"Ok, the first thing you need on your PC is Linux. And forget a GUI, you need to do everything in text. Windowed interfaces are so not cool. Once you're set up with this, we'll go to the de-tanning booth to get your skin a nice white pasty color..."
Why not develop and test their spaceship mostly via computer simluation. That's Carmack's strong suit anyway. Besides, I'd love to get my hands on that sort of simulator. Though I'd probably need a beowulf cluster...
The MPAA should skip over a ban on text messaging and simply ban the formation of negative opinions of their movies. Problem solved. Next time you go to the movies, just be sure you shave your head ahead of time so it's easier for the MPAA probe team to screen your thoughts.
...The direct predecessor to the Wolf Pack system, entitled Rat Pack, was such a high-profile failure that the entire program was nearly scrapped. The Rat Pack system utilized a similar deployment methodology and communicated via high-profile meetings in Las Vegas lounges, overly-dramatic publicity stunts, and awful movies. Further problems with the Rat pack systems were encountered when the missle-deployment system could not function without shattering a glass eye that was critical to Rat Pack's functioning...
I recommend wrapping the cellophane around your head. It takes very little time after application before things look 3D, an effect that lasts suprisingly long before everything goes black.
Not only should the code for voting machines be made open to any interested member of the public, the whole voting process should be opened to the public.
Provided that it does not infringe on the privacy of individual voters, it seems reasonable and much more secure to allow any interested party to view the voting process in real time and at any level, provided, of course, that the process were set to read only;)
This article points out a simple fact: there are lots of stupid people and we suffer, every day, for their stupid behavior.
This is not a rarity or even particularly frustrating. Really, those of us awake enough to notice it suffer from other people's stupidity day in and day out. Just turn on the television and be amazed by not just the commercials but the programming now too. Go for a drive. Take a walk through a shopping mall. Order food from a fast food restaurant.
The proliferation of spam because of a few dopes is just another fact of life on earth. I try my best to enjoy the irony (while not wearing out my delete key).
I think this ongoing conflict between the RIAA, advocating the protection of copyrights, and businesses and individuals who oppose the RIAA's actions is interesting, but not because Kazaa and free file-swapping should reign supreme and continue unhindered. The real issue, IMHO, is about the individual's right to privacy and how that is balanced by another's right to enjoy gains from their work (copyrights). Despite the fact that the RIAA acts as a proxy for individual artists' copyrights (as a copyright is really designed to protect an individual and not a corporation), it comes from a defensible basic position. Individuals should not be allowed to enjoy someone else's work without compensating the creator.
However, individuals and corporations who are coming from the opposing position (e.g., SBC), are best served by arguing, not that file sharing should persist unfettered, but that individuals have the right to interact with others, whether by direct connection, email, postal mail, private conversations, etc. with privacy. Only legal authorities should have the right to invade that privacy and this should only be done after legally obtaining a warrant from a judge.
Though I am not a attorney, this position in favor of privacy seems highly defensible because to invade privacy just because it might involve copyright infringement (an individual could be downloading a track for which they own the CD --yes it happens, albeit infrequently) is a far more grevious offense.
This coming ad campaing only makes the MPAA/RIAA establishment seem even spookier. Sure, they seem like a bunch of greedy execs (ok, they are a bunch of greedy execs). And sure, it's the business establishment that picks the pockets of artists more than even the most prolific digital pirate. But the movement that these guys have made lately is really spooky.
Just recently, there have been civil suits agains poor college students and threats against oodles of end users. The spookiness is increasing as, god forgive them, the courts are siding with them.
The worst-case future that I'm starting to smell here resembles some of the futuristic cyber punk fiction, where massive corporations outstrip even the government in power, resources, and lust for more of both.
I think it's well-agreed that most MS users are that way because of simple familiarity. Your run-of-the-mill user wouldn't port to Linux or another platform (even apple, as easy as it is to use) because they all seem foreign and counter-intuitive (this because intuition is based on repeated experience).
Because of this, it seems critical to catch kids early, before they become pigeon-holed into one particular OS (or any software package). Rather than using Linux exclusively, perhaps a revolving curriculum would be most helpful --Linux, MS, Apple, etc. Provide the variety of experiences that helps kids to learn the similarities among systems that makes for general intuition rather than intuition that is product-specific.
Does anyone know of a service that forwards an email address on to as many spammers as possible? If not, this would be great --a SPAM REVENGE of sorts.
When a humanoid soccer-playing machine can be developed such that a simple slide tackle (a legal maneuver) can snap limbs, the world cup is a sure bet. This will take far less than 47 years. In fact, drop the "humanoid" requirement and we could be there next year.
Sometimes there's an elegant beauty in simple brute force.
If you think that artificial intelligence going nowhere is a problem, what about natural human intelligence? There's clear evidence that it's going rapidly backward!
Who needs TIVO for the radio when just about any worthwile programming is easily available anytime without commercials, except for the occasional ad from the national ketchup council?
I believe that the long rang plan of the RIAA includes a mandatory international registry for all individuals with any musical talent. This is how it will work:
A RIAA Official, wearing his dress uniform and goose-stepping, will arrive at the door of any family days after it becomes apparent that a child possesses any musical talent. The child will then be promptly escorted to an officially-sanctioned RIAA retraining facility for indoctrination. This methodology will prevent the production of music by any non-sanctioned source, which could be blamed for hurting profits.
Slashdot Mirror
"Ok, the first thing you need on your PC is Linux. And forget a GUI, you need to do everything in text. Windowed interfaces are so not cool. Once you're set up with this, we'll go to the de-tanning booth to get your skin a nice white pasty color..."
I do all of my best writing on internet message boards and forums.
The pencil be damned.
It amazes me that some of the weirdest sites on the internet have their own lines of merchandise
Why not develop and test their spaceship mostly via computer simluation. That's Carmack's strong suit anyway. Besides, I'd love to get my hands on that sort of simulator. Though I'd probably need a beowulf cluster...
Fvck terrorism, global epidemics, war, senseless murder, and the economy. I'm gonna report on... video games!!
crowd cheers
I guess it's better than reporting on Kobe Bryant.
The MPAA should skip over a ban on text messaging and simply ban the formation of negative opinions of their movies. Problem solved. Next time you go to the movies, just be sure you shave your head ahead of time so it's easier for the MPAA probe team to screen your thoughts.
I could use a smart machine to aid my decision making relative to posting on Slashdot.
It could warn me when I'm about to submit a post that's impulsive and likely to be modded down.
Hmm.. maybe I could use one right now.
I recommend wrapping the cellophane around your head. It takes very little time after application before things look 3D, an effect that lasts suprisingly long before everything goes black.
With all this talk of using biotech to enhance our lives, replacing organs, creating clones and redundant memories, I have only one question:
Imagine a Beowulf cluster of... me!
Smartass comments may now commence.
Efficeon --that name has a, ummm, ugly sound to it.
If it's not too late, maybe the marketing dept. at Transmeta might consider some of my suggestions: "MakeAwisheon"
Or maybe: "ImProudthatImPolisheon"
or "Wishwasheon"
or "Bullisheon"
or "Squisheon" (my favorite)
Not only should the code for voting machines be made open to any interested member of the public, the whole voting process should be opened to the public.
Provided that it does not infringe on the privacy of individual voters, it seems reasonable and much more secure to allow any interested party to view the voting process in real time and at any level, provided, of course, that the process were set to read only
This article points out a simple fact: there are lots of stupid people and we suffer, every day, for their stupid behavior.
This is not a rarity or even particularly frustrating. Really, those of us awake enough to notice it suffer from other people's stupidity day in and day out. Just turn on the television and be amazed by not just the commercials but the programming now too. Go for a drive. Take a walk through a shopping mall. Order food from a fast food restaurant.
The proliferation of spam because of a few dopes is just another fact of life on earth. I try my best to enjoy the irony (while not wearing out my delete key).
I think this ongoing conflict between the RIAA, advocating the protection of copyrights, and businesses and individuals who oppose the RIAA's actions is interesting, but not because Kazaa and free file-swapping should reign supreme and continue unhindered. The real issue, IMHO, is about the individual's right to privacy and how that is balanced by another's right to enjoy gains from their work (copyrights). Despite the fact that the RIAA acts as a proxy for individual artists' copyrights (as a copyright is really designed to protect an individual and not a corporation), it comes from a defensible basic position. Individuals should not be allowed to enjoy someone else's work without compensating the creator.
However, individuals and corporations who are coming from the opposing position (e.g., SBC), are best served by arguing, not that file sharing should persist unfettered, but that individuals have the right to interact with others, whether by direct connection, email, postal mail, private conversations, etc. with privacy. Only legal authorities should have the right to invade that privacy and this should only be done after legally obtaining a warrant from a judge.
Though I am not a attorney, this position in favor of privacy seems highly defensible because to invade privacy just because it might involve copyright infringement (an individual could be downloading a track for which they own the CD --yes it happens, albeit infrequently) is a far more grevious offense.
This coming ad campaing only makes the MPAA/RIAA establishment seem even spookier. Sure, they seem like a bunch of greedy execs (ok, they are a bunch of greedy execs). And sure, it's the business establishment that picks the pockets of artists more than even the most prolific digital pirate. But the movement that these guys have made lately is really spooky.
Just recently, there have been civil suits agains poor college students and threats against oodles of end users. The spookiness is increasing as, god forgive them, the courts are siding with them.
The worst-case future that I'm starting to smell here resembles some of the futuristic cyber punk fiction, where massive corporations outstrip even the government in power, resources, and lust for more of both.
/paranoid rant
Better to match on appearance than somethning more insidious and Ashcroftian (look mom, I made a new word!)...
Please bleed in the cup, Mr. Anderson. We need to match your DNA to this passport.
I'm an American, you insensitive clod!
"There are lies, damned lies, and statistics."
-Disareli
This story is really a landmark. Slashdot has posted a book review that is actually lukewarm!
Gone are the days when every book review was a total geekgasm. I'll remember those days fondly. (well, not really)
I think it's well-agreed that most MS users are that way because of simple familiarity. Your run-of-the-mill user wouldn't port to Linux or another platform (even apple, as easy as it is to use) because they all seem foreign and counter-intuitive (this because intuition is based on repeated experience).
Because of this, it seems critical to catch kids early, before they become pigeon-holed into one particular OS (or any software package). Rather than using Linux exclusively, perhaps a revolving curriculum would be most helpful --Linux, MS, Apple, etc. Provide the variety of experiences that helps kids to learn the similarities among systems that makes for general intuition rather than intuition that is product-specific.
Does anyone know of a service that forwards an email address on to as many spammers as possible? If not, this would be great --a SPAM REVENGE of sorts.
If it exists, I would sure like to know!
When a humanoid soccer-playing machine can be developed such that a simple slide tackle (a legal maneuver) can snap limbs, the world cup is a sure bet. This will take far less than 47 years. In fact, drop the "humanoid" requirement and we could be there next year.
Sometimes there's an elegant beauty in simple brute force.
If you think that artificial intelligence going nowhere is a problem, what about natural human intelligence? There's clear evidence that it's going rapidly backward!
Who needs TIVO for the radio when just about any worthwile programming is easily available anytime without commercials, except for the occasional ad from the national ketchup council?
I believe that the long rang plan of the RIAA includes a mandatory international registry for all individuals with any musical talent. This is how it will work:
A RIAA Official, wearing his dress uniform and goose-stepping, will arrive at the door of any family days after it becomes apparent that a child possesses any musical talent. The child will then be promptly escorted to an officially-sanctioned RIAA retraining facility for indoctrination. This methodology will prevent the production of music by any non-sanctioned source, which could be blamed for hurting profits.
/premonition