Several of the IT big-wigs at the DHB are seemingly blindly pro-Microsoft and seem all too quick to shrug off other, perhaps more efficient alternatives.
And the people over them have no clue and must rely on the advice from the "IT big-wigs". Even if there is a massive IT failure that has its roots exclusively in the Microsoft OS environment, that culture has developed many ways of shifting blame to outside villains and the cure is always newer MS software (along with updated licenses) and additional hardware and software for "better protection". That's all just to protect their jobs and their little empires. Professionally, they're simply too lazy to learn different technology in order to make better decisions. The result is that you (and FOSS) lose to these professional pinheads every time.
I've always found it amusing that one of the most frequent excuses for not adopting FOSS is that supposedly intelligent MCSE admins are not capable of ever learning anything about UNIX administration.
Sorry, but it's true. You can either spend thousands of hours managing Linux and it's terrible interfaces, or get Microsoft that does it already for you.
I see you needed to post as AC since you don't want to attach your name to such statements. That tells me all I need to know about the strength of both your character and your argument.
Microsoft may or may not be entitled to the money. If they hold the patents, and are NOT enforcing the patents nor disclosing the infringing products, even though it has all the evidence it needs (source code to all things OSS), then it is "Extorting" because it is NOT entitled to the money.
are obviously a threat to our security and the sanctity of the community. The government is doing the right thing here. (NOTE: stupid people with mod points-- this is sarcasm).
I didn't sell a defective product that was wide open to malicious exploitation by design, Microsoft did. People already paid for that OS and MS made plenty of bucks from that; Bill's billions is proof of that. Let Bill spend some of that to clean up this mess before that arrogant, self-aggrandizing lackey Scott Charney asks me to spend the first dime of my money.
This is just a preparation to apply draconian controls and restrictions on the Internet, which is the hidden agenda of the government. Sadly, no amount of protest will stop them.
If this was a privately owned piece of art and the image was used for commercial purposes. Since the artist does not own it, I think he's SOL. But if he did have a contract reserving his copyright, then the USPS is SOL. Yet, if there's any public money in the memorial, I'd say that the artist is SOL no matter what.
I once nearly took a job at a distillery that produced alcohol for mixing with gasoline. It used some special Union Carbide pellets, pressure and high heat to chemically strip the water from the alcohol molecules, so efficiently that they had to add water to get it down to 190 proof. Even though the proofing house was refrigerated, you could get a good buzz on from just inhaling the air in the room much less drinking it (surprisingly it was very smooth); it was potent stuff. Anyway, before the 190-proof stuff could be shipped, it had to be rendered non-potable by, surprise, adding a small amount of gasoline.
It comes with a Bluetooth headset so you don’t have to keep talking like David Hasselhoff talked to his super-car KITT in the “Knight Rider” series.
What's the point of that? If I'm buying a rare and expensive watch-phone, I want people to know I'm the uber-geek, dammit. I don't need no stinkin' Bluetooth headset.
Maybe it is just me but if I were using one of these laptops and did not want to go rooting for the offending program wouldn't a small piece of tape over the camera do the trick? Just a thought
--TR
Wow look what happened, the school got in trouble. Here's how you figure out if the software is installed, on Windows just look in the registry with regedit, on Mac just use the terminal, if you can't do either because you don't know how then log off facebook and get some real skills that will serve you in life.
I realize this is Slashdot, but RTFA or STFU before you log off MySpace and attempt to get modded 'insightful' here.
Admins disabled the terminal. Students are disciplined severely for jail-breaking the laptop. None of the laptops ran Windows. What's your next tech comment, Senator Stevens?
"My question, is why?.... Perhaps some IT dude has a jones for young girls and thought he could catch one 'indisposed'?"
Perhaps some IT dude or male administrator has a jones for young boys
Or is just a zealous dickhead. That's more likely.
I'm guessing there was some problem with drugs, or truancy, or something...a new teacher or young, idiot admin fresh
None of which excuses what appears to be a colossal violation of individual privacy by a government authority. Stopping this kind of institutional abuse is what brave people have given their lives for on countless battlefields.
Apparently the people you cite never paid attention in school.
We need to wait for a full trial before we find out whether the school did what was alleged, and to determine the punishment if they did.
Dude, this is Slashdot. Did you just get here?
From reading about the software and its implementation on the school's laptops, it's clear that the students had no control whatsoever over the webcam which means that somebody in authority had to turn it on. Since the student in question was told by an assistant principal the school had a picture of the student at home with 'drugs', it seems reasonable that it was turned on when a laptop was not 'stolen'. Video footage of the schools IT guy shows him talking about doing exactly what is alleged.
There are enough dots for Slashdotters to connect because WE ARE NOT THE COURTS and IANAL.
Slashdot Mirror
Several of the IT big-wigs at the DHB are seemingly blindly pro-Microsoft and seem all too quick to shrug off other, perhaps more efficient alternatives.
And the people over them have no clue and must rely on the advice from the "IT big-wigs". Even if there is a massive IT failure that has its roots exclusively in the Microsoft OS environment, that culture has developed many ways of shifting blame to outside villains and the cure is always newer MS software (along with updated licenses) and additional hardware and software for "better protection". That's all just to protect their jobs and their little empires. Professionally, they're simply too lazy to learn different technology in order to make better decisions. The result is that you (and FOSS) lose to these professional pinheads every time.
I've always found it amusing that one of the most frequent excuses for not adopting FOSS is that supposedly intelligent MCSE admins are not capable of ever learning anything about UNIX administration.
Microsoft is cheaper.
Sorry, but it's true. You can either spend thousands of hours managing Linux and it's terrible interfaces, or get Microsoft that does it already for you.
I see you needed to post as AC since you don't want to attach your name to such statements. That tells me all I need to know about the strength of both your character and your argument.
So you have asshat zealots for bosses and you came to Slashdot for advice? Let the games begin!
Microsoft may or may not be entitled to the money. If they hold the patents, and are NOT enforcing the patents nor disclosing the infringing products, even though it has all the evidence it needs (source code to all things OSS), then it is "Extorting" because it is NOT entitled to the money.
Why would this not be fraud?
are obviously a threat to our security and the sanctity of the community. The government is doing the right thing here. (NOTE: stupid people with mod points-- this is sarcasm).
There's a nap for that.
help tax Scott Charney?
I didn't sell a defective product that was wide open to malicious exploitation by design, Microsoft did. People already paid for that OS and MS made plenty of bucks from that; Bill's billions is proof of that. Let Bill spend some of that to clean up this mess before that arrogant, self-aggrandizing lackey Scott Charney asks me to spend the first dime of my money.
Sony must have gotten schooled by Microsoft about "encouraging" their users to upgrade.
Still, I'm sure a simple root-kit would fix the problem.
Tinfoil athletic supporter might be a better option. And I'm sure duct tape would be useful somehow . . .
Recent IT events have suggested that the Australian government is below par as far as their critical thinking skills go, so this is a surprise?
This is just a preparation to apply draconian controls and restrictions on the Internet, which is the hidden agenda of the government. Sadly, no amount of protest will stop them.
If this was a privately owned piece of art and the image was used for commercial purposes. Since the artist does not own it, I think he's SOL. But if he did have a contract reserving his copyright, then the USPS is SOL. Yet, if there's any public money in the memorial, I'd say that the artist is SOL no matter what.
I once nearly took a job at a distillery that produced alcohol for mixing with gasoline. It used some special Union Carbide pellets, pressure and high heat to chemically strip the water from the alcohol molecules, so efficiently that they had to add water to get it down to 190 proof. Even though the proofing house was refrigerated, you could get a good buzz on from just inhaling the air in the room much less drinking it (surprisingly it was very smooth); it was potent stuff. Anyway, before the 190-proof stuff could be shipped, it had to be rendered non-potable by, surprise, adding a small amount of gasoline.
It comes with a Bluetooth headset so you don’t have to keep talking like David Hasselhoff talked to his super-car KITT in the “Knight Rider” series.
What's the point of that? If I'm buying a rare and expensive watch-phone, I want people to know I'm the uber-geek, dammit. I don't need no stinkin' Bluetooth headset.
You already took the 100 million lines of code when you bought the car.
Now do you want the bug fixes, or would you rather find out what a "fatal exception" means in more physical terms?
THIS
They only seem to market themselves by objectifying women.
You're not one of those people who think that "The Office" is an actual documentary, are you?
Or "The Flintstones" is a documentary?
Why does sarcasm get modded as flamebait? Or did it just go over your head?
Maybe it is just me but if I were using one of these laptops and did not want to go rooting for the offending program wouldn't a small piece of tape over the camera do the trick? Just a thought --TR
Last Thursday called and wants its tape back. http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1555240&cid=31188150
Wow look what happened, the school got in trouble. Here's how you figure out if the software is installed, on Windows just look in the registry with regedit, on Mac just use the terminal, if you can't do either because you don't know how then log off facebook and get some real skills that will serve you in life.
I realize this is Slashdot, but RTFA or STFU before you log off MySpace and attempt to get modded 'insightful' here.
Admins disabled the terminal. Students are disciplined severely for jail-breaking the laptop. None of the laptops ran Windows. What's your next tech comment, Senator Stevens?
"My question, is why?.... Perhaps some IT dude has a jones for young girls and thought he could catch one 'indisposed'?" Perhaps some IT dude or male administrator has a jones for young boys
Or is just a zealous dickhead. That's more likely.
...I don't quite get;
I'm guessing there was some problem with drugs, or truancy, or something ...a new teacher or young, idiot admin fresh
None of which excuses what appears to be a colossal violation of individual privacy by a government authority. Stopping this kind of institutional abuse is what brave people have given their lives for on countless battlefields.
Apparently the people you cite never paid attention in school.
IIRC, there was some private/parent fund raising.
That about said it!
What he said.
We need to wait for a full trial before we find out whether the school did what was alleged, and to determine the punishment if they did.
Dude, this is Slashdot. Did you just get here?
From reading about the software and its implementation on the school's laptops, it's clear that the students had no control whatsoever over the webcam which means that somebody in authority had to turn it on. Since the student in question was told by an assistant principal the school had a picture of the student at home with 'drugs', it seems reasonable that it was turned on when a laptop was not 'stolen'. Video footage of the schools IT guy shows him talking about doing exactly what is alleged.
There are enough dots for Slashdotters to connect because WE ARE NOT THE COURTS and IANAL.