Didn't the US introduce democracy in Afghanistan? Then why wasn't free speech brought as well? Isn't free speech an essential right in a democracy?
Or was the main reason, perhaps, just to get rid of the Taliban and democracy was just a trendy word that matched the spin?
Sure the Afghan may be reluctant in allowing free speech. Then why did the US bother to pretend to help them? And after retreating, how long before Taliban is back in business in Afghanistan?
IMHO after 9/11 the US had a certain right -which is highly debatable- to terminate terrorist activities in Afghanistan. It would probably have been just as effective to, er, shut down terrorist business. And to repeat when necessary. Cheaper and fairer.
I live in CH. Prices are higher here than anywhere else on earth. Not only for software but for any kind of product.
The CH government protects us living in CH from bad product support by making parallel imports illegal. Only one company can import a specific product.
Privates are allowed to import goods themselves so that is what I do. But there are companies making it vary hard to purchase directly from another country.
I went through all kinds of emotions/opinions (patronizing bastards, cartel members, corrupt ring of buddies, unethical, etc...) and having noted very few people sharing my opinions I sort curbed my hopes to have a fairer/saner local market to buy my stuff.
Although the TIFF format is open and it is widely used in archiving systems, it is not particularly suited for an archive you setup new. The main reason is that many applications that generate TIFF may throw in their own proprietary stuff and lock you into a specific viewer. Also, you cannot do a text search of content in TIFF.
When you discuss archves you think about looong times. Typically 10 to 50 years of retention with the odd exception where eternity is desired.
Hence "plain" PDF is probably even worse than TIFF. One problem here are the included resources (fonts) and references (http links) which are mostly left out in order to save disk space. The other problem is that there are so many "plain" PDF versions to choose from and none of them will last 10 to 50 years.
However, PDF is a good technology and therefor the PDF/A standard was developed. It is designed especially to deal with loooong term issues, is currently readable through almost any PDF reader and will be maintained by most sensible PDF readers for the years to come. There is NO vendor lock-in, you can put text in a PDF/A document an run searches against it. But most importantly, NO propitiatory stuff can be shoved in as it would result in an invalid document (a PDF document maybe but not a PDF/A document.)
With the price of current disk space you should NOT make file size a defining criterion in your archiving policy. Only on z/OS disk space comes at absurd and ridiculous prices. If you can, try aiming for an archiving solution on Unix, Linux or even Windows.
I am in the archiving business. At the moment PDF/A is the only format suitable for archiving.
Yeah, like the Super 7, the Cobra is an iconic car. Wouldn't mind building one of those. The problem I'd have is getting it road licensed where I live (CH.) The Caterham I ordered got a special permission from the authorities.
Also, a Cobra needs a huge big American motor in it. Otherwise it's just a nice looking British sports car but not an AC Cobra replica by any means. Would the AC Cobra's power kill me?
With the Dollar in its current state I also considered buying a Shelby Mustang (another timeless car.) It would have been cheaper but at 3 times the weight of the Caterham. Also it would not have come as a kit.
I ordered my car 1.5 weeks ago and I'm full of anticipation as it will be delivered in September. Can't wait to start building it. It will get me away from behind the monitor.
Notes to the green ones: I take public transport to work. If I can avoid driving to work I will. Hell I can even get some work done on the train. The Caterham is a light car which I will be driving for pleasure on the weekends. I'd say two hours of "motoring" in a Caterham beats driving almost anything else. I also appreciate that there are places where public transport is not as good as it is where I live and that there are people needing cars.
If finance is a problem and you love cars you can always get an RC car. I did and the "automotiveness" factor is fair enough. Plus you can race these things with a great amount of thrills and without completely ruining the planet.
not to mention the Italians which switched sides in both world wars to avoid being the losing side. Yea yeah yeah, blame us Italians again and again for being on the winning side. All is fair in war and love. And at playing football.
Besides, how the hell are we supposed to produce Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Maseratis? By playing a righteous and possibly loosing game? The world isn't waiting for "Italian character" or needing it for that matter. It just wants the insane and magnificent works of art. And yes, I count the cars produced by aforementioned companies as works of art.
"But how 'bout the shitty cars we produce?", you may ask. Well these generate the capital to be able to create artworks. Having said that, currently Fiat isn't doing badly. Also, Alfa seems to have closed the horrifying period that started in the 80ies and went well on into the late 90ies. Now if they start making lighter, rear wheel driven cars and a bit more stuff lke the 8C they will truly excel. Again.
Art is the ultimate expression of civilisation. When everything alse is achieved, that's what you will consider next.
In short, our apologies for being crap at fighting righteous wars. However, we do compensate.
public money is going into a speed skating rink nobody will ever use again
I agree. And curse the fsckers that built the Colosseum. What a waste of money that must have been.
Seriously though, I'm not too keen on speed skating myself but I acknowledge the level of commitment and achievement. Imagine doing 50 Mph. On a bike. And then reconsider.
You need top drawer stuff to push the limits. (How much money would you spend on a PC that has the best cost/performance ratio? Now build a system that is 10% faster and recalculate costs.)
If we'd judge everything on financial grounds we'd live in a world that is as boring as the shitty projects most of us work on. (Yeah sure, your work of course is exciting and you come home filled with joy and pleasure every day.)
Let's not throw away money. But OTOH, let's NOT die "sad but rich".
Imagine the FTF being founded with the idea to realize UNA (UNA is Not Al-Quada.)
Blueprints are available on how to setup your own organization. Crash courses in setting up your own cell, free formats to document the cell meeting minutes, open and verifiable systems to elect cell and organization leaders, recommended lingo to hide intentions (although open, the message encryption works but people are left guessing as to what you are conspiring about.)
However, a small but significant part is missing. There's no plan for the rocket. The base is there, the logistics, the whole organization, but no rocket. So reluctantly UNA uses rockets manufactured by evil corporations that do not allow you to modify them and only ause death and destruction with a very inferior sense of style.
Until one day a youngster from South-Jemen comes that desperately needs a rocket but is highly disappointed by the commodity but closed source rockets. So he boldly builds one himself and calls it Afred (he himself is called Alfred.) And he starts deploying it for his own purpose but uses the available UNA blueprints.
Before you know everyone is using Afred for the daily terrorism fix.
Then the FTF founder quite rightly points out that a missile launching compound consists of many more things than a missile. The missile is a vital part and without it no devastation takes place. However, one should not underestimate the infrastructure provided by UNA.
Compounds should not be referred to as Afred because that would not give sufficient credit to the FTF. Instead a more appropriate name is UNA/Afred. AT least so says the Saint of the Church of UNA, St. Ignitius (I bless thee missile.)
"As I say to my students 'if you had to have brain surgery would you prefer someone who has been through medical school, trained and researched in the field, or the student next to you who has read Wikipedia'?"
When criticizing Wikipedia the question should be: "If you had to have brain surgery would you prefer someone who read Wikipedia or someone who read Encyclopedia Britannica? (Or any other encyclopedia for that matter.)"
I'd prefer neither of the two.
In a more supporting statement you could ask: "If you want to adjourn your knowledge on computer hardware would you prefer reading Wikipedia or have a $200/h professional trainer (to read you Wikipedia)?"
Before we know the next corporation patents "An imaginary environment for simulated participating in the act of making love".
Guys we're in real trouble here. We're all guilty. The young ones are particularly vounrable to offending the patent multiple times a day. (We older guys envy the young ones for the favorable frequency. But I digress.)
I remain on the save side saying 90% Ferraris are designed gorgeously.
Apart from the fact the Acer does not seem to convince on performance and sense, why in the name of god would Ferrari put its name on this ugly piece of junk?
Italy is the inventor of bureaucracy. Italians know how to stifle their opponents through paperwork.
Defamation is one of the proffered decoys. I experienced this twice on me and I felt ashamed to be an Italian.
I lived abroad for over 30 years and I can see the perspective clearer than Italian inhabitants can. The stupid bureaucratic attitude is what is preventing the country to flourish.
The excuses for this behaviour are: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Alfa Romeo. Not just a small consolation but still...
I'm a geek and a vain one at that. I would actually buy one of these. (Provided they work OK and the material used isn't too shabby and bla bla bla.)
My vanity makes me wear suits and occasionally I spout heaps of crap. So the normal ones think one of them.
But I'm not. I can actually code and I like fscking with people's brain.
Screw the iPhone. Show -but bot flaunt- this thing. Wait until someone puts in the remark and think of a way to fsck the brain -you can do the thinking before.
Norm: That's an interesting phone.
Geek: Yeah, you could learn one or two things from it.
Norm: Kool gadget.
Geek: 20 degrees Celcius is indeed lower than 37
44% are considering moving to another operating system. That's so broad as to be almost useless. "Considering" could mean:
We've never even thought about other OSes, and we've just picked up our first copy of LinuxWorld magazine to see what all the fuss is about.
We're really annoyed with Vista. We've started paying more attention to those Apple ads.
We've started to do some actual cost comparisons between the various options, including Macs, all flavors of Windows, and Linux.
We're trying out some Macs on a test basis, and we've installed Linux on an old laptop just to see if it's a viable option.
We're in discussions with the folks at Apple Enterprise Sales to see what kind of price they can give us for our exact requirements.
You forgot one:
We don't really want to change but when we say we look at anything different than Windows we get rebates from MS.
Same holds for IBM z/OS. Tell them you are seriously considering Linux or zLinux and see the reps fly in. Not so many of us are in the position of experiencing nervous IBM reps. I can tell you it's fun to watch.
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Didn't the US introduce democracy in Afghanistan? Then why wasn't free speech brought as well? Isn't free speech an essential right in a democracy?
Or was the main reason, perhaps, just to get rid of the Taliban and democracy was just a trendy word that matched the spin?
Sure the Afghan may be reluctant in allowing free speech. Then why did the US bother to pretend to help them? And after retreating, how long before Taliban is back in business in Afghanistan?
IMHO after 9/11 the US had a certain right -which is highly debatable- to terminate terrorist activities in Afghanistan. It would probably have been just as effective to, er, shut down terrorist business. And to repeat when necessary. Cheaper and fairer.
You mean like the Mitsubishi Pajero. Pajero in Spanish means wanker.
I live in CH. Prices are higher here than anywhere else on earth. Not only for software but for any kind of product.
The CH government protects us living in CH from bad product support by making parallel imports illegal. Only one company can import a specific product.
Privates are allowed to import goods themselves so that is what I do. But there are companies making it vary hard to purchase directly from another country.
I went through all kinds of emotions/opinions (patronizing bastards, cartel members, corrupt ring of buddies, unethical, etc...) and having noted very few people sharing my opinions I sort curbed my hopes to have a fairer/saner local market to buy my stuff.
Although the TIFF format is open and it is widely used in archiving systems, it is not particularly suited for an archive you setup new. The main reason is that many applications that generate TIFF may throw in their own proprietary stuff and lock you into a specific viewer. Also, you cannot do a text search of content in TIFF.
When you discuss archves you think about looong times. Typically 10 to 50 years of retention with the odd exception where eternity is desired.
Hence "plain" PDF is probably even worse than TIFF. One problem here are the included resources (fonts) and references (http links) which are mostly left out in order to save disk space. The other problem is that there are so many "plain" PDF versions to choose from and none of them will last 10 to 50 years.
However, PDF is a good technology and therefor the PDF/A standard was developed. It is designed especially to deal with loooong term issues, is currently readable through almost any PDF reader and will be maintained by most sensible PDF readers for the years to come. There is NO vendor lock-in, you can put text in a PDF/A document an run searches against it. But most importantly, NO propitiatory stuff can be shoved in as it would result in an invalid document (a PDF document maybe but not a PDF/A document.)
With the price of current disk space you should NOT make file size a defining criterion in your archiving policy. Only on z/OS disk space comes at absurd and ridiculous prices. If you can, try aiming for an archiving solution on Unix, Linux or even Windows.
I am in the archiving business. At the moment PDF/A is the only format suitable for archiving.
Forget Osama. They overtook the coffee maker. The whole fucking coffee maker!
Inspired by Bluto
Yeah, like the Super 7, the Cobra is an iconic car. Wouldn't mind building one of those. The problem I'd have is getting it road licensed where I live (CH.) The Caterham I ordered got a special permission from the authorities.
Also, a Cobra needs a huge big American motor in it. Otherwise it's just a nice looking British sports car but not an AC Cobra replica by any means. Would the AC Cobra's power kill me?
With the Dollar in its current state I also considered buying a Shelby Mustang (another timeless car.) It would have been cheaper but at 3 times the weight of the Caterham. Also it would not have come as a kit.
I ordered my car 1.5 weeks ago and I'm full of anticipation as it will be delivered in September. Can't wait to start building it. It will get me away from behind the monitor.
Notes to the green ones: I take public transport to work. If I can avoid driving to work I will. Hell I can even get some work done on the train. The Caterham is a light car which I will be driving for pleasure on the weekends. I'd say two hours of "motoring" in a Caterham beats driving almost anything else. I also appreciate that there are places where public transport is not as good as it is where I live and that there are people needing cars.
If finance is a problem and you love cars you can always get an RC car. I did and the "automotiveness" factor is fair enough. Plus you can race these things with a great amount of thrills and without completely ruining the planet.
It's boys and cars. And men. And geeks.
These are automotive hard times. Rising costs of fuel, not being able to drive the heavy but "save" tanks. Where will it end?
So I had to come up with a cunning plan for my next car. Nowadays it has to be light. Much lighter than SUVs. Say around 1'250 lbs.
And it must suit a geek well. And be fast when required by rising testosterone levels.
So I went for one of these. As a kit of course with 210 bhp and a mere 1'250 lbs.
Soon I will be much greener than most of you. Well much faster anyway.
Not shitting you guys I had the money to burn and the geek will to build.
I'm not fat, just a wee bit full up.
Besides, how the hell are we supposed to produce Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Maseratis? By playing a righteous and possibly loosing game? The world isn't waiting for "Italian character" or needing it for that matter. It just wants the insane and magnificent works of art. And yes, I count the cars produced by aforementioned companies as works of art.
"But how 'bout the shitty cars we produce?", you may ask. Well these generate the capital to be able to create artworks. Having said that, currently Fiat isn't doing badly. Also, Alfa seems to have closed the horrifying period that started in the 80ies and went well on into the late 90ies. Now if they start making lighter, rear wheel driven cars and a bit more stuff lke the 8C they will truly excel. Again.
Art is the ultimate expression of civilisation. When everything alse is achieved, that's what you will consider next.
In short, our apologies for being crap at fighting righteous wars. However, we do compensate.
Seriously though, I'm not too keen on speed skating myself but I acknowledge the level of commitment and achievement. Imagine doing 50 Mph. On a bike. And then reconsider.
You need top drawer stuff to push the limits. (How much money would you spend on a PC that has the best cost/performance ratio? Now build a system that is 10% faster and recalculate costs.)
If we'd judge everything on financial grounds we'd live in a world that is as boring as the shitty projects most of us work on. (Yeah sure, your work of course is exciting and you come home filled with joy and pleasure every day.)
Let's not throw away money. But OTOH, let's NOT die "sad but rich".
Imagine the FTF being founded with the idea to realize UNA (UNA is Not Al-Quada.)
...
Blueprints are available on how to setup your own organization. Crash courses in setting up your own cell, free formats to document the cell meeting minutes, open and verifiable systems to elect cell and organization leaders, recommended lingo to hide intentions (although open, the message encryption works but people are left guessing as to what you are conspiring about.)
However, a small but significant part is missing. There's no plan for the rocket. The base is there, the logistics, the whole organization, but no rocket. So reluctantly UNA uses rockets manufactured by evil corporations that do not allow you to modify them and only ause death and destruction with a very inferior sense of style.
Until one day a youngster from South-Jemen comes that desperately needs a rocket but is highly disappointed by the commodity but closed source rockets. So he boldly builds one himself and calls it Afred (he himself is called Alfred.) And he starts deploying it for his own purpose but uses the available UNA blueprints.
Before you know everyone is using Afred for the daily terrorism fix.
Then the FTF founder quite rightly points out that a missile launching compound consists of many more things than a missile. The missile is a vital part and without it no devastation takes place. However, one should not underestimate the infrastructure provided by UNA.
Compounds should not be referred to as Afred because that would not give sufficient credit to the FTF. Instead a more appropriate name is UNA/Afred. AT least so says the Saint of the Church of UNA, St. Ignitius (I bless thee missile.)
I'd prefer neither of the two.
In a more supporting statement you could ask: "If you want to adjourn your knowledge on computer hardware would you prefer reading Wikipedia or have a $200/h professional trainer (to read you Wikipedia)?"
As long as the ISPs don't pull my hair, scratch me with their nail or bite I can cope with this effimate nonsense.
The perfect balance for a budget laptop definitely is a large budget.
Before we know the next corporation patents "An imaginary environment for simulated participating in the act of making love".
Guys we're in real trouble here. We're all guilty. The young ones are particularly vounrable to offending the patent multiple times a day. (We older guys envy the young ones for the favorable frequency. But I digress.)
I'd be fucking damned do leave my prints without a court order and I'd actually be prepared to bare the costs for being shipped back.
Don't these emails classify as spam?
Sue the US air forces, solve the problem and make a bob or two.
US air forces are like the pig in "Never try to teach a pig to sing. You waste your time and you annoy the pig." -- Robert Heinlein
I remain on the save side saying 90% Ferraris are designed gorgeously.
Apart from the fact the Acer does not seem to convince on performance and sense, why in the name of god would Ferrari put its name on this ugly piece of junk?
Italy is the inventor of bureaucracy. Italians know how to stifle their opponents through paperwork.
Defamation is one of the proffered decoys. I experienced this twice on me and I felt ashamed to be an Italian.
I lived abroad for over 30 years and I can see the perspective clearer than Italian inhabitants can. The stupid bureaucratic attitude is what is preventing the country to flourish.
The excuses for this behaviour are: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Alfa Romeo. Not just a small consolation but still...
I like the precision with which an event that should have happened years ago -but didn't- is forecast.
Why not saying 'round 1930?
It's a bit like grandma asking for the time the umpt time and you respond with a millisecond of tolerance.
I'm a geek and a vain one at that. I would actually buy one of these. (Provided they work OK and the material used isn't too shabby and bla bla bla.)
My vanity makes me wear suits and occasionally I spout heaps of crap. So the normal ones think one of them.
But I'm not. I can actually code and I like fscking with people's brain.
Screw the iPhone. Show -but bot flaunt- this thing. Wait until someone puts in the remark and think of a way to fsck the brain -you can do the thinking before.
Norm: That's an interesting phone.
Geek: Yeah, you could learn one or two things from it.
Norm: Kool gadget.
Geek: 20 degrees Celcius is indeed lower than 37
Etc, etc...
I want one. Actually, I want two or three. Two for the kids and one for my daily *nix based work. Imagine entering a meeting with an OLPC.
I have the money to pay twice the price. Alas I live in Europe...
-
We don't really want to change but when we say we look at anything different than Windows we get rebates from MS.
Same holds for IBM z/OS. Tell them you are seriously considering Linux or zLinux and see the reps fly in. Not so many of us are in the position of experiencing nervous IBM reps. I can tell you it's fun to watch.MS Turbolinux -> Mas-Turbolinux->Masturbo-Linux. Or, Wankers-Linux
Repeat quickly MS Turbolinux, MS Turbolinux, MS Turbolinux, MS Turbolinux...
Well okay, it's funnier in Spanish or Italian.