the US. Here, if the cops find porn, first they'll confinscate it just to "check" for illegal material. Then, they're just as likely to "leak" certian choice contents [legal mind you] to your wife, pastor, employer, adoption agencies, social workers, etc. as well as reporting the number of dirty pics to reporters with your name of course!
Law enforcement should look at the Law and nothing else when enforcing the law. Europeans seem to understand this better than americans, i'm afraid. American cops personalize way too much. It seems most of the time that you have to be publically "shamed" [specifically unconstitutional, I'd add here!] rather than just have facts that point out you broke the law presented. They've taken to trying cases with neighbors, employers, and reporters to get you harmed, even if they can't get a legal case. And neatly exempted themselves from lawsuit retribution in the process!
I guess my point it that even if you didn't do anything illegal, it still may have been "wrong" and too many US police like to wave it over your heads lately, even years later! [Think TIA here!]
your wrong!
Most of Linux's current comercial advancements require Remote Desktop to function--that's the value linux/bsd brings. The current crop of paying users need true remote access for server farms, remote offices, ISP's, etc...It's the one of the key used features! Throwing it out isn't an option! Right now geeks and engineers ARE STILL the userbase. Even in an office, the users may not need it, but the admins live by remote access to simplify/automate their work! Again, the feature adds too much value to remove!
That said, there should be some effort to "streamline" functions. A neat idea would be to look at the standard install [say debiam stable] and look at all the features all the software uses. Then Re-allocate the functions accordingly. Maybe some KDE/Gnome features belong in X, maybe some Apache features need move to X, maybe it's the other way, and X features can be move by special purpose "up" to the apps/libs that use them most often. Look at something like Knoppix, the CD has almost 1.5 GB of stuff. If it's all Open Source, couldn't the WHOLE SYSTEM be optimized to reduce the size and maintenance costs?
More than anything else, that's what needs to happen with linux in general. Just admit that certian programs are "Standard Linux" and expected always to be there. Then optimize the whole group of them to work together! This would be preferable to each side trying to "tweak" it's own stuff thru "bending" the APIs to get better results for it's program and conflicting with all others!
This is a good thing for MS and customers as well. If they would quit trying to play monopoly, and just play along they would undoubtablely still be the top dog--they just keep trying to be the only dog, which is legally and morally wrong and most people know that.
Cool! I can watch it on My AOL DSL..
I knew I had a good reason for suffering thru it! [actually DSL's not that bad because it's thru SBC. Both sides get a cut so service has been great!]
The one advantage they have is that they own the poles and the right-of-way! If they wanted to string fibre, they could do it very cheaply. Their other option is to co-locate their network stuff at the service stations further down the pipe--and bypass the big nasty transformers. Most power cos already use network services to manage the substations anyway, so the uplink to the net isn't an issue-but it is political.
The universities would be more helpful if the RIAA let them in on a cut of the sales! They could set up a shop at the student centers and also on the Uni's network. Drop the price way down per track say Let's face it if online music won't work at schools with massive bandwidth and a captive audiance, then it won't work at all! RIAA--try it out or stop crying and sell records which can't be easily copied [every digital copy would be illegal/ subject to fair use only!]
This is where a little media action [propaganda?] could actually be helpful! The CDC needs to get on CNN and Newspapers and start explaining to people what is expected should SARS land in their community! For the most part, it's not scary, they just want you to go home and stay home. There is an opportunity here to get people up to speed with dangerous disese controlls--masks, cleaning supplies, and procedures to follow. Just cause your kid brings it home from school doesn't mean the whole house will get it. BUT.. they need to get the word out Before they start locking people down, not after they start. It would reduce the fear in the public--and the public's fear of a thing is often worse than the thing itself! If it only kills one out of 25 that get it, but we have to arrest and threaten everyone who might come in contact, then our fears end up killing more people than the disease! Now is the time to inform people calmly, logically, and fairly before there is the need for more "drastic" measures.
Who knows, maybe they could get cable hooked up or at least a stay on the utilities untill the people are deemed healthy again. Non-disease considerations are as much a part of the problem as the actual quarintine. People need assurance they won't loose their jobs, utilities, food, and contact with the outside world as well as being safe for the community. Those considerations should be addressed as well!
My states Former governer was famous for all the "work" he brought to the state. Unfortunately, when most of the shops opened, the workforce was 10% smaller and 30% temps! They bragged about bringing in 1000's of jobs for big-name companies--but if you're a permatemp you don't get to actually work for the company and get the rewards!
The whole issue is about honesty of management! I've come to the concusion that most company management executives will not follow the law unless it's at gunpoint! [hence the need for more gun control!] They are not "honest" people: they're scammers. I've worked for union shops that the union was the only thing saving the boss's a$$ from the slammer due to his illegal decisions! I'm not a big union freak, but they represent the interests of the employees for the most part. I find it funny that employers don't mind industry "associations" that set wages and jobs, but think that unions of employees are unamerican and against their owner's "rights". Bosses routinely try to break the rules as often as possible-the first year at my current job, they changed the rulebook 4 times because things worked "too well" for the workers. In tech, I don't think unions are the answer, things move too quickly. I do think that Unemployment Insurance laws should be changed to count all employees at your site, not just on your "books". Another interesting thing is the bosses version of "honesty": What you tell them in passing banter, at interviews, etc is expected to be absolute truth, concerns you have about your work don't need to be in writing; When you expect them to do something though, the only "truth" they point to is what's on paper, not what they "might" [told you at interview, etc to get you to take the job!] have said--[that you "didn't need" to write down!]
Like another poster said though, many of these same executives are/will be paying the piper soon anyway..They've lied to the banks, IRS, vendors, customers, and stockholders as well as employees! The true irony of it all is that the same stockholders that "approve" this are generally getting their money out of the pension funds of the 60's, 70's & 80's! One day soon, they'll want to cash-out-only to find that their stocks are worthless because the younger generation working at their old employers don't have pensions or benifits that ever let them have enough money to buy stocks.
If it's in the scope of your contract [I'll assume that it is.] Then it sounds like a policy/direction change of the project. If you were paid for consulting and they didn't ask your opinion [again, your fearful to speak up] on the proposed changes, then no matter the title, your a contractor, not a consultant! They just want a warm body for the chair, not a business committment.
Just from the fact you have to ask, they don't want your input. If you speak up, you'll just cause trouble. If you're right, but do what they ask anyway, it's still your fault. You're the contractor! You are there as a body to blame!
Personally, my boss likes to do the same thing. He brings in new people as "contractors" expecting them to make big improvements, then second-guesses every suggestion and expects the status-quo. Ask once, then do what they say. They might be up to listening, but if they brought you on to value your opinion, they should have outright asked you up front. Try not to make waves, then get the 1134 out of the way!
Cliche or not, it's exactly what's happening right now. I'm not enough of a nut to think someone knew about 9/11 and allowed it, but most certianly, unelected members of govt. used 9/11 to pass laws using good intensions and fear that normally never would have been considred. [remember "Patriot" was tried several times and never made it out of committe before 9/11!] Now George wants a war, and has made no indication of backing away from Iraq after we're done or of stopping the war machine from fighting another "enemy"!
We're now at war, and that makes us a legitimate target for our opponents--that's not terrorism, it's just war! In wars innocent people die--That's why many people didn't want one! BUT, Should one more "terrorist" act happen [I wouldn't put the next one past a conspiricy theory!] I forsee one more press conference telling us George is taking control during wartime--I'm sure he'll give it back too!
A week, a month, a year--expect it to be comming or get up and vote/impeach these guys out of office!
It really does!
That causes the SCOUS to be flooded with cases forcing them to pick and choose. Its the luck of the draw to get something overturned--hope you want to go to jail for it. Figure, the prosecutor is trying to get the harshest possible results and get "First Judgement" [yes, just as eagerly sought as First Post!] So even if your case is stupid on the fringe of the law you'll get full force just to try it out. In effect, the executive branches throw droves of people at the Courts burying them in cases--some good ones get thru to justice, and some innocent people get punished--but they had their "day in court" so it's fair [immoral for the exectuive branch-but legally fair]
In My state michigan, our supreme court has Judical Review before the law goes into effect. They are allowed to judge on it before an innocent person is punished for breaking it! This causes the Legeslature to think twice when they are passing a law because it can immeditely be struck down. It also lets them go back right away and fix the law shortly after passing it rather than throwing it to future generations that know nothing about it to deal with it!
I think the Founders left it to be combative to prevent corruption/collusion of the branches and the courts have traditionally considered themselves outside the Lawmaking process. They don't make 'um just judge 'um. Unfortuantely, with the "Patriot" act if you don't get a lawyer or trial, you can't overturn the law can you! The court can't rule on what they can't "see". Yes it needs fixed, but even if it was, the court would be overrun with more cases making fairness still a moot point. Unfortunately, the court can't find the other branches in contempt and lock them up-only voters can kick out CongressCritters-they're immune from most procecution in office, only congress can impeach the prez. Even if they do flat out break the law the third branch can't actually do anything about it. They can only react to actions by another branch, not take action!
Maybe that should change. But it would take an amendment to do that. The states would have to float it on their own over the heads of congress making it an order of magintude more difficult, but it could be done. What would that amendment be? Judical review would be nice--the ability to call congress out for foolish laws up front would be a good thing.
The only other thing is to make the Congress hold the Prez responsible for his departments. [of course you have to vote! to get them to do that!] Most departments answer directly to the prez...He should be solely accountable for his minion's actions! But Congress would have to start impeachment over that.. that's the only way.
I do agree we should stop talking about cracks and keygens. If we stop talking about how to pirate, then people will economically be forced to look at Linux! That's a good thing and the BSA is helping the movement.
Perhaps the FSF could join the BSA. Then they could audit other BSA members for GNU compliance and advertize Linux with BSA money! "Don't Pirate. Use Open Source!" Hey, it could work!
For cryin' out loud show some backbone, show some national pride! A lot of Aussies really are decended from Pirates! [and other criminals] Why are they letting the gun-control, *IAAs, and other people push them around! Your ancestors are probably rollin'over in their graves!
Level 20 Paladin of the network order. The last Worm I fought gave me +20 XP. Only need +100 to level up to 21.
Then you have good solid industry support for your skills and a ranking system to back up the raise you want! Just like in RPG, spending all night working on patching systems would gain you more XP than just waiting for things to go wrong. You can post rankings on battle.net where everyone can see how LEET you are!
Script kiddies could be level 1 theifs! and get XP for their expolits!