Most users don't want tabbed browsing? Are you on Crack? EVERYONE I've showed tabbed browsing to has loved it. Even when I didn't do it intentionally, e.g., googling for something with a friend I start middle clicking, he sees these tabs extending off to the right and goes "WHOA - what's that?" -- I show the sites opening up in the background -- he says "That's cool!" That's the usual response from tech savy to friends who think AOL is a nice service.
As for the "90% IE", three words "user agent spoofing".
"Philosophy" was probably the wrong word but you know how it is - these things just get typed out with whatever comes to mind. "Style" would be much more fitting. In any case, this group is really good - I'd love see more of their work in the future. I'll have to look them up.
I've had less problem with real than windows media files, but not significant problems with wma. I'm not terribly clear on the legality issues, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is some EULA violation going on if one uses the windows codecs on a linux box... not trying to FUD here, saying "I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me." You know, everyone gets there codecs from mplayer who has servers in Hungary or something like that. If it was completely on the up and up, wouldn't we have mirrors provided by suse, red hat?
By the same token, rm files are usually really low quality. That's why I don't like them. But perhaps that is just content providers being cheapskates on bandwidth. This BG episode could be higher quality, but it is acceptable in full screen on my laptop. I wouldn't want to watch them all this way, and had I seen these at full detail previously it would bug me. But for a sample to the unitiated, it isn't bad. Anyway, I wonder how much the prejudice (I have it too) agains RM is due to the format itself, or due to people over compressing. I suspect it's a mixture.
The Firefly influence in the CGI is obvious. Full disclosure: I'm a Firefly nut -- I personally don't think a better sci-fi in video (as opposed to book) format has ever been made. When I saw the CGI in the opening scenes of this BG episode, it was obvious that the CGI philosphy from Firefly is being used here... and that's a good thing. Rather than artifically ultra-smooth pans with the camera, the CGI is made as if the scenes were recorded by someone holding a camera from inside the action. It gives the shots a flavor of authenticity. And that authenticity comes straight out of the techniques used in Firefly, Thank you Firefly... again.
I've never seen battlestar galactica (well, I saw the old one circa CHIPS when I was a kid). I've watched few minutes of this episode and I'm going to finish it - so far it looks like a better show than I expected. I'll give it a shot on DVD when it comes out. My skepticism was vastly reduced by the firefly influence. I can only hope that carries over into the scripting and acting.
Remember, these could be legitimately purchased copies of MS applications that MS refuses to update.
This is proof positive you have to be some kind of knucklehead (or locked in, locked down, handcuffed-to-the-beadpost-naked-and-spread-eagled customer) to buy MS software.
My hope would be one. More than that is too many but none is too few. One would be just right.
I know I'm in a minority here on serial ports, but a couple years ago I actually had to buy a serial port card for an extra port. I use a couple digital multimeters to monitor the rise and fall of temperature in a kiln I have and they both send data over a serial cable. I wish I could find a laptop with two serial ports!
I think they're service is just fine, if you don't like it take your dvd-copy-as-many-as-i-can-in-a-month butt elsewhere
I have to agree. I've had netflix for a couple years and honestly, the three at a time subscription provides me with more than I actually need. I can't imagine who has the time to watch a couple movies per day and have a life, but for you guys, get a subscription to BOTH Blockbuster and Netflix and you'll never have to leave the couch!
For what it's worth, I did try Blockbuster for a month because it is a tiny bit cheaper, but when it appeared that they were missing an entire season of Voyager (the 4th I think), I canned them. They had all the other seasons - I just couldn't find a single episode from the season I wanted to see - not by any search pattern or even through a time consuming browse. And in response to whoever writes back saying I'm an idiot because it exists and I was to stupid to find it, I don't care. Blockbuster's search/browse interface was flawed enough to make finding the season hard and was reason enough for me to stick with Netflix.
I don't think anyone suggests there should be no consequences. Rather, that the consequences should be realistic. In other words, it is an unrealistic consequence to destroy this kid's future over an act which while wrong, is by no means a sufficient evil to justify a crushing punishment. I know this is a civil matter, but reference to criminal rules is informative. For example, if you steal a candy bar, you pay a fine, maybe do some community service. Why? Because in the greater scheme of things, it just isn't that bad. If you murder someone, you can forfeit your entire life (whether through long incarceration or execution). Why, because murder is really really bad.
Truth is, this guy is very remorseful. After the first article, I tried to convince him to accept a cash gift to help in his defense. He refused it and consistently stated he felt he had caused the problem for himself and he would have to deal with it himself, no matter what that meant (I tried several times to get him to accept a donation). For some people, simply be caught and called on something is a deep punishment. I think that's the case for this guy. A modest non-life-wrecking fine (one or two thousand bucks payable on an installment plan) would be more than adequate punishment. Destroying the future of a potentially highly productive member of society would be heavy handed and bad for everyone involved: the individual whose life is wrecked, Apple for the bad publicity, and society which will lose his potential services.
I've had horse, grasshoppers, whale, and beaver (quit it with the dirty mind - real beaver - the kind they use for coats). I'd like to try dog, snake, and monkey in the not too distant future.
I have a small business in WA state. WA state has no "income" tax.. except for business owners.
I pay a tax to the state based on gross revenue (NOT net revenue, I could lose money and owe taxes), A tax to the city of the same type, sales tax on everything I buy, and yearly property tax on PERSONAL property that was already taxed when I bought it (desk, chairs, computers, the red stapler -- you name it). Then I get to pay federal income tax and SS tax (the full 15ish percent).
I applaud ANYONE who figures out how to avoid taxes and not get caught. You guys are my heros!
"No no no... You've obviously never been married. What's his is her's, and what's her's is her's."
Truer words were never spoken. I actually used Spector about 5 years ago. Caught my wife in the middle of an online romance (the $600 phone bills were the real give away) and planning on cheating. Anyway, we got divorced shortly thereafter.
I don't really think Spector and similar programs are "bad" (illegal perhaps), but at the same time, I don't think they are that helpful. Think of it this way: if you use the program and find evidence, most likely the relationship is over. If you do not use the program but the trust issues are so severe you feel like you need to, the relationship is also over. Why not save the trouble and spend the $50 on a new shirt - you'll be dating again soon whether you install it or not. The only purpose Spector serves is fueling a sense of self-righteous indignation -- a new shirt looks a lot nicer on.
A flawed analogy (but the only one I can think of at the moment) would be thus:
You buy a car. You can change the tires. You can change oil filters. You can change the upholstery. None of this stops your support. But lets say you put it diesel by accident, and broke up your engine. The car manufacturer said in the manual "this car runs on unleaded". Your fault, you pay.
Analogy police here. You are under arrest for faulty analogy. You must alter analogy to reflect the facts. This situation is more akin to buying a car, looking at the manual and seeing it says it requires 87 octane gas (Windows). You decide to spring for 91 octane gas (Linux). Assume that there is no technical reason to suggest that higher octane gas is harmful to your car in any way (the diesel analogy fails here because a gas car won't run on it, office _will_ run fine in linux). Eventually your car needs service and so you stop in to the dealer for an oil change. Unbeknownst to you, the manufacturer installed a sensor on the fuel line (manufacturer get a kickback on all 87 actane gas sold, but not on the other flavors (you see, the gas is the OS, the car is MSoffice) - the dealer says "Nope, won't help you. You've been using high octane gas." There is no technical reason to refuse. There's only a greedy monopolistic reason to refuse. This reflects the true situation.
Anyway, who cares what is written on the box? The box text isn't a contract in the sense that it binds the user to use the system only the indicated OS. The box text protects the supplier by lowering expectations of the consumers / preventing claims of false advertising. As advertising, it binds MS to do what it claims, but it doesn't bind me to use it how MS wants.
All that would be needed would be to take the device off, put it in a faraday cage with a number of beacons emulating the satellites, make a few changes to the phase of the signals in order to simulate "movement", and you're done.
A powerfully geeky convict might do this, but there is a large percentage of low lifes who just won't have the skills. For example, I once helped out on a case where the crook robbed a convenience store. He used duct tape for a mask... he was heavily bearded. Anyway, when he came in to demand money, his face all bearded up, the clerk just busted out laughing. A week later or so the cops find his truck - in the back amongst the beer cans is a wad of duct tape with hair stuck in it. It was a match of course.
Lessons:
Duct tape will make a mask but you won't be taken seriously.
Duct tape rips out hair if you have a beard, shave or use a ski mask.
If you do rip out hairs with a duct tape mask, dispose of the evidence properly.
All this guy would know about Faraday Cages is that is where you end up after drinking too much the day before Saturday.
You'd be surprised at how many otherwise broke crooks can find the money for home detention. When looking at jail time as an alternative, these guys are relatively happy to pay and actively seek this type punishment.
Obviusly you are being sarcastic. I won't be. We don't need to identify them as dulterers/adulteresses - we should lable them a big red "F" for 'f***head'. I'm not making a joke. Being stalked is an amazingly devestating experience with serious long term effects. Stalkers should have no part in our society and deserve a permanent brand so others know to keep the hell away.
If you go out of reception, there will be a last known position. If for example, you are 15 miles from a forbidden zone and the signal is lost for 5 minutes and your new position is 15.3 miles from the zone, it would be reasonable to assume that you didn't go there. On the other hand, if you are.5 mile from the zone when connection is lost, it would be reasonable to warn the person facing danger.
I don't see a problem with this use of GPS, but then, my opinion is clouded by experience. I was stalked about ten years ago and it was a terrifying experience. Spending all your time in a hyper-alert frame of mind is exhausting and to be honest, the nervous feelings took many years to fade away --- at this point, I get paranoid about it only about once a year. Even more frightening, as things dragged on it started to seem to me like my only logical course of action was to kill the stalker first - obviously that would be a mistake but prolonged fear can really take a toll.
I say implant the gps trackers close to the spine so that removal is practically impossible without causing paralysis. Either way, the result is good. But as I mentioned before - my opinion on this use is not even close to objective, and (not that anyone is asking) I'd be the wrong person to make a choice on this issue.
So what you are saying, is that like any other broadband tech in the US, the big telecoms will thwart it as long as possible, perhaps until someone realizes that peasants in Ecuador can download movies in 15 seconds and everyone in the US is still on AOL dial-up.
Still bitter I have only one choice for broadband - no competetion makes for a high cost for me.
All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers... Each one owes
infinitely more to the human race than to the particular country in
which he was born.
-- Francois Fenelon
stupid, just stupid to do, i don't feel sorry about him at all. use your head people.
Definitely stupid - and I don't think Google can be faulted that much for firing him after reading the archived blog. But I do feel sorry for him. His life changed in the 30 or 40 minutes it took him to write the entry and for what, a pointless little note about employee stock options and travel reimbursement. I guess I don't understand blogging. For the life of me, I can't see much of interest in a story about the employee lunchroom or how he fit Ikea furniture in his Celica. None of this information is important or meaningful. To think of what he threw away just to be able tell these stories... it makes me feel really sad for him.
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Most users don't want tabbed browsing? Are you on Crack? EVERYONE I've showed tabbed browsing to has loved it. Even when I didn't do it intentionally, e.g., googling for something with a friend I start middle clicking, he sees these tabs extending off to the right and goes "WHOA - what's that?" -- I show the sites opening up in the background -- he says "That's cool!" That's the usual response from tech savy to friends who think AOL is a nice service.
As for the "90% IE", three words "user agent spoofing".
"Philosophy" was probably the wrong word but you know how it is - these things just get typed out with whatever comes to mind. "Style" would be much more fitting. In any case, this group is really good - I'd love see more of their work in the future. I'll have to look them up.
I've had less problem with real than windows media files, but not significant problems with wma. I'm not terribly clear on the legality issues, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is some EULA violation going on if one uses the windows codecs on a linux box ... not trying to FUD here, saying "I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me." You know, everyone gets there codecs from mplayer who has servers in Hungary or something like that. If it was completely on the up and up, wouldn't we have mirrors provided by suse, red hat?
By the same token, rm files are usually really low quality. That's why I don't like them. But perhaps that is just content providers being cheapskates on bandwidth. This BG episode could be higher quality, but it is acceptable in full screen on my laptop. I wouldn't want to watch them all this way, and had I seen these at full detail previously it would bug me. But for a sample to the unitiated, it isn't bad. Anyway, I wonder how much the prejudice (I have it too) agains RM is due to the format itself, or due to people over compressing. I suspect it's a mixture.
The Firefly influence in the CGI is obvious. Full disclosure: I'm a Firefly nut -- I personally don't think a better sci-fi in video (as opposed to book) format has ever been made. When I saw the CGI in the opening scenes of this BG episode, it was obvious that the CGI philosphy from Firefly is being used here ... and that's a good thing. Rather than artifically ultra-smooth pans with the camera, the CGI is made as if the scenes were recorded by someone holding a camera from inside the action. It gives the shots a flavor of authenticity. And that authenticity comes straight out of the techniques used in Firefly, Thank you Firefly ... again.
I've never seen battlestar galactica (well, I saw the old one circa CHIPS when I was a kid). I've watched few minutes of this episode and I'm going to finish it - so far it looks like a better show than I expected. I'll give it a shot on DVD when it comes out. My skepticism was vastly reduced by the firefly influence. I can only hope that carries over into the scripting and acting.
This is proof positive you have to be some kind of knucklehead (or locked in, locked down, handcuffed-to-the-beadpost-naked-and-spread-eagle
amen brother!
This definitely deserves a funny mod - and to think, I let 5 points expire this morning!
whitehouse.com used to be an excellent parody site of whitehouse.gov.
My hope would be one. More than that is too many but none is too few. One would be just right.
I know I'm in a minority here on serial ports, but a couple years ago I actually had to buy a serial port card for an extra port. I use a couple digital multimeters to monitor the rise and fall of temperature in a kiln I have and they both send data over a serial cable. I wish I could find a laptop with two serial ports!
I prefer wing nuts.
I have to agree. I've had netflix for a couple years and honestly, the three at a time subscription provides me with more than I actually need. I can't imagine who has the time to watch a couple movies per day and have a life, but for you guys, get a subscription to BOTH Blockbuster and Netflix and you'll never have to leave the couch!
For what it's worth, I did try Blockbuster for a month because it is a tiny bit cheaper, but when it appeared that they were missing an entire season of Voyager (the 4th I think), I canned them. They had all the other seasons - I just couldn't find a single episode from the season I wanted to see - not by any search pattern or even through a time consuming browse. And in response to whoever writes back saying I'm an idiot because it exists and I was to stupid to find it, I don't care. Blockbuster's search/browse interface was flawed enough to make finding the season hard and was reason enough for me to stick with Netflix.
I don't think anyone suggests there should be no consequences. Rather, that the consequences should be realistic. In other words, it is an unrealistic consequence to destroy this kid's future over an act which while wrong, is by no means a sufficient evil to justify a crushing punishment. I know this is a civil matter, but reference to criminal rules is informative. For example, if you steal a candy bar, you pay a fine, maybe do some community service. Why? Because in the greater scheme of things, it just isn't that bad. If you murder someone, you can forfeit your entire life (whether through long incarceration or execution). Why, because murder is really really bad.
Truth is, this guy is very remorseful. After the first article, I tried to convince him to accept a cash gift to help in his defense. He refused it and consistently stated he felt he had caused the problem for himself and he would have to deal with it himself, no matter what that meant (I tried several times to get him to accept a donation). For some people, simply be caught and called on something is a deep punishment. I think that's the case for this guy. A modest non-life-wrecking fine (one or two thousand bucks payable on an installment plan) would be more than adequate punishment. Destroying the future of a potentially highly productive member of society would be heavy handed and bad for everyone involved: the individual whose life is wrecked, Apple for the bad publicity, and society which will lose his potential services.
I've had horse, grasshoppers, whale, and beaver (quit it with the dirty mind - real beaver - the kind they use for coats). I'd like to try dog, snake, and monkey in the not too distant future.
I have a small business in WA state. WA state has no "income" tax .. except for business owners.
I pay a tax to the state based on gross revenue (NOT net revenue, I could lose money and owe taxes), A tax to the city of the same type, sales tax on everything I buy, and yearly property tax on PERSONAL property that was already taxed when I bought it (desk, chairs, computers, the red stapler -- you name it). Then I get to pay federal income tax and SS tax (the full 15ish percent).
I applaud ANYONE who figures out how to avoid taxes and not get caught. You guys are my heros!
Truer words were never spoken. I actually used Spector about 5 years ago. Caught my wife in the middle of an online romance (the $600 phone bills were the real give away) and planning on cheating. Anyway, we got divorced shortly thereafter.
I don't really think Spector and similar programs are "bad" (illegal perhaps), but at the same time, I don't think they are that helpful. Think of it this way: if you use the program and find evidence, most likely the relationship is over. If you do not use the program but the trust issues are so severe you feel like you need to, the relationship is also over. Why not save the trouble and spend the $50 on a new shirt - you'll be dating again soon whether you install it or not. The only purpose Spector serves is fueling a sense of self-righteous indignation -- a new shirt looks a lot nicer on.
Analogy police here. You are under arrest for faulty analogy. You must alter analogy to reflect the facts. This situation is more akin to buying a car, looking at the manual and seeing it says it requires 87 octane gas (Windows). You decide to spring for 91 octane gas (Linux). Assume that there is no technical reason to suggest that higher octane gas is harmful to your car in any way (the diesel analogy fails here because a gas car won't run on it, office _will_ run fine in linux). Eventually your car needs service and so you stop in to the dealer for an oil change. Unbeknownst to you, the manufacturer installed a sensor on the fuel line (manufacturer get a kickback on all 87 actane gas sold, but not on the other flavors (you see, the gas is the OS, the car is MSoffice) - the dealer says "Nope, won't help you. You've been using high octane gas." There is no technical reason to refuse. There's only a greedy monopolistic reason to refuse. This reflects the true situation.
Anyway, who cares what is written on the box? The box text isn't a contract in the sense that it binds the user to use the system only the indicated OS. The box text protects the supplier by lowering expectations of the consumers / preventing claims of false advertising. As advertising, it binds MS to do what it claims, but it doesn't bind me to use it how MS wants.
A powerfully geeky convict might do this, but there is a large percentage of low lifes who just won't have the skills. For example, I once helped out on a case where the crook robbed a convenience store. He used duct tape for a mask
Lessons:
All this guy would know about Faraday Cages is that is where you end up after drinking too much the day before Saturday.
You'd be surprised at how many otherwise broke crooks can find the money for home detention. When looking at jail time as an alternative, these guys are relatively happy to pay and actively seek this type punishment.
Obviusly you are being sarcastic. I won't be. We don't need to identify them as dulterers/adulteresses - we should lable them a big red "F" for 'f***head'. I'm not making a joke. Being stalked is an amazingly devestating experience with serious long term effects. Stalkers should have no part in our society and deserve a permanent brand so others know to keep the hell away.
That would be excellent!
If you go out of reception, there will be a last known position. If for example, you are 15 miles from a forbidden zone and the signal is lost for 5 minutes and your new position is 15.3 miles from the zone, it would be reasonable to assume that you didn't go there. On the other hand, if you are .5 mile from the zone when connection is lost, it would be reasonable to warn the person facing danger.
I don't see a problem with this use of GPS, but then, my opinion is clouded by experience. I was stalked about ten years ago and it was a terrifying experience. Spending all your time in a hyper-alert frame of mind is exhausting and to be honest, the nervous feelings took many years to fade away --- at this point, I get paranoid about it only about once a year. Even more frightening, as things dragged on it started to seem to me like my only logical course of action was to kill the stalker first - obviously that would be a mistake but prolonged fear can really take a toll.
I say implant the gps trackers close to the spine so that removal is practically impossible without causing paralysis. Either way, the result is good. But as I mentioned before - my opinion on this use is not even close to objective, and (not that anyone is asking) I'd be the wrong person to make a choice on this issue.
So what you are saying, is that like any other broadband tech in the US, the big telecoms will thwart it as long as possible, perhaps until someone realizes that peasants in Ecuador can download movies in 15 seconds and everyone in the US is still on AOL dial-up.
Still bitter I have only one choice for broadband - no competetion makes for a high cost for me.
All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers
-- Francois Fenelon
Definitely stupid - and I don't think Google can be faulted that much for firing him after reading the archived blog. But I do feel sorry for him. His life changed in the 30 or 40 minutes it took him to write the entry and for what, a pointless little note about employee stock options and travel reimbursement. I guess I don't understand blogging. For the life of me, I can't see much of interest in a story about the employee lunchroom or how he fit Ikea furniture in his Celica. None of this information is important or meaningful. To think of what he threw away just to be able tell these stories
It's a shame too, as if the world needs yet another guitar rock band. It seems so fully explored and done.