We didn't vote George W into office -- he snatched the presidency from Gore with the help of his buddies down in Florida. And, look what he's doing to the nation. Before Bush, we had a balanced budget, a strong economy, we were at peace with the world, and most people didn't hate us. NOW, we have the return of Reagan-ish deficit spending thanks to unnecessary tax cuts which, incidentally, primarily help the rich (remember "Voodoo economics"? Reaganomics?). We have a huge amount of saber rattling going on. Companies are getting away with just about everything they ever dreamed of (just how many Enron execs are actually going to be punished? How many are going to even stop being rich?). and everyone around the world hates us.
Yeah, I'm REAL OPTIMISTIC that those elections are going to CHANGE THINGS! Oh, SURE. And, the rest of the world is so mean spirited that they blame individual Americans for things that aren't their fault -- in part because of people like you, who believe that their vote actually counts (I'm not saying you're a bad person, but rather that your optimism gives others an excuse to blame individuals for the actions of their government). So, Euro types tell each other, "But, the Americans can vote against this type of thing, so it's really their fault!" And, now, we can't even move away, because everyone wherever we go will blame us individually for everything that is going on, and no matter where we go we'll be hated. We're the gypsies of the new millenium (except, of course, that people generally find gypsies somewhat interesting).
As an aside, by the way, this isn't very nice of Europe in particular. Especially after we've almost literally saved the free world in two major wars, rebuilt even our enemies' entire infrastructures after both of those wars, accepted millions of refugees and foreigners with open arms, given them an education and a new life... But then, they say no good deed goes unpunished.
Vote? Fuck it, I've got less important things to do.
1. Live under the DMCA. Linux developers, who live all around the globe, start snubbing US Citizens because of DMCA fears (mostly legitimate). So as a US Citizen, you don't really have an open source O/S anymore -- no one is sharing source or info with you!
Result: You have a Microsoft-like "Patch and Pray" situation developing. You don't know what the patches do, or whether you want or need them. You're a mushroom -- you're kept in the dark and fed bullshit. LOVELY. Switch to FreeBSD. Or maybe OpenBSD. Whatever.
2. You get fed up with the DMCA and move elsewhere, in hopes of finding a new country whose intellectual environment is supposedly more open and accessible. I don't personally endorse this (I love NY) but hell, it might be ok for people less attached to their environs.
Result: You're surrounded by people who despise George W. Bush and see you as their personal GWBush voodoo doll. So they harangue and harass you about every screwed up thing the U.S. does as if you personally ordered it. Everyone hates you. You can't walk twenty feet down the street without some French psycho grabbing your collar and screaming at you for being "imperialist scum" (or whatever the current anti-US epithet is, I can't keep track). As soon as word gets out that an American lives nearby, terrorists swoop in and cut off your head, if you haven't killed yourself from depression already. No one cries at your funeral, and the stonecarver deliberately misspells your name.
Not really an option. I'd say maybe Canada, but even they don't like us anymore. I have a friend living in the Far East, but then, some people got their heads cut off over there recently, so that's out. Ok...
3. Become an activist and protest the DMCA, start political rallies, support the green party, etc. Raise all kinds of hell in hopes of altering the status quo.
Result: with the FBI's newly restored powers (they've recently gotten back the powers stripped from them after Watergate, in case you haven't heard) they identify you as a rabble rouser, anti-American whatsis, etc and so forth, and you get busted for every possible thing you could get busted for right down to jaywalking. We're talking the total Abbie Hoffman treatment. Eventually you go into hiding or get so depressed you kill yourself (or some CIA spook helps you kill yourself, either way).
FACE IT, CHUMS! I've already resigned myself to it. I am doomed. I fully understand this. So, the hell with it. I'll stay right where I am, where at least my neighbors like me. Maybe I'll get stuck with Palladium, maybe I'll get stuck with the DMCA. Fuck it. There's FUCK-ALL I can do about it anyway.
And, if people won't tell me what kernel patches do, if they snub me for things that are totally out of my control, well, screw it. I'll switch to BSD. Or maybe something else. Adapt, improvise, overcome.
One thing's for certain: I'm not travelling ourside our borders ever again. NOBODY likes us. EVERYONE hates us. Time to stay home and fire up the Playstation!
One major problem with spending your entire life in college (as you seem to be determined to do) is that you start falling for the idea that you are somehow more intelligent and more wise than all of us "regular guys" out here in the working world. So, of course, everything everyone else says in disagreement with you is branded as "ignorant" as you pour ad-hominem upon ad-hominem in defense of your indefensible views. Hey, I'm not above a little ad-hominem, myself, obviously -- I gave you a little crap earlier (couldn't resist). But at least I don't confuse a flame with an actual ARGUMENT.
So, in hopes of knocking you out of your physics department ivory tower, here are a few salient points:
1. You said you have two things to say, then you said three. Either you can't count, in which case you shouldn't be allowed near any laboratory gear, or you're just basically not paying attention. I favor the latter.
2. Everyone quotes the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION -- and there are so many interperetations of that document that whatever you did with it, it doesn't prove anything you've been saying. Jeez, get over yourself. What a pretentious ass!
3. It's so ironic that your definition of self-righteousness applies equally well to you and all of your PC, college-bound, US hating ilk. Why don't you all move to France? At least then you can sit around cafes and grouse about the US to your heart's content without having arguments (like this one) you're obviously unprepared to wage effectively. And, none of us (who love the US) will be around to bother you, since we figured out years ago that it's no fun to hang around people who hate us for no good reason.
BY THE WAY, I'd wager I know far more about the "history of the region" than you do. You physics types are well known for ditching your liberal arts classes. Unlike you (probably) I liked World History, and I paid attention. And, what was that crack about CNN? Does anybody still watch CNN? Hell, aside from the movie channels, who watches TV? But it's not worth arguing with you. I've met people like you before. You're thick, like mud, and it's not worth the wading.
In other words:
I disagree with you because you're a self-loathing egotistical schmuck in desperate need of therapy, not because you know something I don't.
I know it's hard for you higher-education types to conceive of someone outside of academia who doesn't agree with you about your mental superiority, but hey, you'll get used to it. Wait and see what happens if you try to take that Ph.D out into private industry. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when some crusty old engineer takes you down a few pegs.
But that's just me. What say we drop this before it becomes an all out flamewar?
If, by "self-righteousness" you mean that I'm not ashamed to be an American, I'm proud of my country and I love my culture and people, well, Thanks! I accept your poorly-worded semiliterate compliment.
In all seriousness, though, you really ought to get a grip. The United States is a great place to live, with a great culture and a great people. You should be proud of who you are, instead of constantly hunting for things to get pissy about. I mean, really. The whole hippie thing died off twenty years ago. Catch the clue train, kid.
Actually, your point, that we are good and they are bad is pretty damn accurate. Our system is based around personal and intellectual freedom, and I'll take it over their "stone her to death for cheating on her spouse, cut his hands off for stealing a gumball" system any day. But if you feel the need, go ahead and join up with the bastards if you feel the need. I won't miss you -- and neither will the jarhead who puts a bullet in your ass. But I digress...
The Saudis are in power because they control Oil, and because they are the least militant, least evil group in the region. Sorry you don't like it dude, but that's life. During the cold war, we propped up several oppressive governments so that the soviets couldn't use them to their advantage -- and as a result, we ended up winning the cold war. Again, that's life.
And, maybe we support Israel because they're the only democratic government in the entire region, and the only people in the region who actually LIKE us. Not to mention the fact that if we didn't prop up Israel, every arab within a thousand miles would be lining up to invade it. Of course, someone like you would be very pleased to see every last Israeli murdered in their beds. It would fit your little politically-correct worldview, and probably make you eternally grateful.
Well, I'm glad I made you ashamed at least. Because you have no sense of shame of your own, posting this ridiculous little piece of fluff. But, hey, no hard feelings. People like me have it all over people like you, so we can afford to be generous.
You mentioned that " 4. My father is over 50, and is making a nice living working for Lockheed Martin in the DC area. He's had very little trouble finding jobs since 1993. *shrug* I fully agree that there -is- age discrimination, though, and that the IT worker value has shrunk, due in -part- to the H1B's (which I'm -violently- against, I might add)."
As far as Lockheed Martin goes, that's impressive. If he has a security clearance, that would explain this somewhat -- he can't be easily replaced by a younger or more foreign worker. On the other hand, maybe being a government contractor, they're prohibited from even the appearance of age discrimination? This would imply that Lockheed Martin would be a good place to work.
About H1-Bs, am I the only one who finds it terrifying that now even the school systems are bringing in foreign workers? I don't want my kids having to learn math at the hands of some weirdo who can barely speak English, or -- worse! -- having to take something like social studies from someone who may not particularly like America in the first place. I had to deal with enough of that in college. Now it's happening in grade school! Eeek! Ok, what was the number of that private catholic prep school, again? From now on, I'm giving my kin over to the Franciscans.;)
Then you said: "5. *nod* Yup. Which is why people shouldn't be using recruiters, and going directly to HR -or- to people they know already working there. And yeah, government work rocks. Part of why I'm getting a job with a large reaserch university on the east coast. I'm tired of working 60 hour weeks, and not getting to play with some cool hardware:)"
Which I agree with 100%. Once I stopped using recruiters and started concentrating on government jobs, everything changed. It's like the old cliche when a storm suddenly clears up, rays of sunlight come through the clouds, birds start to sing and a dove settles down on your shoulder.
As far as universities go, I think about grad school a lot. I'd love to go back for my master's. Besides, I hear the NSA is hiring people with security related graduate degrees (double hmm...) to build security systems.
"If you're having problems finding a new job, after getting laid off, one of these is true:
1. the area you live in sucks. MOVE. 2. you aren't nearly as skilled as you think you are. 3. you aren't nearly as skilled as the -other- applicants are."
Responds the older Green:
Of course it could be: 4. The value of an American IT worker's labor is now nil, because A) companies can hire H1-Bs for a fraction of the cost and hold the promise of a green card over their heads like a guillotine blade, B) Many companies no longer want to maintain an internal IT staff, they want to outsource to some cheapo third-rate outfit to improve their expense reports, and C) rampant age discrimination in the IT industry means that you're usually washed up at 35 unless you're a researcher.
Of course, then there's my personal favorite: 5. Many recruiters are lying so brazenly on the resumes they submit for you (after they "touch them up" I mean) that employers no longer believe anything they see on a resume. When everything is suspect, real-live solid experience is assumed to be a lie.
The IT industry is a sham. Work for the government, and let private industry go to hell. You'll feel better.
Great idea, poor implementation.
on
Hacker Culture
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
My main problem with this book is that although the subject matter is fascinating, the actual writing is tedious, and follows an extremely dry academic style. I felt like I was reading a graduate-level sociology dissertation. Ho, hum. Material this interesting deserves a much better treatment.
Jeez, getting through the introduction was a chore. I was reminded of the Bataan Death March. The introduction was the worst. It was like an endless academic spiel, just going on, and on, and on, and on (but you get the idea). BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF WIT, MAN! Sigh...
Still...
He means well. And, for an academic audience, the book might be helpful in that it might frame hackers in a more positive, more accurate light.
But, Jesus, does he ramble. I think a much better-written book on hackers is "Hackers" by Steven Levy, which follows the original MIT hackers, and traces up through the microcomputer companies and game developers that came later. I'd like to see Mr. Levy do a followup, taking us from the early nineties to the present. He's a much more animated, interesting writer (no disrespect to the academic style of "hacker culture", it's just a little dry).
I wore one in the Persian Gulf back in '90, when they were making them out of thick kevlar (about a half inch thick). If you maintained the straps well, and took care of the helmet, it was really pretty comfortable. We used to go out to Oceanside to buy new straps and such at one of the surplus stores because the issue straps were always thrashed. So, us Fleet Marines usually had pretty good gear.
Anyway, the helmet I had was comfortable, it kept the sun out of my face, and offered pretty good coverage for the sides of my head. I liked it; it was a good design.
I second the motion. CF-25s, CF-27s, and CF-28s are the three most rugged models Panasonic sells -- they're built to sell to military agencies, police departments, and companies that require extreme durability, like construction firms. You can get CF-25s pretty cheap on ebay, I've seen really nice ones for around 300.00, and older ones for as little as 130.00. And, they run Linux really well (I'm using Mandrake with mine).
Another good company is Itronix, which sells the XC-6250 (look for one with a color touchscreen, 200Mhz Pentium, that one's very tough) and the GoBook. Their GoBookMax is a completely modern, but extremely tough laptop. It's extremely strong. You would have to deliberately want to break it to break it -- i.e. dump it in a swimming pool, hit it with an axe, etc. You'd have to really want to kill it.
My favorite is the Panasonic, though. It's such a nice laptop!
The reason why, as you put it, "an entire subcontinent... wants us dead" is this:
This is a nation which believes in religious, intellectual, and personal freedom, and grants its citizens the right to do pretty much whatever they want as long as they don't infringe too seriously on the rights of others. This has resulted in amazing technical capabilities, as well as a very broad and eclectic popular culture.
The "entire subcontinent" you mentioned is NOT free, nor do its leaders believe in personal freedom. Personal freedom is terrifying to them, because it strips them of the power they're currently wielding: they use their fundamentalist religious beliefs to completely control the behavior of their citizens.
They hate us because with every television broadcast, newspaper, magazine, and foreign national their people are exposed to, their people see a little more clearly how badly their system (not to put too fine a point on it) sucks.
Outside of ruining our system to make them feel better, there's nothing we can do to prevent them from wanting to kill us. Get over it. They'll want to kill us as long as we are free, and as long as we have better lives than they do.
All we can do is keep spanking them when they get out of hand, and do whatever we can to prevent them from being able to hurt us when they're not acting up overtly.
Slashdot Mirror
You're missing something.
Our vote, remember, means nothing.
We didn't vote George W into office -- he snatched the presidency from Gore with the help of his buddies down in Florida. And, look what he's doing to the nation. Before Bush, we had a balanced budget, a strong economy, we were at peace with the world, and most people didn't hate us. NOW, we have the return of Reagan-ish deficit spending thanks to unnecessary tax cuts which, incidentally, primarily help the rich (remember "Voodoo economics"? Reaganomics?). We have a huge amount of saber rattling going on. Companies are getting away with just about everything they ever dreamed of (just how many Enron execs are actually going to be punished? How many are going to even stop being rich?). and everyone around the world hates us.
Yeah, I'm REAL OPTIMISTIC that those elections are going to CHANGE THINGS! Oh, SURE. And, the rest of the world is so mean spirited that they blame individual Americans for things that aren't their fault -- in part because of people like you, who believe that their vote actually counts (I'm not saying you're a bad person, but rather that your optimism gives others an excuse to blame individuals for the actions of their government). So, Euro types tell each other, "But, the Americans can vote against this type of thing, so it's really their fault!" And, now, we can't even move away, because everyone wherever we go will blame us individually for everything that is going on, and no matter where we go we'll be hated. We're the gypsies of the new millenium (except, of course, that people generally find gypsies somewhat interesting).
As an aside, by the way, this isn't very nice of Europe in particular. Especially after we've almost literally saved the free world in two major wars, rebuilt even our enemies' entire infrastructures after both of those wars, accepted millions of refugees and foreigners with open arms, given them an education and a new life... But then, they say no good deed goes unpunished.
Vote? Fuck it, I've got less important things to do.
Consider the options:
1. Live under the DMCA. Linux developers, who live all around the globe, start snubbing US Citizens because of DMCA fears (mostly legitimate). So as a US Citizen, you don't really have an open source O/S anymore -- no one is sharing source or info with you!
Result: You have a Microsoft-like "Patch and Pray" situation developing. You don't know what the patches do, or whether you want or need them. You're a mushroom -- you're kept in the dark and fed bullshit. LOVELY. Switch to FreeBSD. Or maybe OpenBSD. Whatever.
2. You get fed up with the DMCA and move elsewhere, in hopes of finding a new country whose intellectual environment is supposedly more open and accessible. I don't personally endorse this (I love NY) but hell, it might be ok for people less attached to their environs.
Result: You're surrounded by people who despise George W. Bush and see you as their personal GWBush voodoo doll. So they harangue and harass you about every screwed up thing the U.S. does as if you personally ordered it. Everyone hates you. You can't walk twenty feet down the street without some French psycho grabbing your collar and screaming at you for being "imperialist scum" (or whatever the current anti-US epithet is, I can't keep track). As soon as word gets out that an American lives nearby, terrorists swoop in and cut off your head, if you haven't killed yourself from depression already. No one cries at your funeral, and the stonecarver deliberately misspells your name.
Not really an option. I'd say maybe Canada, but even they don't like us anymore. I have a friend living in the Far East, but then, some people got their heads cut off over there recently, so that's out. Ok...
3. Become an activist and protest the DMCA, start political rallies, support the green party, etc. Raise all kinds of hell in hopes of altering the status quo.
Result: with the FBI's newly restored powers (they've recently gotten back the powers stripped from them after Watergate, in case you haven't heard) they identify you as a rabble rouser, anti-American whatsis, etc and so forth, and you get busted for every possible thing you could get busted for right down to jaywalking. We're talking the total Abbie Hoffman treatment. Eventually you go into hiding or get so depressed you kill yourself (or some CIA spook helps you kill yourself, either way).
FACE IT, CHUMS! I've already resigned myself to it. I am doomed. I fully understand this. So, the hell with it. I'll stay right where I am, where at least my neighbors like me. Maybe I'll get stuck with Palladium, maybe I'll get stuck with the DMCA. Fuck it. There's FUCK-ALL I can do about it anyway.
And, if people won't tell me what kernel patches do, if they snub me for things that are totally out of my control, well, screw it. I'll switch to BSD. Or maybe something else. Adapt, improvise, overcome.
One thing's for certain: I'm not travelling ourside our borders ever again. NOBODY likes us. EVERYONE hates us. Time to stay home and fire up the Playstation!
Silly, silly man.
One major problem with spending your entire life in college (as you seem to be determined to do) is that you start falling for the idea that you are somehow more intelligent and more wise than all of us "regular guys" out here in the working world. So, of course, everything everyone else says in disagreement with you is branded as "ignorant" as you pour ad-hominem upon ad-hominem in defense of your indefensible views. Hey, I'm not above a little ad-hominem, myself, obviously -- I gave you a little crap earlier (couldn't resist). But at least I don't confuse a flame with an actual ARGUMENT.
So, in hopes of knocking you out of your physics department ivory tower, here are a few salient points:
1. You said you have two things to say, then you said three. Either you can't count, in which case you shouldn't be allowed near any laboratory gear, or you're just basically not paying attention. I favor the latter.
2. Everyone quotes the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION -- and there are so many interperetations of that document that whatever you did with it, it doesn't prove anything you've been saying. Jeez, get over yourself. What a pretentious ass!
3. It's so ironic that your definition of self-righteousness applies equally well to you and all of your PC, college-bound, US hating ilk. Why don't you all move to France? At least then you can sit around cafes and grouse about the US to your heart's content without having arguments (like this one) you're obviously unprepared to wage effectively. And, none of us (who love the US) will be around to bother you, since we figured out years ago that it's no fun to hang around people who hate us for no good reason.
BY THE WAY, I'd wager I know far more about the "history of the region" than you do. You physics types are well known for ditching your liberal arts classes. Unlike you (probably) I liked World History, and I paid attention. And, what was that crack about CNN? Does anybody still watch CNN? Hell, aside from the movie channels, who watches TV? But it's not worth arguing with you. I've met people like you before. You're thick, like mud, and it's not worth the wading.
In other words:
I disagree with you because you're a self-loathing egotistical schmuck in desperate need of therapy, not because you know something I don't.
I know it's hard for you higher-education types to conceive of someone outside of academia who doesn't agree with you about your mental superiority, but hey, you'll get used to it. Wait and see what happens if you try to take that Ph.D out into private industry. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when some crusty old engineer takes you down a few pegs.
But that's just me. What say we drop this before it becomes an all out flamewar?
And, another thing:
If, by "self-righteousness" you mean that I'm not ashamed to be an American, I'm proud of my country and I love my culture and people, well, Thanks! I accept your poorly-worded semiliterate compliment.
In all seriousness, though, you really ought to get a grip. The United States is a great place to live, with a great culture and a great people. You should be proud of who you are, instead of constantly hunting for things to get pissy about. I mean, really. The whole hippie thing died off twenty years ago. Catch the clue train, kid.
Blah, blah blah.
Actually, your point, that we are good and they are bad is pretty damn accurate. Our system is based around personal and intellectual freedom, and I'll take it over their "stone her to death for cheating on her spouse, cut his hands off for stealing a gumball" system any day. But if you feel the need, go ahead and join up with the bastards if you feel the need. I won't miss you -- and neither will the jarhead who puts a bullet in your ass. But I digress...
The Saudis are in power because they control Oil, and because they are the least militant, least evil group in the region. Sorry you don't like it dude, but that's life. During the cold war, we propped up several oppressive governments so that the soviets couldn't use them to their advantage -- and as a result, we ended up winning the cold war. Again, that's life.
And, maybe we support Israel because they're the only democratic government in the entire region, and the only people in the region who actually LIKE us. Not to mention the fact that if we didn't prop up Israel, every arab within a thousand miles would be lining up to invade it. Of course, someone like you would be very pleased to see every last Israeli murdered in their beds. It would fit your little politically-correct worldview, and probably make you eternally grateful.
Well, I'm glad I made you ashamed at least. Because you have no sense of shame of your own, posting this ridiculous little piece of fluff. But, hey, no hard feelings. People like me have it all over people like you, so we can afford to be generous.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
Ah! A fellow green? Hmm...
;)
:)"
You mentioned that " 4. My father is over 50, and is making a nice living working for Lockheed Martin in the DC area. He's had very little trouble finding jobs since 1993. *shrug* I fully agree that there -is- age discrimination, though, and that the IT worker value has shrunk, due in -part- to the H1B's (which I'm -violently- against, I might add)."
As far as Lockheed Martin goes, that's impressive. If he has a security clearance, that would explain this somewhat -- he can't be easily replaced by a younger or more foreign worker. On the other hand, maybe being a government contractor, they're prohibited from even the appearance of age discrimination? This would imply that Lockheed Martin would be a good place to work.
About H1-Bs, am I the only one who finds it terrifying that now even the school systems are bringing in foreign workers? I don't want my kids having to learn math at the hands of some weirdo who can barely speak English, or -- worse! -- having to take something like social studies from someone who may not particularly like America in the first place. I had to deal with enough of that in college. Now it's happening in grade school! Eeek! Ok, what was the number of that private catholic prep school, again? From now on, I'm giving my kin over to the Franciscans.
Then you said: "5. *nod* Yup. Which is why people shouldn't be using recruiters, and going directly to HR -or- to people they know already working there.
And yeah, government work rocks. Part of why I'm getting a job with a large reaserch university on the east coast. I'm tired of working 60 hour weeks, and not getting to play with some cool hardware
Which I agree with 100%. Once I stopped using recruiters and started concentrating on government jobs, everything changed. It's like the old cliche when a storm suddenly clears up, rays of sunlight come through the clouds, birds start to sing and a dove settles down on your shoulder.
As far as universities go, I think about grad school a lot. I'd love to go back for my master's. Besides, I hear the NSA is hiring people with security related graduate degrees (double hmm...) to build security systems.
Quoth the Young Republican:
"If you're having problems finding a new job, after getting laid off, one of these is true:
1. the area you live in sucks. MOVE.
2. you aren't nearly as skilled as you think you are.
3. you aren't nearly as skilled as the -other- applicants are."
Responds the older Green:
Of course it could be:
4. The value of an American IT worker's labor is now nil, because A) companies can hire H1-Bs for a fraction of the cost and hold the promise of a green card over their heads like a guillotine blade, B) Many companies no longer want to maintain an internal IT staff, they want to outsource to some cheapo third-rate outfit to improve their expense reports, and C) rampant age discrimination in the IT industry means that you're usually washed up at 35 unless you're a researcher.
Of course, then there's my personal favorite:
5. Many recruiters are lying so brazenly on the resumes they submit for you (after they "touch them up" I mean) that employers no longer believe anything they see on a resume. When everything is suspect, real-live solid experience is assumed to be a lie.
The IT industry is a sham. Work for the government, and let private industry go to hell. You'll feel better.
My main problem with this book is that although the subject matter is fascinating, the actual writing is tedious, and follows an extremely dry academic style. I felt like I was reading a graduate-level sociology dissertation. Ho, hum. Material this interesting deserves a much better treatment.
Jeez, getting through the introduction was a chore. I was reminded of the Bataan Death March. The introduction was the worst. It was like an endless academic spiel, just going on, and on, and on, and on (but you get the idea). BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF WIT, MAN! Sigh...
Still...
He means well. And, for an academic audience, the book might be helpful in that it might frame hackers in a more positive, more accurate light.
But, Jesus, does he ramble. I think a much better-written book on hackers is "Hackers" by Steven Levy, which follows the original MIT hackers, and traces up through the microcomputer companies and game developers that came later. I'd like to see Mr. Levy do a followup, taking us from the early nineties to the present. He's a much more animated, interesting writer (no disrespect to the academic style of "hacker culture", it's just a little dry).
You must never have worn an American-made helmet.
.02...
I wore one in the Persian Gulf back in '90, when they were making them out of thick kevlar (about a half inch thick). If you maintained the straps well, and took care of the helmet, it was really pretty comfortable. We used to go out to Oceanside to buy new straps and such at one of the surplus stores because the issue straps were always thrashed. So, us Fleet Marines usually had pretty good gear.
Anyway, the helmet I had was comfortable, it kept the sun out of my face, and offered pretty good coverage for the sides of my head. I liked it; it was a good design.
Just my
I second the motion. CF-25s, CF-27s, and CF-28s are the three most rugged models Panasonic sells -- they're built to sell to military agencies, police departments, and companies that require extreme durability, like construction firms. You can get CF-25s pretty cheap on ebay, I've seen really nice ones for around 300.00, and older ones for as little as 130.00. And, they run Linux really well (I'm using Mandrake with mine).
Another good company is Itronix, which sells the XC-6250 (look for one with a color touchscreen, 200Mhz Pentium, that one's very tough) and the GoBook. Their GoBookMax is a completely modern, but extremely tough laptop. It's extremely strong. You would have to deliberately want to break it to break it -- i.e. dump it in a swimming pool, hit it with an axe, etc. You'd have to really want to kill it.
My favorite is the Panasonic, though. It's such a nice laptop!
The reason why, as you put it, "an entire subcontinent... wants us dead" is this:
This is a nation which believes in religious, intellectual, and personal freedom, and grants its citizens the right to do pretty much whatever they want as long as they don't infringe too seriously on the rights of others. This has resulted in amazing technical capabilities, as well as a very broad and eclectic popular culture.
The "entire subcontinent" you mentioned is NOT free, nor do its leaders believe in personal freedom. Personal freedom is terrifying to them, because it strips them of the power they're currently wielding: they use their fundamentalist religious beliefs to completely control the behavior of their citizens.
They hate us because with every television broadcast, newspaper, magazine, and foreign national their people are exposed to, their people see a little more clearly how badly their system (not to put too fine a point on it) sucks.
Outside of ruining our system to make them feel better, there's nothing we can do to prevent them from wanting to kill us. Get over it. They'll want to kill us as long as we are free, and as long as we have better lives than they do.
All we can do is keep spanking them when they get out of hand, and do whatever we can to prevent them from being able to hurt us when they're not acting up overtly.
I hope that answers the question for you...