Bacteria that eat cellulose (that utilise or secrete an enzyme called cellulase) already exist. Ruminant beasties pretty much depend on a symbiosis with these bugs to get what they need from grass or other green leaves.
Hey, if it's all being bioengineered, why not make migratory plants?
1. Migratory plants are usually algae, and 2. Yes, we can do that (i.e. tweak algal DNA to produce specific molecules), but... 3. It's a lot harder to insert useful sequences into the DNA of a eukaryotic (i.e. plant, fungal or animal) cell than it is to do the same with a prokaryotic (bacterial) cell. E. coli tends to be the whipping-boy of molecular biologists since its biochemistry is so well-researched, so it is the obvious choice for this job.
I tried NoScript for a few days, but found it so intrusive I ended up chucking it out. I find a blacklist via hosts file and/or adblock is just as effective for most purposes.
There seems to be some confusion here between Java and javascript. The article to which the OP links does nothing to correct this. They are not the same thing. I've found all sorts of malicious stuff being attempted with javascript, but I can't say I've really found anyone other than banks who use Java. And I guess I more or less have to trust my bank (within limits)...
I haven't had that in years and don't miss a damn thing.
Maybe you don't do any banking on the internet, then. Here in Australia, at least, it is quite common for banks to use Java in an attempt to make their products cross platforms politely. And I, for one, welc... am perfectly happy with that, since I spent many years (once I had got over some of my luddite tendencies) whining about those who coded only for Winbloze boxes.
I haven't found many other sites that go in for Java in such a big way, but if I came across one that loaded a popup like that, I would simply blacklist it permanently in my hosts file. It simply doesn't pay the advertiser to piss people off that much.
It's a mistake to put your unconditional trust in any organization or institution, no matter what branding or happy face they show to the world.
Well said. I certainly wouldn't unconditionally trust any individual package of software. For instance, the number of people I know who apparently trust their browser's password manager to keep username/password combos for critical things like internet banking safe is nothing short of appalling. The security on them may even be quite good, but they only have to be compromised once to completely ruin you.
That's not to say we shouldn't use things like password managers. It would be mildly inconvenient, for instance, for me to lose my Slashdot ID, but hardly the end of the world. But trusting software instead of common sense is wilful stupidity.
See, it's not the inappropriate words that are the problem
That's right. There are quite often circumstances where it is entirely appropriate (in the interests of both truth and accuracy) to address someone as a complete and utter fuckwit.
Don't want to remember all your passwords? Don't use sites that require passwords.
Not very helpful, perhaps.
But then, I don't allow my browser to remember any passwords that are important to me (by which I mean things like banking or important email accounts).
Less important sites - and yes, Slashdot is one of them - can have passwords stored on my machine, since it's not really the end of the world if they get cracked.
Re:You still have service fees?
on
ATM Turns 40
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· Score: 1
and YOUR ASB (you know it as Commonwealth Bank of Australia) are the TWO banks that charge absolutely no fees whatsoever.
Some people might be misled by this. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is just as voracious as the rest of the banks in Australia, if not more so.
Re:You still have service fees?
on
ATM Turns 40
·
· Score: 1
After a few rounds of this, it was decided that it made more sense, and would be more publically acceptable, for *no-one* to charge for their use.
I wish their Australian counterparts had taken the lesson the same way.
Instead, they all just take the fee. multiply it by a suitable factor, then slug the customer. They don't have to worry about how acceptable the practice is if no-one's going to call them on it.
Like the so-called "clearing period" for direct transfers or cheques, when we all know the money has simply been acquired by the bank for its own purposes for that interval.
Re:You still have service fees?
on
ATM Turns 40
·
· Score: 1
One of the best things England had was being able to get your money from ATM's free of charge.
I like your forensically accurate use of the past tense. I think just about all banks worldwide have now forgotten that it is YOUR money...
Email is often ignored these days - in fact, its principal virtue seems to be the fact that it is so easy to ignore until such time (if then) as it suits you.
Mr Gates probably gets more done (as do I, in fact) by picking up the phone.
Slashdot Mirror
Indeed, no problem. I never heard of them before, and so I don't want their resources (for what they're worth).
So they can just go jump on their own heads.
Bacteria that eat cellulose (that utilise or secrete an enzyme called cellulase) already exist. Ruminant beasties pretty much depend on a symbiosis with these bugs to get what they need from grass or other green leaves.
Hey, if it's all being bioengineered, why not make migratory plants?
1. Migratory plants are usually algae, and
2. Yes, we can do that (i.e. tweak algal DNA to produce specific molecules), but...
3. It's a lot harder to insert useful sequences into the DNA of a eukaryotic (i.e. plant, fungal or animal) cell than it is to do the same with a prokaryotic (bacterial) cell. E. coli tends to be the whipping-boy of molecular biologists since its biochemistry is so well-researched, so it is the obvious choice for this job.
Hmmm, it seems I've made a liar of myself. Bendigo Bank now uses javascript over https. My bad...
I'm curious - which Aussie Banks are still using Java?
Bendigo Bank and St George Bank, at least. I haven't used ANZ, NAB or Bankwest for a few years, but they used to use Java.
I tried NoScript for a few days, but found it so intrusive I ended up chucking it out. I find a blacklist via hosts file and/or adblock is just as effective for most purposes.
Yeah, while we're at it, let's do away with this evil html stuff, and just use naked ASCII text...
Heck, the demo popped up an unkillable window on my AmigaOS box, and no JVM even exists for that...
Hmmm, interesting. On my Linux machine, the applet lets you just click your way out of it.
There seems to be some confusion here between Java and javascript. The article to which the OP links does nothing to correct this. They are not the same thing. I've found all sorts of malicious stuff being attempted with javascript, but I can't say I've really found anyone other than banks who use Java. And I guess I more or less have to trust my bank (within limits)...
I haven't had that in years and don't miss a damn thing.
Maybe you don't do any banking on the internet, then. Here in Australia, at least, it is quite common for banks to use Java in an attempt to make their products cross platforms politely. And I, for one, welc... am perfectly happy with that, since I spent many years (once I had got over some of my luddite tendencies) whining about those who coded only for Winbloze boxes.
I haven't found many other sites that go in for Java in such a big way, but if I came across one that loaded a popup like that, I would simply blacklist it permanently in my hosts file. It simply doesn't pay the advertiser to piss people off that much.
It's a mistake to put your unconditional trust in any organization or institution, no matter what branding or happy face they show to the world.
Well said. I certainly wouldn't unconditionally trust any individual package of software. For instance, the number of people I know who apparently trust their browser's password manager to keep username/password combos for critical things like internet banking safe is nothing short of appalling. The security on them may even be quite good, but they only have to be compromised once to completely ruin you.
That's not to say we shouldn't use things like password managers. It would be mildly inconvenient, for instance, for me to lose my Slashdot ID, but hardly the end of the world. But trusting software instead of common sense is wilful stupidity.
See, it's not the inappropriate words that are the problem
That's right. There are quite often circumstances where it is entirely appropriate (in the interests of both truth and accuracy) to address someone as a complete and utter fuckwit.
Don't want to remember all your passwords? Don't use sites that require passwords.
Not very helpful, perhaps.
But then, I don't allow my browser to remember any passwords that are important to me (by which I mean things like banking or important email accounts).
Less important sites - and yes, Slashdot is one of them - can have passwords stored on my machine, since it's not really the end of the world if they get cracked.
and YOUR ASB (you know it as Commonwealth Bank of Australia) are the TWO banks that charge absolutely no fees whatsoever.
Some people might be misled by this. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is just as voracious as the rest of the banks in Australia, if not more so.
You can always not send caller ID if you want privacy.
Sure you can, so long as you don't mind if the person you are calling assumes you are a telemarketer and refuses to pick up the call.
"Intelligent design is just creationism in a cheap tuxedo."
...this is stupid.
OK, so we turn all that plastic back into oil.
Just so that we can burn it?
Just what the world needs, I'm sure.
After a few rounds of this, it was decided that it made more sense, and would be more publically acceptable, for *no-one* to charge for their use.
I wish their Australian counterparts had taken the lesson the same way.
Instead, they all just take the fee. multiply it by a suitable factor, then slug the customer. They don't have to worry about how acceptable the practice is if no-one's going to call them on it.
Like the so-called "clearing period" for direct transfers or cheques, when we all know the money has simply been acquired by the bank for its own purposes for that interval.
One of the best things England had was being able to get your money from ATM's free of charge.
I like your forensically accurate use of the past tense. I think just about all banks worldwide have now forgotten that it is YOUR money...
the first people just called it a cash machine.
:-P
When I first came across these devices (~1970), I immediately started calling them "Fraudpoints".
I think I was ahead of my time...
What's wrong with turning 40? huh?!?!
;-)
I'm looking forward to my 50th.
I know it often seems Slashdot is infested with snotty-nosed 11-year-olds, but it ain't necessarily so...
So, slashdot, why are you running 50 ads at the top of every page?
What ads? I don't see any. That's what Adblock is for.
This has come up in the recent past. What is it with all these people that they suddenly want to be procurers?
Here's a typical definition for pimp:
One who finds customers for a prostitute; a procurer. intr.v. , pimped , pimping , pimps
It explains a lot, doesn't it?
For once, I'm with him.
Email is often ignored these days - in fact, its principal virtue seems to be the fact that it is so easy to ignore until such time (if then) as it suits you.
Mr Gates probably gets more done (as do I, in fact) by picking up the phone.
The idea that Google is still an underdog to MS is pure fantasy.
A plague on both their houses.
It's about time Microsoft and Google both recognised that NEITHER of them has a right to spy on the user.