And also not what the Founders intended, given that the people that served in Congress were performing a public service and would then get out and have to live with the laws they had passed while in power. That simple feedback mechanism was meant to help dissuade lawmakers from creating bad law. The problem is the modern class of professional politicians who don't have to suffer the consequences of their actions, except in the indirect case where technologies and services that would have been available to all are not, because their stupid lawmaking squelched them.
Al Gore was once asked about his take on term limits... without batting an eye he said, "But that would deny people the benefits of professional politicians" or words to that effect. Dubious benefits at best, I'd say.
Congress limited the President's term of office, largely in order to prevent a popular President from staying in office for a long time, thereby denying any interested Congressperson his or her chance to hold the highest office. Unfortunately, they got it backwards: a good President should be allowed to remain in office. It is the Congresscritters that should be rotated out on a regular basis, since they do most of the damage.
Yes, and the latest research from the Air Force indicates that caffeine raises the heart rate and causes muscle twitching, thus providing all the benefits of an aerobic workout without the workout! Technojocks everywhere are rejoicing at this unexpected benefit from their favorite beverages, and are looking forward to growing massive pectorals while typing and pushing buttons on TV remotes. Brisk sales of caffeinated products are expected.
That's true as far as it goes, but keep in mind that just because a particular regimen works for you doesn't mean it will work for everyone. I had an uncle that had perfect teeth right up until the day he died of lung cancer at 45. I also had an aunt who smoked three or four packs a day until she died at 93 of old age... but had terrible teeth. Each person's body is different in terms of the specific biochemical assaults it can withstand. Some we can simply avoid (don't start smoking) and others require varying degrees of ongoing maintenance (brushing, flossing, regular professional care, etc.)
is that if cracking encrypted hard disks is really that important, it would be better to simply give police enough computer power to crack the encryption in less time and avoid the civil liberties issues. Of course, giving the police that much computer power will eventually guarantee even more civil liberties issues.
Or, simply have no such standards at all as applied to children, and hold their parents responsible for whatever mischief they get into. Don't want that responsibility? Fine. Don't have kids.
The world is full of awful things and children cannot (nor should they) be sequestered away from them forever. I guess I just see this kind of paternalistic substitution of government for good parenting as a mistake.
Yes... the first two hominids that decided to hunt together gave up the right to eat each other. The problem, in this case, is that the legitimate function of "protecting people from each other" has crossed over into "protecting people from themselves." And crossing that line leads to paternalism, incremental loss of rights and privileges, and many things far worse.
No, it qualifies as removal of a copy protection device. I don't see how removing the software and making the disc unplayable means that copy protection is being circumvented.
Maybe. Doesn't mean that person had the slightest clue how the protection system works, and in fact he or she probably did not, since First 4 Internet wasn't exactly advertising how their software works. So don't excuse Sony's execs because "some programmer knew about it." For all you know, it was First 4 Internet's people that did the "integration." Furthermore, I will bet you dollars to doughnuts that if that programmer you mentioned did know how First 4 Internet's copy protect system worked that there was an attempt to warn management about it. And how much do you want to bet that those suits couldn't have cared less... "Rootkit? What's a 'rootkit'? Sounds like a farm implement. Just shut the fuck up about the goddamn CD and ship it, or we'll find somebody that will."
Responsibility is squarely on the shoulders of the higher-ups. That's why they get to drive around in expensive cars, have expensive homes and expensive hooke^H^H^H^H^Hgirlfriends. And when they experience lapses in judgment of this magnitude they should pay the price... but odds are, some underling will get the shaft instead.
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More like patents for non-existent physics.
Oh, and while you're at it don't forget to patent the verteron pulse generator.
Yes ... or stereos listening to themselves.
having a direct neural interface connector implanted in the back of our heads will bring new meaning to the term "jack off".
Just what the hell is a ex- toilet roll?
And besides, sometimes telling a joke is necessary.
{choke gasp} thank you for that.
"All your patch are belong to me."
Rather like striping two hard drives ... double the capacity, double the risk.
Two!!!!
And also not what the Founders intended, given that the people that served in Congress were performing a public service and would then get out and have to live with the laws they had passed while in power. That simple feedback mechanism was meant to help dissuade lawmakers from creating bad law. The problem is the modern class of professional politicians who don't have to suffer the consequences of their actions, except in the indirect case where technologies and services that would have been available to all are not, because their stupid lawmaking squelched them.
... without batting an eye he said, "But that would deny people the benefits of professional politicians" or words to that effect. Dubious benefits at best, I'd say.
Al Gore was once asked about his take on term limits
Congress limited the President's term of office, largely in order to prevent a popular President from staying in office for a long time, thereby denying any interested Congressperson his or her chance to hold the highest office. Unfortunately, they got it backwards: a good President should be allowed to remain in office. It is the Congresscritters that should be rotated out on a regular basis, since they do most of the damage.
Yes, and the latest research from the Air Force indicates that caffeine raises the heart rate and causes muscle twitching, thus providing all the benefits of an aerobic workout without the workout! Technojocks everywhere are rejoicing at this unexpected benefit from their favorite beverages, and are looking forward to growing massive pectorals while typing and pushing buttons on TV remotes. Brisk sales of caffeinated products are expected.
That's true as far as it goes, but keep in mind that just because a particular regimen works for you doesn't mean it will work for everyone. I had an uncle that had perfect teeth right up until the day he died of lung cancer at 45. I also had an aunt who smoked three or four packs a day until she died at 93 of old age ... but had terrible teeth. Each person's body is different in terms of the specific biochemical assaults it can withstand. Some we can simply avoid (don't start smoking) and others require varying degrees of ongoing maintenance (brushing, flossing, regular professional care, etc.)
Thanks for the chuckle.
Yes, and a base canard at at that. Of course, you can hold people even longer if you just put them somewhere and don't tell anyone about it.
how long will it take to crack an encrypted HD-DVD or Blu-Ray disc?
is that if cracking encrypted hard disks is really that important, it would be better to simply give police enough computer power to crack the encryption in less time and avoid the civil liberties issues. Of course, giving the police that much computer power will eventually guarantee even more civil liberties issues.
I'm sure Khan could provide a proper definition of eugenics.
Isn't that how you clean your discs?
Not really ... it might just be an image thing.
Or, simply have no such standards at all as applied to children, and hold their parents responsible for whatever mischief they get into. Don't want that responsibility? Fine. Don't have kids.
The world is full of awful things and children cannot (nor should they) be sequestered away from them forever. I guess I just see this kind of paternalistic substitution of government for good parenting as a mistake.
Yes ... the first two hominids that decided to hunt together gave up the right to eat each other. The problem, in this case, is that the legitimate function of "protecting people from each other" has crossed over into "protecting people from themselves." And crossing that line leads to paternalism, incremental loss of rights and privileges, and many things far worse.
Most people, I think, don't even know what a Rootkit is ...
They do now.
No, it qualifies as removal of a copy protection device. I don't see how removing the software and making the disc unplayable means that copy protection is being circumvented.
Well, one positive aspect may be an increase in the number of Darwin Award winners and runners-up.
Dude ... your ignorance is showing.
Maybe. Doesn't mean that person had the slightest clue how the protection system works, and in fact he or she probably did not, since First 4 Internet wasn't exactly advertising how their software works. So don't excuse Sony's execs because "some programmer knew about it." For all you know, it was First 4 Internet's people that did the "integration." Furthermore, I will bet you dollars to doughnuts that if that programmer you mentioned did know how First 4 Internet's copy protect system worked that there was an attempt to warn management about it. And how much do you want to bet that those suits couldn't have cared less ... "Rootkit? What's a 'rootkit'? Sounds like a farm implement. Just shut the fuck up about the goddamn CD and ship it, or we'll find somebody that will."
... but odds are, some underling will get the shaft instead.
Responsibility is squarely on the shoulders of the higher-ups. That's why they get to drive around in expensive cars, have expensive homes and expensive hooke^H^H^H^H^Hgirlfriends. And when they experience lapses in judgment of this magnitude they should pay the price