Theoretically, code that you didn't write yourself should not be trusted. A fairly well-known example is Ken Thompson's ACM Award lecture, Reflections on Trusting Trust, where he describes how to write a Trojan horse C-compiler:
First, target a specific program and specific language construct and modify the compiler code for a corresponding malicious actions (trojans).
Then, compile this tainted source to get a tainted binary and install it as the official compiler.
Then, remove the trojan(s) from the original source code of the compiler and the trageted program and compile it with the Trojan binary. The Trojan-ridden compiler will insert trojans into clean source, with no traces in source anywhere.
I also heard unconfirmed reports that he actually did this, but somebody please tell me if you know.
I am not aware enough about the code legacy of GNU/Linux, but is all the code in the GNU system from scratch? Does it legacy need to be checked for backdoors or are we to rely on a chain of trust?
I was pretty surprised when I read how complex the pricing racket is in the U.S. Having lived most of my life in India, I was pretty surprised when I came to the U.S. In India, most non-bulk articles have a Maximum Retail Price marked on them by the manufacturer. The notion of Maximum Retail Price was very closely coupled with the cost of production. If you shopped with a particular shop frequently, they could feel free to sell the article to you at any lower price than the maximum.
Second, with reference to the airline pricing business, how do services like priceline work? You can basically book arbitrarily long in advance (within the 330 day limit), but you get your prices accepted pretty early on, even when there is a chance the airline could charge a premium for your seat.
The airline pricing industry is a racket indeed, because for instance, flying from Boston to Chicago is more expensive than flying from Boston to Milwaukee!
...would be modifying it into some kind of combat or aircraft simulation for serious military training reasons. Many foreign governments prefer open-source for their own security, as well as the public good. Why not extend the philosophy even to something as seemingly frivolous as games?
... one can simply not ignore the huge contributions it has made to the computing world. It was the first real operating system, whose various forms have survived long since its invention. The Unix Timesharing System was the first to encourage an interactive, collaborative research and development environment.
The effects of this system were far-reaching. Even the shell of a crappy OS like DOS used Unix-like syntax, especially for I/O redirection. Heck, even Microsoft put its bets on Unix through XENIX. The present-day derivatives of Unix rely on some standards that stretch waaay back into the past. (Think rock-solid substrates like the x86 instruction set or IP.)
Presumably, the reason Unix proper is almost dead today is unnecessary and pathetic license-haggling, its non-affiliation with free-as-in-speech software and its 'hijacking' by other companies, such as Sun's Solaris.
Also, the needs of computing have changed drastically. We are seeing the era of more mobile, wireless and embedded computing, for which lean embedded Linux kernels are much better suited.
Ending with a question: what present-day OS would people consider as the successor of Unix (however you interpret that)? Any thoughts?
I thought this how-much-can-your-hardware-take theme was getting old but I forgot that this is Slashdot and not kuro5hin.
Re:For the success of any ad-hoc multi-hop network
on
Wireless Mesh Networks
·
· Score: 1
I should probably add that by the term economic model, I did not mean that some corporate god-on-high will set down rules of the road for mesh network use.
By an economic model (and note that in the original, it was in quotes), I mean that any mesh network routing protocol must take into account the resources of each node when routing packets. The consideration given to various factors in the design of such a protocol constitutes a model for judicious resource use and it is this model that I refer to as the 'economic model' in my original post.
It isn't clear how the ozone kills the insects, but Mason said the bugs may inhale the gas, which then could act like a neurotoxin.
Here's one hypothesis. Ozone (O_3) is really unstable and disintegrates into regular oxygen (O_2) and a nascent oxygen atom (O) at the drop of a hat. Once the ozone is inside the insect, this free oxygen radical, in search of electrons, can wreak havoc with the internal chemistry of the insect at a very fundamental level.
[unsure] Isn't it harmful even for humans to inhale ozone? [/unsure]
For the success of any ad-hoc multi-hop networks..
on
Wireless Mesh Networks
·
· Score: 4, Informative
... there needs to be a viable 'economic model' in place.
The main issue at stake here is that each node in the ad-hoc network is both a router and a network node in itself. Consider an ad-hoc network I am participating in when I am riding a bus. Let us say I am watching a thriller on DVD on my device locally. All of a sudden, my two neighboring co-passengers start streaming video from each other's devices and suck up so much bandwidth (and therefore processing power) from my device that my DVD starts to jump right at the climax of the movie. Clearly, this is quite unacceptable.
In general, if Device A relays some packets on Device B's behalf, then Device B should give it some number of credits that Device A can use in the future to have Device B repay the favor. In choosing an ad-hoc route, the protocol which routes packets through ad-hoc networks must take into account not only how much each device is contributing to the network, but also how equipped they are in terms of processing power, current battery level and the like.
They should have taken some lessons from Slate, another media/content provider who is currently struggling. Okay, they may be struggling but at least they are afloat (so far...). Perhaps RH could have offered alternative diversified content, or adopted a more aggressive (read obtrusive) advertising model. Is this just a case of there not being enough will to save it?
To: Members of the MIT Community
Subj: MIT's policies regarding copyrights
---------------
In recent weeks, many members of our Community have received a letter from
BSA (Business Software Alliance; www.bsa.org) and/or heard BSA sponsored
advertisements regarding software licensing compliance.
At this time, I write to remind people of the Institute's copyright policy
(see: for a complete statement of the
policy):
MIT respects copyright law and Institute policy calls for our
community not to violate copyrights and to adhere to license requirements.
Claims of copyright infringement are promptly investigated. If
the clam is found to be valid, MIT will take prompt action to have the
infringing activity stopped.
At this time, MIT is not aware that the BSA has been granted authority to
enforce the copyrights of its members. If the BSA contacts you regarding
an alleged infringement, MIT's standard practices should be followed. The
BSA should be directed to Stop-it, the MIT unit with responsibility for
following-up on copyright infringement complaints resulting from
network-based activities. Stop-it is found at stopit@mit.edu or at
.
Without specific written authority from a copyright holder or other valid
legal authority, the BSA has no right to inspect MIT computers for illegal
copies of software. MIT most likely will have licenses covering the
software in question. Those licenses often spell out the audit rights of
the vendor as well as the rights MIT has to make copies of the software.
Anyone approached by the BSA with a complaint of software piracy should
confirm the license status before proceeding further. In the event
appropriate licensed use cannot be confirmed, James D Bruce, VP for
Information Systems, should be contacted for appropriate follow-up with
BSA representatives.
For further advice on matters concerning BSA inquiries or copyright
infringement in general, please contact the Office of Intellectual Property
Counsel at (XXX) YYY-YYYY, the Office for the VP for Information Systems
at (YYY) XXX-XXXX or Stopit (stopit@mit.edu).
DNA Computing reminds me of analog computing devices, where the computation is instant, because of forces that bring a physical system into equilibrium. But it's the pre-processing and post-processing that are time-consuming.
Consider a bunch of uncooked spaghetti sticks in your hand. Let us further suppose their lengths are proportional to a list of numbers you have with you. Hold them vertically against a table or other flat surface and release your hand. Bam! The spaghetti sticks fall into equilibrium. Then, from this bunch, pick out spaghetti sticks in ascending order and voila, you have sorted your list of numbers.
Likewise, consider 5 burettes or other calibrated water-columns whose bottoms are all connected to a common tube. Use stop-cocks to separate each water column. Fill up the burettes with water corresponding to some list of numbers you have. Release the stop-cocks and the water level in all the burettes equalizes to the average of those numbers.
Fun with analog computing!
I am not at all convinced that this interview took place.
Is is just me, or am I seeing too much M$-related stories over the past 24 hours on Slashdot? As if to add to the profusion of Microsoft-related stories, yet another link of doubtful veracity is propagated... *sigh*
The article does not mention anything about passenger meal choices being disclosed.
In any case, catching a terrorist might not be as simple as checking whether he or she ate pork on the flight. Muslim youth are misled into terrorist camps after being told that they would be fighting for their religion and therefore living the life of a righteous Muslim. However, part of their 'training' includes instruction on how to blend in seamlessly with Westerners. In particular, there are lessons where they do the unthinkable for a Muslim - eat pork and drink alcohol. I don't have a link to back this up with at the moment, but I have seen this story thanks to a friend from Palestine.
Profiling might be prudent, but remember that the terrorists aren't stupid.
Slashdot Mirror
- First, target a specific program and specific language construct and modify the compiler code for a corresponding malicious actions (trojans).
- Then, compile this tainted source to get a tainted binary and install it as the official compiler.
- Then, remove the trojan(s) from the original source code of the compiler and the trageted program and compile it with the Trojan binary. The Trojan-ridden compiler will insert trojans into clean source, with no traces in source anywhere.
I also heard unconfirmed reports that he actually did this, but somebody please tell me if you know.I am not aware enough about the code legacy of GNU/Linux, but is all the code in the GNU system from scratch? Does it legacy need to be checked for backdoors or are we to rely on a chain of trust?
Second, with reference to the airline pricing business, how do services like priceline work? You can basically book arbitrarily long in advance (within the 330 day limit), but you get your prices accepted pretty early on, even when there is a chance the airline could charge a premium for your seat.
The airline pricing industry is a racket indeed, because for instance, flying from Boston to Chicago is more expensive than flying from Boston to Milwaukee!
It may be feasible once the Space Elevator is constructed.
...would be modifying it into some kind of combat or aircraft simulation for serious military training reasons. Many foreign governments prefer open-source for their own security, as well as the public good. Why not extend the philosophy even to something as seemingly frivolous as games?
Robotic ants inventor James McLurkin wins $30K Lemelson student prize
The effects of this system were far-reaching. Even the shell of a crappy OS like DOS used Unix-like syntax, especially for I/O redirection. Heck, even Microsoft put its bets on Unix through XENIX. The present-day derivatives of Unix rely on some standards that stretch waaay back into the past. (Think rock-solid substrates like the x86 instruction set or IP.)
Presumably, the reason Unix proper is almost dead today is unnecessary and pathetic license-haggling, its non-affiliation with free-as-in-speech software and its 'hijacking' by other companies, such as Sun's Solaris.
Also, the needs of computing have changed drastically. We are seeing the era of more mobile, wireless and embedded computing, for which lean embedded Linux kernels are much better suited.
Ending with a question: what present-day OS would people consider as the successor of Unix (however you interpret that)? Any thoughts?
How can one release such software without also releasing an antidote secretly to the Total Information Awareness program?
Here it is: Baked Apple
I thought this how-much-can-your-hardware-take theme was getting old but I forgot that this is Slashdot and not kuro5hin.
By an economic model (and note that in the original, it was in quotes), I mean that any mesh network routing protocol must take into account the resources of each node when routing packets. The consideration given to various factors in the design of such a protocol constitutes a model for judicious resource use and it is this model that I refer to as the 'economic model' in my original post.
Here's one hypothesis. Ozone (O_3) is really unstable and disintegrates into regular oxygen (O_2) and a nascent oxygen atom (O) at the drop of a hat. Once the ozone is inside the insect, this free oxygen radical, in search of electrons, can wreak havoc with the internal chemistry of the insect at a very fundamental level.
[unsure] Isn't it harmful even for humans to inhale ozone? [/unsure]
The main issue at stake here is that each node in the ad-hoc network is both a router and a network node in itself. Consider an ad-hoc network I am participating in when I am riding a bus. Let us say I am watching a thriller on DVD on my device locally. All of a sudden, my two neighboring co-passengers start streaming video from each other's devices and suck up so much bandwidth (and therefore processing power) from my device that my DVD starts to jump right at the climax of the movie. Clearly, this is quite unacceptable.
In general, if Device A relays some packets on Device B's behalf, then Device B should give it some number of credits that Device A can use in the future to have Device B repay the favor. In choosing an ad-hoc route, the protocol which routes packets through ad-hoc networks must take into account not only how much each device is contributing to the network, but also how equipped they are in terms of processing power, current battery level and the like.
They should have taken some lessons from Slate, another media/content provider who is currently struggling. Okay, they may be struggling but at least they are afloat (so far...). Perhaps RH could have offered alternative diversified content, or adopted a more aggressive (read obtrusive) advertising model. Is this just a case of there not being enough will to save it?
Subj: MIT's policies regarding copyrights
---------------
In recent weeks, many members of our Community have received a letter from BSA (Business Software Alliance; www.bsa.org) and/or heard BSA sponsored advertisements regarding software licensing compliance.
At this time, I write to remind people of the Institute's copyright policy (see: for a complete statement of the policy):
At this time, MIT is not aware that the BSA has been granted authority to enforce the copyrights of its members. If the BSA contacts you regarding an alleged infringement, MIT's standard practices should be followed. The BSA should be directed to Stop-it, the MIT unit with responsibility for following-up on copyright infringement complaints resulting from network-based activities. Stop-it is found at stopit@mit.edu or at .
Without specific written authority from a copyright holder or other valid legal authority, the BSA has no right to inspect MIT computers for illegal copies of software. MIT most likely will have licenses covering the software in question. Those licenses often spell out the audit rights of the vendor as well as the rights MIT has to make copies of the software. Anyone approached by the BSA with a complaint of software piracy should confirm the license status before proceeding further. In the event appropriate licensed use cannot be confirmed, James D Bruce, VP for Information Systems, should be contacted for appropriate follow-up with BSA representatives.
For further advice on matters concerning BSA inquiries or copyright infringement in general, please contact the Office of Intellectual Property Counsel at (XXX) YYY-YYYY, the Office for the VP for Information Systems at (YYY) XXX-XXXX or Stopit (stopit@mit.edu).
DNA Computing reminds me of analog computing devices, where the computation is instant, because of forces that bring a physical system into equilibrium. But it's the pre-processing and post-processing that are time-consuming. Consider a bunch of uncooked spaghetti sticks in your hand. Let us further suppose their lengths are proportional to a list of numbers you have with you. Hold them vertically against a table or other flat surface and release your hand. Bam! The spaghetti sticks fall into equilibrium. Then, from this bunch, pick out spaghetti sticks in ascending order and voila, you have sorted your list of numbers. Likewise, consider 5 burettes or other calibrated water-columns whose bottoms are all connected to a common tube. Use stop-cocks to separate each water column. Fill up the burettes with water corresponding to some list of numbers you have. Release the stop-cocks and the water level in all the burettes equalizes to the average of those numbers. Fun with analog computing!
I am not at all convinced that this interview took place. Is is just me, or am I seeing too much M$-related stories over the past 24 hours on Slashdot? As if to add to the profusion of Microsoft-related stories, yet another link of doubtful veracity is propagated... *sigh*
The article does not mention anything about passenger meal choices being disclosed. In any case, catching a terrorist might not be as simple as checking whether he or she ate pork on the flight. Muslim youth are misled into terrorist camps after being told that they would be fighting for their religion and therefore living the life of a righteous Muslim. However, part of their 'training' includes instruction on how to blend in seamlessly with Westerners. In particular, there are lessons where they do the unthinkable for a Muslim - eat pork and drink alcohol. I don't have a link to back this up with at the moment, but I have seen this story thanks to a friend from Palestine. Profiling might be prudent, but remember that the terrorists aren't stupid.