"An old culture would inevitably produce a machine that when launched into space would use whatever resources it could find to produce copies of itself that had the same capability. Since the galaxy is not filled with these machines, we can rule out the existance of such cultures"
In other news, the FAB-NAME (Forced ABbreviations to get Names which Are conveniently Made into words from the English language) bill will be passed next month, which requires all bills to have a 'natural language' element to them.
It simply is true. I didn't say why managers were doing this (as you say, it is because of targets which are not actually a true refelction for various reasons), I just said that's what they were motivated to work towards.
Medical staff don't have to worry about paying, true - but cost is thought about. Cheaper options are prescribed if the result will be as good. On the whole, the cost of these decisions, while huge, is not that big a deal on the scale of things, compared to other wasteful things. I include some management in that - some managers are necessary, the NHS has gone overboard though.
As for the parking - fucking tell me about it. I can (sort of) understand why parking might be an issue in a major city where land is pricey - but the same problem is there in new hospital being built on the outskirts or in more rural areas where land is cheap. there's no reasonable public transport option, and they charge staff loads for parking. Absolutely out of order. They're just raping the staff to generate revenue. Bastards.
The NHS has a rather unique situation, but the problem (bug or feature?) is that there are different people with power with different priorites. Managers want solutions which look good on paper (i.e. shorter waiting lists etc.), medical and paramedical staff want highest standards of care, middle managers are into empire-building.
The care you receive as an acute admission rather than a waiting list admission is exceptional. It is held up by bed shortages and bed-blockers (people who get a foot in the door and can't be dicharged for social rather than medical reasons), and the rate-limiting factor is usually bed availability rather than operating time or whatever.
I am a doctor (surgeon) in the UK, and if I was sick I'd want to be treated in the NHS. Definitely not private unless it was for minor ops (i.e. lower waiting list) as anything major, if the shit hits the fan, requires transfer to an NHS ITU. And not in the US where they have forced to practice defensive medicine (i.e. get a test not because it's indicated but instead investigate everything so that the lawyers can't find something that's been missed - every test has morbidity associated with it). Testing for everything de-skills doctors as they become more reliant on results than clincal acumen. (This usually evens out as they get more experiences though).
The NHS is a huge beast where the problems are related to many things, including trying to cover everything (too much integration into social care etc.). It is spawling and wasteful, but it has so much legacy problems I don't see how it can be fixed.
Re:Moore's Law vs. Evolution
on
Real Security?
·
· Score: 4, Funny
But why is it that I occasionally have a mental blank and can't remember my PIN, having to turn tail and run after two failed attempts until the next day when I can try again, but when I am so blind drunk I can barely walk or speak, I can stagger two miles home, extract 10 pounds from my account (sometimes at two different terminals), get a kebab, navigate through two locked doors, urinate, undress, and get into (or near, sometimes) my bed?
And who can explain the last three ex-girlfriends' phone numbers that I remembered to call at 4am too? I sure as shit can't remember them during the day.
That'll have bias too. That counts hits from ads and things - so when you check your hotmail, msn.com, match.com, passport.net and hotmail.com all get (several?) hits due to a combination of re-directs and advertising.
There's no accurate way to do it, we just have to settle on the least biased. No idea what that would be though.
I think he probably meant ignorant rather than stupid. I'll probably get modded down for this, but Americans are extremely ignorant, though largely this is a result of rather US-centric media.
Don't even get me started on GWB. Though I am pleased to see most Americans agree with me on that one. Shame Blair doesn't. Prick.
My computer has a (short-range due to much cheapness) WiFi connection, without a password. I don't give a monkey's if someone uses it, but as yet I don't think anyone has. If any of my neighbours have WiFi devices, they are free to hop on. Is this stupid? Probably.
However, if anyone does use it, then how do they know which house the signal is from (to ask permission), and who decides the legality? If I change my mind one day and think, no-one can use my AP now, how do they know?
Bottom line is, if they break the law then prosecute them. If they just access the network, I don't see how that harms anyone. It's my problem if I don't take even basic precautions, all I have to do is set a password and then they are breaking the law, even if my password is 'password'. I think the issue here is child porn, not wardriving. I presume they're just throwing everything at him so that something sticks.
That's irrelevant. The important thing is that the audit trail is now possible. The majority of voters don't even bother to vote - should they all be made to?
I don't think that electronic voting is really an advantage over traditional methods, especially as it's so open to abuse. But if it is implemented, then at least the possibility of verifying results is now there.
I'm sure some smartass will just claim their voting receipt is different from their vote just to kick up a stink though... enough of these could throw the thing into more doubt.
Arguably there might be some point to digging up these things. This is just for shits and giggles (OK, tourist trade).
I agree it's a big grey area. I just think, personally, it's very close to the edge of one side of the grey, and the justification itself is pretty objectionable.
Of course they'll do the same as with CDs. Even though tapes cost more to produce, they're less expensive. It'll be the same with these.
However, the good bit is - now they'll drop the prices of CDs to what tapes are now. I can't see a reason to change - CDs offer considerable advantages over tapes (particularly not having to FF and REW to the right bit) which these wouldn't offer over CDs. Except size, which is not a huge benefit when we have cheap MP3 players which we can easily use to carry music around if we want to jog to it.
What if they dig them up and find that none of them are Billy the Kid?
Seriously, this is sad. The dead have no rights, fair enough. But this goes against all the moralities laid down by all the major religions, as well as common decency to those who, like me, are atheists. Leave him in the fucking ground.
Slashdot Mirror
Orifice?
Have you been watching too much Matrix?
"There's only so much we can learn from an anal probe"
Although I think the quote might be a little incorrect, it's along those lines...
"An old culture would inevitably produce a machine that when launched into space would use whatever resources it could find to produce copies of itself that had the same capability. Since the galaxy is not filled with these machines, we can rule out the existance of such cultures"
Maybe it was running windows though?
*ducks*
We'll swap you our foot-in-mouth regent for your head-up-ass president.
Sincerely,
The UK.
PS does he have a gay son you're not interested in any more?
Medical staff don't have to worry about paying, true - but cost is thought about. Cheaper options are prescribed if the result will be as good. On the whole, the cost of these decisions, while huge, is not that big a deal on the scale of things, compared to other wasteful things. I include some management in that - some managers are necessary, the NHS has gone overboard though.
As for the parking - fucking tell me about it. I can (sort of) understand why parking might be an issue in a major city where land is pricey - but the same problem is there in new hospital being built on the outskirts or in more rural areas where land is cheap. there's no reasonable public transport option, and they charge staff loads for parking. Absolutely out of order. They're just raping the staff to generate revenue. Bastards.
The care you receive as an acute admission rather than a waiting list admission is exceptional. It is held up by bed shortages and bed-blockers (people who get a foot in the door and can't be dicharged for social rather than medical reasons), and the rate-limiting factor is usually bed availability rather than operating time or whatever.
I am a doctor (surgeon) in the UK, and if I was sick I'd want to be treated in the NHS. Definitely not private unless it was for minor ops (i.e. lower waiting list) as anything major, if the shit hits the fan, requires transfer to an NHS ITU. And not in the US where they have forced to practice defensive medicine (i.e. get a test not because it's indicated but instead investigate everything so that the lawyers can't find something that's been missed - every test has morbidity associated with it). Testing for everything de-skills doctors as they become more reliant on results than clincal acumen. (This usually evens out as they get more experiences though).
The NHS is a huge beast where the problems are related to many things, including trying to cover everything (too much integration into social care etc.). It is spawling and wasteful, but it has so much legacy problems I don't see how it can be fixed.
And who can explain the last three ex-girlfriends' phone numbers that I remembered to call at 4am too? I sure as shit can't remember them during the day.
Do you still have all of your limbs? Just wondering...
I will have to tell my drug dealer that. He'll save a fortune on protection.
There's no accurate way to do it, we just have to settle on the least biased. No idea what that would be though.
Stalk-tastic!
Don't even get me started on GWB. Though I am pleased to see most Americans agree with me on that one. Shame Blair doesn't. Prick.
However, if anyone does use it, then how do they know which house the signal is from (to ask permission), and who decides the legality? If I change my mind one day and think, no-one can use my AP now, how do they know?
Bottom line is, if they break the law then prosecute them. If they just access the network, I don't see how that harms anyone. It's my problem if I don't take even basic precautions, all I have to do is set a password and then they are breaking the law, even if my password is 'password'. I think the issue here is child porn, not wardriving. I presume they're just throwing everything at him so that something sticks.
Staff #1: "The Think Tank has lots of ideas, we're going through them case-by-case for viability"
Staff #2: "Look at this other country, they have a good implementation, we can modify it and try and solve the problems it has."
Staff #3: "Here are a list of commercial vendors, they all seem to have quality products except for one - Diabolic I think their name is?"
Important Guy: "No, we've tried them, what a shambles."
Staff #4: "I read some guy's Slashdot journal. How about you all shut the hell up and we do what he says? Screw your multi-million dollar deals"
Aye, fucking right. Why the hell would they be scouring slashdot for some idea of pompous preacher who thinks "I thought of that first. I'm so l33t."
PS this is a joke, although it does seem to come across as quite abrasive.
I don't think that electronic voting is really an advantage over traditional methods, especially as it's so open to abuse. But if it is implemented, then at least the possibility of verifying results is now there.
I'm sure some smartass will just claim their voting receipt is different from their vote just to kick up a stink though... enough of these could throw the thing into more doubt.
Spit or swallow?
I agree it's a big grey area. I just think, personally, it's very close to the edge of one side of the grey, and the justification itself is pretty objectionable.
However, the good bit is - now they'll drop the prices of CDs to what tapes are now. I can't see a reason to change - CDs offer considerable advantages over tapes (particularly not having to FF and REW to the right bit) which these wouldn't offer over CDs. Except size, which is not a huge benefit when we have cheap MP3 players which we can easily use to carry music around if we want to jog to it.
Seriously, this is sad. The dead have no rights, fair enough. But this goes against all the moralities laid down by all the major religions, as well as common decency to those who, like me, are atheists. Leave him in the fucking ground.