Because when a mistake is made by a surgeon it kills someone and when a mistake is made by some kids programming it certainly doesn't kill anyone and it certainly will be checked if and before it gets back to the code base. Sheesh. This is certainly a poor analogy on your part.
Either you're naive, or you're hypocritical.
Are we not on slashdot here? Are we not on the site where Bill Gates himself is heralded as the sole responsible for all the security issues out there? For example the power failures?
Beyond being either naive or a hypocrite, you're also a simpleton... You probably don't see the problems associated with working under the table and such, and quite frankly I don't care if you don't. Have a happy life. I won't see you in it.
That's unfortunate, because I still can't understand it.
I think you've quite unwittingly stepped on the most crucial point: two kids who are learning to program are doing just that! Learning how to program. I don't see any doctors learning how to operate go do surgery for bounty money. So why are you treating software *any* different? If you treat software as a per-bounty-contribuable-pass-time-that-anyone-can- pick-up, you lose the argument defacto when the day comes regarding discussions about how software writers should be held accountable (Microsoft? Ring a bell?) when they don't take the job of software engineering seriously. How many bridges do we see built around for bounty money?
Indian programmers who make $20 an hour are fine to make $20/hr. Are you somehow wanting to make $20/hr also? is that your point? what is your point?
My point can not be clearer: programming and software development are a skill/job/art/qualification... Open source is a nice thing and all, but let's not take it to the point of saying "let's stop hiring programmers to do work, instead, let's post flyers offering cash rewards"... Just as I wouldn't want my meat to come from bounty farmers, my airplaines to be flown by bounty pilots, or even my grass to be cut by bounty workers...
It has two nasty side effects that we want to avoid at all costs: no ownership of the work (bad for the consumer), and bad working environments (bad for the programmer).
You be your own judge. I will definitely not take one of these bounty contracts out... I've given my 2 cents enough already.
Also another point though, is that there are several 'areas' in power lines. We get 110V, but really distribution occurs at much higher voltages. I wouldn't be surprised if the transformers would start being equiped with some sort of router-like device to filter out only what is destined for you once it goes down to the consumer level of electricity...
I'll admit though, I don't have a clue on how they're doing this... I'm just talking straight out of my ass.
While I applaud your educated warning at us poor users, I would like to remind you that we're not gonna plug the cable right out of the power grid into our ethernet card.
There most likely will be a modem of some sort that connects to the plug and has an ethernet output. Such a device is just as vulnerable but not any more vulnerable than any other electric device.
Also, I don't know what you talk about: bandwidth? Electric wires probably have monstruous bandwidth. The wires are made to carry much more current than a phone line was ever designed to, and most probably much more than a coax cable as well. Something tells me the bandwidth is going to be several orders of magnitude higher than conventional lines we're used to.
Because people are trying to protect their own jobs from dirt cheap competition.
Well, in fact, no, that's not the point I'm trying to make. My point is a highly 'socialist' one and that is that labour should be compensated for properly. Contrary to populary belief, in the capitalist world of today, without regulations, society would pretty much crumble... rich capital owners paying the lowest possible fare for any labour would rake in money without allowing any chance of survival for the 'weaker' workers...
There needs to be standards and regulations set in society in order to avoid the collapse... just like there is tax, there needs to be regulatory standards of how labour is compensated. And in fact, there is.
That's my whole point. There is and they shouldn't be bypassed. And along the same line of thought: programming *is* labour, and shouldn't be treated as a hobby. Imagine what would happen if all of a sudden a country started exporting wheat for 1/10th the price... oh wait, you don't have to imagine... just think about all the cafufle that went around with NAFTA etc...
I could go on and on with the examples, but it's really up to you to try to understand, not up to me to try and convince you... Oh, and btw, before you go on your ad-hominem rampage about how I'm making an emotional argument, think a bit... the only reason I chose those extreme examples is because people actually don't see the point I'm trying to make when I speak plainly (hence my original post being modded -3 overrated)
Uhm, I never fought to keep my right as an outdated/outskilled employee. For crying out loud, I'm a freelance programmer, the toughest market out there...
What I am fighting against is turning programming into a sweatshop workers' market - and believe me, there is a trend to push it there. Off-shore development ring a bell?
I shall reiterate: why are people against children working for pennies an hour in Nike shoe factories in India? Why are people against even just normal adults working for pennies an hour? Think about that a bit, and then come back and let's talk.
Nobody anywhere is advocating lazy people making lots of money, that's just a side-effect of labour laws that can be dealt with simple vigilence (e.g. proper quality control and responsability - for example not letting companies like Enron survive for so long).
No, there isn't someone rounding up innocent developers. But then again, under the table workers who wash cars for $2/day aren't legal either. Why? It's much more than just one person's situation, it's the entire market.
Why do you think there's such a thing as minimum wage? These bounty's are basically by-passing minimum wage laws... You could say it's piece work... but not even. I don't see how the tax and everything would fit in it...
Think of it this way: do you think it would be even remotely legal for lottery services to give tickets in exchange of hard labour? What about insurances, and workspace security? What about indemnity?
So why are you so eager to promote something that would strip us (programmers) of our status of labour workers? Just because our labour doesn't induce sweat, doesn't mean it's not labour.
While I applaud your enthousiasm, I think this has very little chance of actually working.
Why? because of a very dangerous thing called "scope-creep". I freelance, and get small contracts (< $20k). I've worked in big contract shops before, multi million dollar software being designed and implemented a la carte for our custommers, and yet, despite all that experience in large shops, it's extremely difficult with even the smallest project to first nail a solid technical spec document, and then to stick to it.
Now this is when I'm dealing one on one with the client, over phone etc... Imagine what this scenario would be like on an online forum...
Even more distrubing is that this is basically making slaves out of developers: who gets the bounty? the first worker to submit? What happens to the 340 other people who started working on this?
I thought there were laws against this kind of labour.
Also, I'd like to add that grounded circuitry will most likely not be affected by this. For example: your computer basically sits in a Fahraday cage (its case) that is grounded. Such a cage will neither emit nor receive any EM radiations so long as it's properly grounded. Add a UPS with proper fuses, and it's pretty much invulnerable so long as the bomb doesn't blow up right above your house (as it seems to be said in the article concerning the Iraq'i broadcast station).
What scares me is this quote:There is, however, an effort to build a microwave weapon for controlling crowds; a person subjected to it definitely feels pain and is forced to retreat.
It's nice to hear that the US army has made the all popular urban myth of putting cats in the microwave a reality for humans. Yay for the USA!
First of all, I would like to say that pressing TAB is not a problem for me. In fact, keyboard shortcuts and chords are the fastest way to use a computer... not mousing around. I'm surprised such an idea is actually posted on a linux site.
Second, the whole idea behind shortcuts and such is that every user has their own familiar shortcuts. If you just launch a site, you can't assume they've defined the mouse gestures/shortcuts that you use... so why would you use them anyways?
Also, I'm just wondering about the disaster that this is going to cause on all browsers that actually have mouse gestures enabled.
All in all, yet another reason why javascript should be retired.
Well, the real issue, as I understand it, and as everyone seems to want to obfuscate, is the Unix system *did* in fact malfunction, and that the warnings were not seen *because* of the worms taking down the Windows servers.
If anyone has some tangible evidence to the contrary, I would sure like to hear it/read the quote... As far as reading this blog goes though, I'm not too interested in hearing people quote one line, and make a completely orthogonal conclusion.
That's what I was saying... The grandparent post used the crucial "in other words" construct which, contrary to appearances, is actually just a guess (even if it is educated). I'm not defending microsoft here. I just want to make that crystal clear.
There is also no evidence, nor is there any information suggesting, that viruses and worms prevalent across the internet at the time of the outage had any significant impact on power generation and delivery systems. SWG analysis to date has brought to light certain concerns with respect to: the possible failure of alarm software; links to control and data acquisition software; and the lack of a system or process for some operators to view adequately the status of electric systems outside their immediate control.
The link to blaster is implicit at best, non existen IMO.
(note: I'm not using the "in other words" tactic of the parent to introduce a whole new paragraph of 'facts')
Who knows, it might just be microwave powered. 3 Watts isn't that much power. You might have a 'ground control unit' that directs microwaves at it while it's flying.
It might not, but it would be really nice if it did.
How many dialup users are going to stream in video then I would argue. And generally speaking a user will install the codec/software if it's easy to do so. Current embeding of movie files in explorer does make it very easy for the user.
BTW why do you single out the EU laws as stupid, when the US successfully prosecuted MS for the same thing with IE? Of course in that case the stupid white men then proceeded to let them off the hook when GWB wasn't elected president.
The only reason I single out the EU law as stupid, is because it is. If you read my post I said "if you want to go after them for browser monopoly, fine". I'm sorry dude, but Microsoft just does not have a monopoly on media players. Period. The standards are open, and there are *plenty* of implementations out there. The main rivals who claim to be at risk are actually the worst of the crop in my opinion and in many other people's opinion (I'm not going to dig back the countless articles on how Quicktime was the single worst GUI ever built). Real One is a giant piece of bloated spyware that takes over everything on your computer, and I have sworn never to use it since the late 90s.
I do have Quicktime, and my default player is the DivX player.
I'm sorry, wrong department, move along... nothing to see here.
Your point about doing something against "big software firms" is childish at most... the world doesn't operate like that... My first question to you is what's the metric for determining a company has grown too big? Is IBM not too big? Is Sun not too big? Why is CNN allowed to operate in its current size? How come Chevron Texaco exists? Microsoft's WMP 'monopoly' is only helping microsoft in the eyes of people like me: people who are getting fed up with "stupid allegations" instead of real solutions to problems.
Slashdot Mirror
Either you're naive, or you're hypocritical.
Are we not on slashdot here? Are we not on the site where Bill Gates himself is heralded as the sole responsible for all the security issues out there? For example the power failures?
Beyond being either naive or a hypocrite, you're also a simpleton... You probably don't see the problems associated with working under the table and such, and quite frankly I don't care if you don't. Have a happy life. I won't see you in it.
That's unfortunate, because I still can't understand it.
That's your problem. I hope one day you do.
Indian programmers who make $20 an hour are fine to make $20/hr. Are you somehow wanting to make $20/hr also? is that your point? what is your point?
My point can not be clearer: programming and software development are a skill/job/art/qualification... Open source is a nice thing and all, but let's not take it to the point of saying "let's stop hiring programmers to do work, instead, let's post flyers offering cash rewards"... Just as I wouldn't want my meat to come from bounty farmers, my airplaines to be flown by bounty pilots, or even my grass to be cut by bounty workers...
It has two nasty side effects that we want to avoid at all costs: no ownership of the work (bad for the consumer), and bad working environments (bad for the programmer).
You be your own judge. I will definitely not take one of these bounty contracts out... I've given my 2 cents enough already.
On a side note, I don't consider myself to be on an intellectual playing field when my interlocutor is a) Anonymous, b) extremist.
I'll admit though, I don't have a clue on how they're doing this... I'm just talking straight out of my ass.
There most likely will be a modem of some sort that connects to the plug and has an ethernet output. Such a device is just as vulnerable but not any more vulnerable than any other electric device.
Also, I don't know what you talk about: bandwidth? Electric wires probably have monstruous bandwidth. The wires are made to carry much more current than a phone line was ever designed to, and most probably much more than a coax cable as well. Something tells me the bandwidth is going to be several orders of magnitude higher than conventional lines we're used to.
Very nice. I wonder if I'm dealing with a 13 year old, or a 45 year old with the mental age of a 13 year old.
Well, in fact, no, that's not the point I'm trying to make. My point is a highly 'socialist' one and that is that labour should be compensated for properly. Contrary to populary belief, in the capitalist world of today, without regulations, society would pretty much crumble... rich capital owners paying the lowest possible fare for any labour would rake in money without allowing any chance of survival for the 'weaker' workers...
There needs to be standards and regulations set in society in order to avoid the collapse... just like there is tax, there needs to be regulatory standards of how labour is compensated. And in fact, there is.
That's my whole point. There is and they shouldn't be bypassed. And along the same line of thought: programming *is* labour, and shouldn't be treated as a hobby. Imagine what would happen if all of a sudden a country started exporting wheat for 1/10th the price... oh wait, you don't have to imagine... just think about all the cafufle that went around with NAFTA etc...
I could go on and on with the examples, but it's really up to you to try to understand, not up to me to try and convince you... Oh, and btw, before you go on your ad-hominem rampage about how I'm making an emotional argument, think a bit... the only reason I chose those extreme examples is because people actually don't see the point I'm trying to make when I speak plainly (hence my original post being modded -3 overrated)
It truly illustrates the american mentality of "I don't fucking care if my neighbour dies"...
Go ahead dick head... do it. I'm not going to participate in any case, but now I won't watch out for my colleagues either. Fucking idiots...
What I am fighting against is turning programming into a sweatshop workers' market - and believe me, there is a trend to push it there. Off-shore development ring a bell?
I shall reiterate: why are people against children working for pennies an hour in Nike shoe factories in India? Why are people against even just normal adults working for pennies an hour? Think about that a bit, and then come back and let's talk.
Nobody anywhere is advocating lazy people making lots of money, that's just a side-effect of labour laws that can be dealt with simple vigilence (e.g. proper quality control and responsability - for example not letting companies like Enron survive for so long).
Blah.
Why do you think there's such a thing as minimum wage? These bounty's are basically by-passing minimum wage laws... You could say it's piece work... but not even. I don't see how the tax and everything would fit in it...
Think of it this way: do you think it would be even remotely legal for lottery services to give tickets in exchange of hard labour? What about insurances, and workspace security? What about indemnity?
So why are you so eager to promote something that would strip us (programmers) of our status of labour workers? Just because our labour doesn't induce sweat, doesn't mean it's not labour.
So like I said, 40 people will be contracted for a job, and 39 will be dropped based on 'poor quality work'.
Why? because of a very dangerous thing called "scope-creep". I freelance, and get small contracts (< $20k). I've worked in big contract shops before, multi million dollar software being designed and implemented a la carte for our custommers, and yet, despite all that experience in large shops, it's extremely difficult with even the smallest project to first nail a solid technical spec document, and then to stick to it.
Now this is when I'm dealing one on one with the client, over phone etc... Imagine what this scenario would be like on an online forum...
Unmanageable to the nth degree, methinks.
Even more distrubing is that this is basically making slaves out of developers: who gets the bounty? the first worker to submit? What happens to the 340 other people who started working on this?
I thought there were laws against this kind of labour.
What scares me is this quote:There is, however, an effort to build a microwave weapon for controlling crowds; a person subjected to it definitely feels pain and is forced to retreat.
It's nice to hear that the US army has made the all popular urban myth of putting cats in the microwave a reality for humans. Yay for the USA!
Second, the whole idea behind shortcuts and such is that every user has their own familiar shortcuts. If you just launch a site, you can't assume they've defined the mouse gestures/shortcuts that you use... so why would you use them anyways?
Also, I'm just wondering about the disaster that this is going to cause on all browsers that actually have mouse gestures enabled.
All in all, yet another reason why javascript should be retired.
If anyone has some tangible evidence to the contrary, I would sure like to hear it/read the quote... As far as reading this blog goes though, I'm not too interested in hearing people quote one line, and make a completely orthogonal conclusion.
That's what I was saying... The grandparent post used the crucial "in other words" construct which, contrary to appearances, is actually just a guess (even if it is educated). I'm not defending microsoft here. I just want to make that crystal clear.
There is also no evidence, nor is there any information suggesting, that viruses and worms prevalent across the internet at the time of the outage had any significant impact on power generation and delivery systems. SWG analysis to date has brought to light certain concerns with respect to: the possible failure of alarm software; links to control and data acquisition software; and the lack of a system or process for some operators to view adequately the status of electric systems outside their immediate control.
The link to blaster is implicit at best, non existen IMO.
(note: I'm not using the "in other words" tactic of the parent to introduce a whole new paragraph of 'facts')
Wow did that ever give me the freakiest image of little robots hovering over the power system. Like sparrows...
It might not, but it would be really nice if it did.
Here's my favorite dot-com vestige. That era is forevermore going to stay part of the information culture...
How many dialup users are going to stream in video then I would argue. And generally speaking a user will install the codec/software if it's easy to do so. Current embeding of movie files in explorer does make it very easy for the user.
The only reason I single out the EU law as stupid, is because it is. If you read my post I said "if you want to go after them for browser monopoly, fine". I'm sorry dude, but Microsoft just does not have a monopoly on media players. Period. The standards are open, and there are *plenty* of implementations out there. The main rivals who claim to be at risk are actually the worst of the crop in my opinion and in many other people's opinion (I'm not going to dig back the countless articles on how Quicktime was the single worst GUI ever built). Real One is a giant piece of bloated spyware that takes over everything on your computer, and I have sworn never to use it since the late 90s.
I do have Quicktime, and my default player is the DivX player.
I'm sorry, wrong department, move along... nothing to see here.
Your point about doing something against "big software firms" is childish at most... the world doesn't operate like that... My first question to you is what's the metric for determining a company has grown too big? Is IBM not too big? Is Sun not too big? Why is CNN allowed to operate in its current size? How come Chevron Texaco exists? Microsoft's WMP 'monopoly' is only helping microsoft in the eyes of people like me: people who are getting fed up with "stupid allegations" instead of real solutions to problems.