The purest form of this are the political yard signs. Nobody thinks, "I saw 90 signs for Bob and 110 signs for Mike; therefore I will vote for Mike." But people do respond to pressures like that; it creates biases and impressions that they don't even realize.
Sure it does! Whenever this happens, I make sure to remember the f*-er to never vote for him.:)
Same for billboards, etc.
I was going first to mod you as "Funny", but then I realized it's not even funny anymore...
Could we get "Not funny" option added to the list of mods, please?
Sure I understand distinction between a device and an algorithm, but maybe I was not precise enough.
I'm not sure how the actual MP3 patent is written. But yes, assume algorithm is not patentable, so you can publish it in books, or carry it with a pen and paper;-) but then, if a device running this alorithm is patentable, then what gives? You still cannot use this algorithm in practice. But sure, software distributors would be off-hook then.
I hope, you don't argue that one can patent a gramophone, but not mp3 player (on principle, forget details), are you?
I'm all againt software patents, but I would argue, that if we allow for patents at all, MP3 and MPEG4 patents are as close to the other "physical" patents as it gets.
We do have a method here of converting a physical waveform into a stream of bits/storage space. It uses particular properties of this physical input object to store it into a particularly constained medium.
I mean, if we allow patents for gramophone or magnetophone (or radio, or telephone), this is quite like these.
That's nothing. I heard the next version will automatically go out the Web, sign up for an e-Trade account, and then proceed to buy stocks like GOOG, AAPL, RHAT, etc., and automatically sell them short.
Argument about eBay misses a point.
I don't believe anybody that sells on eBay is there because of a few scripts. They are there because of the buyers that search this site. Indeed, it's the unique marketplace, and marketplace was always a service. The fact, that eBay is a virtual one changes nothing.
But we're still stuck with the crappy one, because it was the first one hacked together and therefore became part of the standard libraries.
Being wise, we could have it both ways - define good interfaces, make quick "proof of concept" code, and then replace it with a better, thought-over implementation.
But then again, defining good interfaces is a time-consuming task, so in a TTM quest, it gets its shortcuts too.
And we end up with having it wrong both ways - big, bloated, crappy, and ugly code.
OK then kid, you find a name less than 15 letters that hasn't been used in some way - any way, according to your logic - with computers. See how ridiculous that gets?
OK. Then asparagus! I believe it hasn't been used with computers yet!
Is anybody brave enough to setup a new "Asparagus Computer" brand or Asparagus OS?
You don't have permission to use GPL code in non-GPL projects (unless there's some dual license thing going on or something).
To be precise. You do have permission to use GPL code in e.g. closed-source projects, you only do not have permission to distribute the resulting binary program.
Yea but the big deal here is that VxWorks is a mature real time os that does work well enough for NASA to use for the Mars Rovers.
Considering my own experience with VxWorks I would gues, that it took JPL *a lot* of effort to harden their particular OS instance so it could be used for Mars Rover.
I was on a business trip in the US with another guy, he was driving a rented car (Ford Escort), and he insisted on switching trasmission to neutral from time to time "to conserve fuel".
We were aproaching red lights downhill, and he tried to pull the trick again, but unfortunately moved the lever into R position. The car jerked, and the lever get finally to N position. This moment the lights changed to green, so he switched the lever to D, but the car did not react - it looked like the trasmission was still in neutral.What's worse, the break pedal was blocked.
We'd pulled car sideway and stopped with a hand break, then were trying to decide what to do next.
"Well, lets's try to stop and start the engine!"
We did. The break pedal was now working. Lever into D posion - seems working.
"OK. We are going...":-)
This is slightly OT here, but I remember a few months ago I tried to use validator on slashdot.org, looking for any page, that was not reported to contain errors. And it reported many.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to repeat this experiment today. Now, the validator reports, that http://slashdot.org URL returns "403, Forbidden" error.
He's apparently talking about Poland and the new "Heyah" brand of PTC operator.
One more interesting thing is, that only phones without SIM-lock will work with new cards (these are pre-paid cards), not even the phones locked into the old PTC "Era" brand.
But of course, you can get SIM-lock removed for about $5 at the nearest cell-phone service, if you don't want to bother and get appropriate program/info from the internet and do it yourself.
Well, I was thinking exactly the same; that's something new here;-)
OTOH, I'm starting to believe I may also require one shortly, trying to maintain the code I received lately, if you know what I mean. If not, see this.
Slashdot Mirror
The purest form of this are the political yard signs. Nobody thinks, "I saw 90 signs for Bob and 110 signs for Mike; therefore I will vote for Mike." But people do respond to pressures like that; it creates biases and impressions that they don't even realize.
Sure it does! Whenever this happens, I make sure to remember the f*-er to never vote for him. :)
Same for billboards, etc.
Where are my mod points, when I need them...
Are they going with for same shit yahoo did just recently? I see many similarities. Did they bought the same engine, or what? Good lead by Win8...
I was going first to mod you as "Funny", but then I realized it's not even funny anymore... Could we get "Not funny" option added to the list of mods, please?
And this is modded +4 Informative, because slashdot likes conspiratorial theories I suppose...
Have you patented this already? If not, better hurry up, before I will. ;-)
Sure I understand distinction between a device and an algorithm, but maybe I was not precise enough. ;-) but then, if a device running this alorithm is patentable, then what gives? You still cannot use this algorithm in practice. But sure, software distributors would be off-hook then.
I'm not sure how the actual MP3 patent is written. But yes, assume algorithm is not patentable, so you can publish it in books, or carry it with a pen and paper
I hope, you don't argue that one can patent a gramophone, but not mp3 player (on principle, forget details), are you?
I'm all againt software patents, but I would argue, that if we allow for patents at all, MP3 and MPEG4 patents are as close to the other "physical" patents as it gets.
We do have a method here of converting a physical waveform into a stream of bits/storage space. It uses particular properties of this physical input object to store it into a particularly constained medium.
I mean, if we allow patents for gramophone or magnetophone (or radio, or telephone), this is quite like these.
That's nothing. I heard the next version will automatically go out the Web, sign up for an e-Trade account, and then proceed to buy stocks like GOOG, AAPL, RHAT, etc., and automatically sell them short.
Well, I wish you were kidding...
As an atheist, the only one I think has come close to being satisfactory is: He could be omnipotent, but he chooses not to, enabling free will.
;-)
And as a faithful Catholic, I'd say you've got it exactly right, Sir.
Or, at least, I believe so...
Yeah... ...and it doesn't help either...
Argument about eBay misses a point.
I don't believe anybody that sells on eBay is there because of a few scripts. They are there because of the buyers that search this site. Indeed, it's the unique marketplace, and marketplace was always a service. The fact, that eBay is a virtual one changes nothing.
But we're still stuck with the crappy one, because it was the first one hacked together and therefore became part of the standard libraries.
Being wise, we could have it both ways - define good interfaces, make quick "proof of concept" code, and then replace it with a better, thought-over implementation.
But then again, defining good interfaces is a time-consuming task, so in a TTM quest, it gets its shortcuts too.
And we end up with having it wrong both ways - big, bloated, crappy, and ugly code.
First of all, why are you comparing an unobtrusive RFID chip with a 'tattoo on your forehead'? That's a specious comparison.
... like the ones used there?
Maybe that's exagerating, but what's about something less obtrusive, like a number on a wrist of your hand?
That remainded me the sentence attributed to one of the communist leaders of Poland, Wladislaw Gomulka:
"Yesterday we were [standing] on the precipice. And now we've made a giant step forward!"
OK then kid, you find a name less than 15 letters that hasn't been used in some way - any way, according to your logic - with computers. See how ridiculous that gets?
OK. Then asparagus! I believe it hasn't been used with computers yet!
Is anybody brave enough to setup a new "Asparagus Computer" brand or Asparagus OS?
You don't have permission to use GPL code in non-GPL projects (unless there's some dual license thing going on or something).
To be precise. You do have permission to use GPL code in e.g. closed-source projects, you only do not have permission to distribute the resulting binary program.
Yea but the big deal here is that VxWorks is a mature real time os that does work well enough for NASA to use for the Mars Rovers.
Considering my own experience with VxWorks I would gues, that it took JPL *a lot* of effort to harden their particular OS instance so it could be used for Mars Rover.
I did it already in 1992 ;-)
:-)
I was on a business trip in the US with another guy, he was driving a rented car (Ford Escort), and he insisted on switching trasmission to neutral from time to time "to conserve fuel".
We were aproaching red lights downhill, and he tried to pull the trick again, but unfortunately moved the lever into R position. The car jerked, and the lever get finally to N position. This moment the lights changed to green, so he switched the lever to D, but the car did not react - it looked like the trasmission was still in neutral.What's worse, the break pedal was blocked.
We'd pulled car sideway and stopped with a hand break, then were trying to decide what to do next.
"Well, lets's try to stop and start the engine!"
We did. The break pedal was now working. Lever into D posion - seems working.
"OK. We are going..."
Why is this a story? Seriously...
For we can all get some good laugh here ?
So, by Reagan's definition, he is also a terrorist!
QED
This is slightly OT here, but I remember a few months ago I tried to use validator on slashdot.org, looking for any page, that was not reported to contain errors. And it reported many.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to repeat this experiment today. Now, the validator reports, that http://slashdot.org URL returns "403, Forbidden" error.
Way to go, slashdot! Seriously...
And there's just not enough room in your pocket for a phone that has a decent lens and a big sensor.
;-)
Freely quoting one of the Marx Brothers - it all depends on how big your pockets are...
He's apparently talking about Poland and the new "Heyah" brand of PTC operator.
One more interesting thing is, that only phones without SIM-lock will work with new cards (these are pre-paid cards), not even the phones locked into the old PTC "Era" brand.
But of course, you can get SIM-lock removed for about $5 at the nearest cell-phone service, if you don't want to bother and get appropriate program/info from the internet and do it yourself.
Well, I was thinking exactly the same; that's something new here ;-)
OTOH, I'm starting to believe I may also require one shortly, trying to maintain the code I received lately, if you know what I mean. If not, see this.
This way my post is at least slightly relevant...