There is a lot of redundancy going on. For instance:
If you are working on a problem there is a meeting to discuss working on the problem. Then there is a meeting to discuss how to work on the problem. Then there is work on the problem. Then there is a review of the work performed. Then there are corrections to the work performed. Then the final meeting. Then the paperwork to say the repairs are complete is done.
It was tightly controlled before the space shuttle accident - it is more so now. All of these checks and balances cost time and money.
If this were a business you would probably have a lot less overhead but you also might have quite a few more problems with the companies trying to CYA everything. If you don't believe that - just look around at what is happening today and yesterday. WorldCom, Qwest, Merril Lynch, Microsoft, etc....
The IRS requires companies to make profits or else they are not considered a company. Thus, companies do whatever it takes to make money so they can be profitable. As they say - Anything goes in business...so long as it makes money.
Which makes me wonder whatever happened to morales. But then, can you be ethical and still make money? Since you have to take money from others or convince them to give it to you in return for something they perceive as being needed in order for them to live. So can ethics and making money co-habitate together? They used to but most of those companies are now out of business or on the defensive because of lawsuits.
So yeah, companies might be able to do a better job - but when you die because of some company cutting corners they'll just make a deal with your survivors and announce that this doesn't mean there has been any wrong doings on their part. It is just business after all.
From what I understand of Trademark law there are a few rules which have to be followed in the United States:
1. Not in use prior to the origination of trademarks as a general term. (ie: "Windows" is a general term, "Microsoft Windows" is not. Microsoft's big problem is that they trademarked just "Windows". (If I remember correctly.) Therein lies the rub.) This is where the "Olympics" problem also occurs. Since the Greeks coined the phrase "Olympics" over 2,000 years ago - no one can claim to own the word "Olympics" and would be laughed out of court for trying to claim it. (However, again - you first have to go to court and be willing to fight for it in order to have it thrown out. And that is the catch. If you aren't willing to stand up to a bunch of bullies - then you get what you deserve. And that is why things are the way they are.)
2. Trademarks can be made to cover entire areas or everything dependent upon how the wording is done on the application. (See Apple Computer Inc.'s having to deal with the company who created the Macintosh Stereo Systems. Or look at the Beatles trademarking the "Apple" logo for their records. [Notice also that the Beatles' Apple logo isn't just the word but is also a pictograph. So that has to be taken into consideration as well.)
3. Trademarks have to be defended or they return to the general public. This is why you see so many threats of lawsuits. McDonald's is very aggressive in their pursuit of anyone who might have a name even remotely sounding like theirs.
4. Trademarks also can not become general terms. This is called "dilution of a trademark." This is also why people can no longer refer to making a copy of something on a copying machine as "Xerox'ing something" or "making a Xerox". Why colas sold in restaurants have to be distinguished by trademark name and not just as "cokes", and why you use a tissue and not a "kleenex". All of these companies had to fight to keep their trademarks from becoming so diluted in normal speech that they no longer were considered trademarks.
(Offtopic: I have a new idea for submitting stuff to SlashDot - integrated spell checker! Put it next to "Submit" and "Preview". I know I could have used one writing this up.:-) )
We should have a law which makes it illegal to falsely label a bill.
After all, there's the "Truth in lending" law, the "Truth in labeling" for consumer goods. Why not a law to enforce truth in presenting laws for the government to pass? Would anyone have voted for "A bill to revoke privacy laws and to reduce your civil liberties" ever pass? It did.
A Bush in the office is worth two as governors.;-)
I think it is a shame we can no longer trust those we elect to office. Instead of looking forwards to someone coming into office we now just pray that they don't do something terrible while they are there. Shouldn't the common man at least have confidence in who has been elected?
Just Windows95? I know people who are still using Windows3.1, just MS-DOS, CP/M, Apple ProDOS, and Apple's DOS 3.3!
Heck, I have more emulators of old OSs than there are real computers being made for them! (Don't forget the kid here on/. who had 32 OSs? [if I remember correctly]).
First - start your own company. You can do it on-line now-a-days for next to nothing. If you know how to fix errors companies pay big money for people who can walk in, take over a problem, and fix the problem. Basically, you become your own consultant. Get some business insurance ($500.00 a year can buy you quite a bit of insurance). In this way other businesses will be less leary of hiring you as a consultant/independent programmer because they know that if something goes wrong they are covered.
Second - write a program others will want to use. Like EverQuest. Only start small and work your way up to something as large as EverQuest. Pick a game that the patents and copyrights have expired on and go to town with it. Or write a variant. Make it Java or browser based so people don't have to buy the game. Make it look nice with some graphics (you can get free graphics off of the web too!) and do a very cheap subscription fee (like a dollar a year or something). You are looking for volume. So yeah - you only get a dollar a year from someone. Well, 100,000 someone's is still $100,000.00 and there are places which will host your site for very little. Some, I am told, will do it for free.
Remember that big companies like Microsoft, BMC Software, and the like all started out with only one or two people who wrote or bought programs and then just marketed them well. That (IMHO) is what you need to do. Because it sounds as though you have reached a plateau in your life. You are at that point where you can do the computer stuff but the business end of things isn't your balliwick. So maybe its time to invest some time in learning that end of things. You do it right and you'll end up like the owner of SAS Corporation, Microsoft, and the like. Or - you can just keep on beating your head against the wall which doesn't care if you live or die. I'd climb over it, go around it, under it, or blow it up. Stop going "I need a job" and start saying "I want to make money and here is how I'm going to do it."
I know it sounds like a "Ra-ra-ree, kick'em in the knee" thing but the truth is that a lot of people are in great need of a lot of good software and no one is making that software. Well, you don't have a job? Ok - then you do have the time to work on some personal software which you might be able to market. Here are some ideas:
1. Scheduling program for pet boarding houses. All of the software currently available will not allow people outside of the company to request days for their pets, to see the status of their pets, or anything else. The current state of scheduling systems are closed ones (ie: they only work on the computer systems in-house). Write one so people over the net can do things.
2. Same as #1 but for dentists, doctors, and the like. Why can't we make appointments to see the doctor via the net? *shrug* I dunno - you just can't.
3. My mechanic has one of the crudest systems for keeping track of his inventory. Write one for the small businessman. Charge him $50.00 a whack. Sell him a complete system for more.
4. Hispanics in Texas who do not speak english have an awful problem because every program I've ever seen is in english. We also have a large asian community. Using the capabilities of Java (and some help from a friend, etc...) write programs so they are in other languages or even multiple languages. Error messages and all!
5. Write a program which looks for things like fires. Couple that with video input. Now you have a way to tell if a house is on fire via video. Sell that to cities so they can monitor areas for fires automatically.
6. Write a program to note changes. Hook it up to video cameras. Use it to denote whether traffic is moving or standing still so it can automatically update TV and radio stations on traffic conditions. You could also use it to monitor where people are speeding a lot (boo! hisss!:-) ) so the police know where to go to give out tickets. (Not that I would REALLY like anyone to do this - it just popped into my head.)
Ok - there are six programs you could work on and sell. Remember that in selling you will get a lot of no's but just learn from them and keep going. I know the guys who work on my car really wish there was a Vietnamise version of their software. But there isn't. So they make do. It is one of the reasons why I am working on quitting my job. I've found enough things to work on and get out the door to make me money that I no longer want to stay where I am working. So I'm planning on selling my house, moving out of the city (so it is cheaper to live), and working on my software. Once through I will begin selling it on-line as well as door-to-door. I know it will be tough going at first but I also know that I can sell myself as well as the software. Especially since I plan on toting around my own laptop to demonstrate things and I plan on making everything web based. All they will need is a browser and nothing else.
I have written to a senator this morning on the issue of truth in labeling. I was seeking information on how to submit a law for consideration in the houses. Here is the law:
Title: Truth in labeling
Body: A law which guarantees any article/law put forth for consideration by either house in the federal, state, or local governments shall only contain a title, composed of a single sentenc, which accurately reflects the body of the article/law and nothing else.
I am awaiting a response but if anyone knows how such a law could be presented (ie: Do I just write my congressman/senator and ask them if they will sponsor this? Or do I have to get a certain number of signatures? Or what?) I think it would be a great law and it would stop the "Let's make this law have a title that no one can vote against." Like was done with the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act would have been titled something like "A law to reduce several civil rights as well as to override some privacy rights for the sake of national security."
Personally - it will probably never make it. After all - look at the balanced budget act and how far that's gotten.
This is a really easy one to answer. If you look to history you can find many instances where this same problem has come up before. The short and sweet answer is: It never works.
The slightly longer answer is: Even monkeys avoid pain. Thus, as will be shown, the longer the committee is around, the less they will do to monitor Microsoft and the more they will adamantly state that they are complying with the court order. In this way they can misdirect any and all probes to find out exactly what they are doing.
Basically, the judge is incorrect. You cannot have someone monitor themselves because they will be saying they are doing what you've asked them to do when really they never do.
Ask yourself this: We recently had a string of murders committed by two people. Should we give them back their guns and set them free? We should. Let's just tell them not to shoot anyone else - ok? I'm sure they will do as we ask. After all - they've promised not to do it again and are willing to report in anytime we ask them to do so. You believe them? Don't you?
I didn't think so. So now, change the word "gun" to "unlimited funds" and "shoot anyone else" to "harm any other business [like make them go out of business or do anymore FUDs and such]" and you basically have what's going on with this case. Oh yes, I almost forgot, change "murders" to "business fallouts/forced foreclosures/buyouts/takeovers/whatever" and "two people" to "Microsoft". Why! It reads the same. Bless me!
For better or worse - the verdict's in on Microsoft vs DOJ. I would have to say it's worse. Not that I hate Microsoft but is it just me or does anyone else believe that this is the biggest slap to the American public we have ever seen? What kind of a government do we have here? Who's been bribing people? Or maybe I should just say "How much have they received?" You don't have to have an IQ of 1,000 to realize that something shady has gone on here. Excuse me? But "In the public's interest?" The public is interested in everyone being treated the same way. Yet rich boys get off a lot better than poor ones. The same goes for rich companies. And let me say one other thing - the world does NOT revolve around Microsoft. And anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.
And yes, I know people who think Microsoft is wonderful. Well, hate to tell you this - but a lot of people thought Hitler, Mussolini, and even Saddam Hussein were wonderful too. They aren't and this decision stinks.
Let me tell you what the real problem is: Our nation was founded by people who never even imagined that we would be able to communicate instantly around the globe. Nor did they even consider that an invention (the computer) would allow a very very small number of people to control most of what went on in this country. Instead, their outlook was that everything would take a very very long time to happen. Messages took months, sometimes years to reach someone. Thus, we were insulated against immediate threats and we were able to react correctly to various problems as they arose. Today our government is overrun from multiple directions. Not by accident, but on purpose. Because companies can hire as many lobbiests as they wish and as many lawyers as they wish (note Microsoft's hiring every available lawyer they could during the case to ensure their case succeeded [as reported by the newspapers and online magazines] against the government). The government, which is made up of a few people, with limited funds, gets overwhelmed. Further, by constantly running ads which are strongly slanted in favor of the company and against their competition (which, in this case, is the government) they get people to write letters which puts pressure on the governmental agencies, senators, members of Congress, and others. These same companies also create other companies who's sole purpose for existence is to continually create (not write) letters via computers using technology to scan handwriting and turn it into fonts used to make these letters look different (as well as to change around sentences so each letter looks unique). And that is fraud - plain and simple. It was done to put pressure on the justice department in Utah so they would drop the case. These are the kinds of people you are supporting when you buy their products.
So yes! I am unhappy about the outcome of this case. You should be too. Do you really think a company, who is willing to do what this company has done - is going to be all nicey-nicey now that the case is over? Are you an idiot? As the song says: WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES! THEY'VE ROTTED ON THE VINE. THEIR STENCH IS OVERWHELMING. YOU ARE LIVING LIKE SWINE. EATING OF THE GARBAGE, STREWN OUT BY CORPORATE WASTE. WALLOW IN THE FILT. AND ENJOY THE BRAND NEW TASTE.
That this is not one of the things the RIAA and MPAA ever say? According to them - they last forever and always make perfect copies. Maybe this should be brought to their attention?
And yes, I've written and pointed this out to my reps.:-)
When companies talk about MTBF, or number of re-writes, or anything like that you have to remember these few rules:
1. They were done under ideal conditions and not your normal, everyday, household conditions.
2. They count every time they were actually able to do whatever. (Like in being able to write to the CDRW disk they will count even partial writes in order to boost their numbers.)
3. They don't care if they make outrageous statements. It takes a very long time to prove them otherwise. (Take the cigarette industry - PLEASE! Look how long it's taken to prove them wrong. [And they are STILL fighting it in the courts.])
It used to be that if you cut whatever the company said in half you could be close to what the actual figures were. Now it's about a tenth of what they say. Not that all companies are like this. But there are quite a few.
I thought I'd pitch in a few titles since the originator said we don't have any:
Trusted Computing = Criminal Computing (Where the user is automatically guilty until proven to be a Microsoft stock holder.)
Digital Rights Management = Digital Mismanagement (Where the user loses all of their rights.)
Or maybe:
DRM = Digital Rights Mismanagement
Either way - just some thoughts. Remember a few rules:
1. You must repeat a catchy phrase at least 100 times before people start catching on to it. Thus the great amount of press with the phrases in them all over the place. 2. You should do at least one public message. Put it on video and send it to the TV stations across the land. They have to play it (by law). They can play it late at night (say 3:00am) but they do have to play it. Also, I am not sure of this, but I believe you can specify a range of dates for the message to be played. Don't make it too scary, make a good punch line, and don't make it last more than 15 seconds. Something like "Did you know your rights are being taken away? Wondering why your computer isn't working the way you want it to? Write to the Free Software Foundation and find out why!" Don't forget the address and/or phone number. 3. Be sure to emphasize the words which are the most negative as those will tend to stick in people's minds. (Like the "MISmanagement" above.) 4. Emphasize also that George Orwell's 1984 is coming true faster than people think. Give examples of DoubleSpeak using Digital Rights (Mis)management as an example. Tell them that Gene Roddenberry's StarTrek ideals are being left behind. Instead of the computer helping humans it is being made to HARM humans in ways Mr. Roddenberry never imagined. 5. Then contact every TV station in the nation. Get on the news. Present a viable front. Don't rant and rave - act like Mr. Spock. Cold, calculated, and very very logical. 6. Do the old handout thing. Write up in 100 words or less what the problem is and then get people to start going around handing out leaflets. We did it when the government was going to cut back on the space station and it helped out a lot. Putting the names and addresses of the people in both Houses helps to get people to write. If you do it right you can get six or eight leaflets per 8.5"x11" page.
The big thing is is that everyone has to get up off of their butts and try to help. If you just sit there you get what you deserve. All it takes is a smile on your face to get many businesses (especially retail outlets) to hand out these things for you. Especially if you are a patron.
Last thing - be assertive in your leaflet. Don't say "Are you being hoodwinked?" Say "YOU ARE BEING HOOKWINKED" and then explain (in one or two short sentences please and stick strickly to the subject) why you are being hoodwinked.
Yeah, I know - it sounds like a lot of work. It is. So get your friends to go out to eat and a movie and take some leaflets along to hand out along the way. It makes it a lot easier to do.
The only problem with bringing in your own stuff is when the bottles shoot softdrink up in the air.:-) Had this happen when the bottle got dropped inside of my wife's purse. Fastest cold drink I ever drank. ~5secs.
..the fog machine version. At least then you can cool the computer, yourself, your popsicle, etc.... while you play. This one you probably need bifocals in order to use it.;-)
On the other hand, these mod chips apparently contain a modified version of the Xbox's RAM, and therefore they're quite simply illegal, if they really do.
So if they modified the Xbox's RAM dynamically (like at start-up) would it still be illegal? In other words - instead of containing a complete RAM the mod chip contained a set of instructions to load the ROM chip's information into itself and then modifed it so it worked in the manner the mod chip manufacturer wanted it to - would it still be illegal?
Slashdot Mirror
There is a lot of redundancy going on. For instance:
If you are working on a problem there is a meeting to discuss working on the problem. Then there is a meeting to discuss how to work on the problem. Then there is work on the problem. Then there is a review of the work performed. Then there are corrections to the work performed. Then the final meeting. Then the paperwork to say the repairs are complete is done.
It was tightly controlled before the space shuttle accident - it is more so now. All of these checks and balances cost time and money.
If this were a business you would probably have a lot less overhead but you also might have quite a few more problems with the companies trying to CYA everything. If you don't believe that - just look around at what is happening today and yesterday. WorldCom, Qwest, Merril Lynch, Microsoft, etc....
The IRS requires companies to make profits or else they are not considered a company. Thus, companies do whatever it takes to make money so they can be profitable. As they say - Anything goes in business...so long as it makes money.
Which makes me wonder whatever happened to morales. But then, can you be ethical and still make money? Since you have to take money from others or convince them to give it to you in return for something they perceive as being needed in order for them to live. So can ethics and making money co-habitate together? They used to but most of those companies are now out of business or on the defensive because of lawsuits.
So yeah, companies might be able to do a better job - but when you die because of some company cutting corners they'll just make a deal with your survivors and announce that this doesn't mean there has been any wrong doings on their part. It is just business after all.
From what I understand of Trademark law there are a few rules which have to be followed in the United States:
:-) )
1. Not in use prior to the origination of trademarks as a general term. (ie: "Windows" is a general term, "Microsoft Windows" is not. Microsoft's big problem is that they trademarked just "Windows". (If I remember correctly.) Therein lies the rub.) This is where the "Olympics" problem also occurs. Since the Greeks coined the phrase "Olympics" over 2,000 years ago - no one can claim to own the word "Olympics" and would be laughed out of court for trying to claim it. (However, again - you first have to go to court and be willing to fight for it in order to have it thrown out. And that is the catch. If you aren't willing to stand up to a bunch of bullies - then you get what you deserve. And that is why things are the way they are.)
2. Trademarks can be made to cover entire areas or everything dependent upon how the wording is done on the application. (See Apple Computer Inc.'s having to deal with the company who created the Macintosh Stereo Systems. Or look at the Beatles trademarking the "Apple" logo for their records. [Notice also that the Beatles' Apple logo isn't just the word but is also a pictograph. So that has to be taken into consideration as well.)
3. Trademarks have to be defended or they return to the general public. This is why you see so many threats of lawsuits. McDonald's is very aggressive in their pursuit of anyone who might have a name even remotely sounding like theirs.
4. Trademarks also can not become general terms. This is called "dilution of a trademark." This is also why people can no longer refer to making a copy of something on a copying machine as "Xerox'ing something" or "making a Xerox". Why colas sold in restaurants have to be distinguished by trademark name and not just as "cokes", and why you use a tissue and not a "kleenex". All of these companies had to fight to keep their trademarks from becoming so diluted in normal speech that they no longer were considered trademarks.
(Offtopic: I have a new idea for submitting stuff to SlashDot - integrated spell checker! Put it next to "Submit" and "Preview". I know I could have used one writing this up.
I think my CD collection is very well backed up in KaZaa-dum! ;-)
We should have a law which makes it illegal to falsely label a bill.
;-)
After all, there's the "Truth in lending" law, the "Truth in labeling" for consumer goods. Why not a law to enforce truth in presenting laws for the government to pass? Would anyone have voted for "A bill to revoke privacy laws and to reduce your civil liberties" ever pass? It did.
A Bush in the office is worth two as governors.
I think it is a shame we can no longer trust those we elect to office. Instead of looking forwards to someone coming into office we now just pray that they don't do something terrible while they are there. Shouldn't the common man at least have confidence in who has been elected?
Just Windows95? I know people who are still using Windows3.1, just MS-DOS, CP/M, Apple ProDOS, and Apple's DOS 3.3! Heck, I have more emulators of old OSs than there are real computers being made for them! (Don't forget the kid here on /. who had 32 OSs? [if I remember correctly]).
Does this mean they don't get to hack anyone's computer? Oh wow! Hilary Rosen in jail! Details at six! ;-)
First - start your own company. You can do it on-line now-a-days for next to nothing. If you know how to fix errors companies pay big money for people who can walk in, take over a problem, and fix the problem. Basically, you become your own consultant. Get some business insurance ($500.00 a year can buy you quite a bit of insurance). In this way other businesses will be less leary of hiring you as a consultant/independent programmer because they know that if something goes wrong they are covered.
:-) ) so the police know where to go to give out tickets. (Not that I would REALLY like anyone to do this - it just popped into my head.)
:-)
Second - write a program others will want to use. Like EverQuest. Only start small and work your way up to something as large as EverQuest. Pick a game that the patents and copyrights have expired on and go to town with it. Or write a variant. Make it Java or browser based so people don't have to buy the game. Make it look nice with some graphics (you can get free graphics off of the web too!) and do a very cheap subscription fee (like a dollar a year or something). You are looking for volume. So yeah - you only get a dollar a year from someone. Well, 100,000 someone's is still $100,000.00 and there are places which will host your site for very little. Some, I am told, will do it for free.
Remember that big companies like Microsoft, BMC Software, and the like all started out with only one or two people who wrote or bought programs and then just marketed them well. That (IMHO) is what you need to do. Because it sounds as though you have reached a plateau in your life. You are at that point where you can do the computer stuff but the business end of things isn't your balliwick. So maybe its time to invest some time in learning that end of things. You do it right and you'll end up like the owner of SAS Corporation, Microsoft, and the like. Or - you can just keep on beating your head against the wall which doesn't care if you live or die. I'd climb over it, go around it, under it, or blow it up. Stop going "I need a job" and start saying "I want to make money and here is how I'm going to do it."
I know it sounds like a "Ra-ra-ree, kick'em in the knee" thing but the truth is that a lot of people are in great need of a lot of good software and no one is making that software. Well, you don't have a job? Ok - then you do have the time to work on some personal software which you might be able to market. Here are some ideas:
1. Scheduling program for pet boarding houses. All of the software currently available will not allow people outside of the company to request days for their pets, to see the status of their pets, or anything else. The current state of scheduling systems are closed ones (ie: they only work on the computer systems in-house). Write one so people over the net can do things.
2. Same as #1 but for dentists, doctors, and the like. Why can't we make appointments to see the doctor via the net? *shrug* I dunno - you just can't.
3. My mechanic has one of the crudest systems for keeping track of his inventory. Write one for the small businessman. Charge him $50.00 a whack. Sell him a complete system for more.
4. Hispanics in Texas who do not speak english have an awful problem because every program I've ever seen is in english. We also have a large asian community. Using the capabilities of Java (and some help from a friend, etc...) write programs so they are in other languages or even multiple languages. Error messages and all!
5. Write a program which looks for things like fires. Couple that with video input. Now you have a way to tell if a house is on fire via video. Sell that to cities so they can monitor areas for fires automatically.
6. Write a program to note changes. Hook it up to video cameras. Use it to denote whether traffic is moving or standing still so it can automatically update TV and radio stations on traffic conditions. You could also use it to monitor where people are speeding a lot (boo! hisss!
Ok - there are six programs you could work on and sell. Remember that in selling you will get a lot of no's but just learn from them and keep going. I know the guys who work on my car really wish there was a Vietnamise version of their software. But there isn't. So they make do. It is one of the reasons why I am working on quitting my job. I've found enough things to work on and get out the door to make me money that I no longer want to stay where I am working. So I'm planning on selling my house, moving out of the city (so it is cheaper to live), and working on my software. Once through I will begin selling it on-line as well as door-to-door. I know it will be tough going at first but I also know that I can sell myself as well as the software. Especially since I plan on toting around my own laptop to demonstrate things and I plan on making everything web based. All they will need is a browser and nothing else.
Just my $0.02 worth.
....and damned if you don't.
:-)
Once they opened the can of worms (by even bringing this up) no matter what they decided to do would probably be seen as a justification.
"Oh! They are writing a book to discredit us! We must be on to something!"
"Oh! They've cancelled the book! See! They know we are right and have decided to quit while they were ahead!"
Gotta love that circular logic.
I have written to a senator this morning on the issue of truth in labeling. I was seeking information on how to submit a law for consideration in the houses. Here is the law:
Title: Truth in labeling
Body: A law which guarantees any article/law put forth for consideration by either house in the federal, state, or local governments shall only contain a title, composed of a single sentenc, which accurately reflects the body of the article/law and nothing else.
I am awaiting a response but if anyone knows how such a law could be presented (ie: Do I just write my congressman/senator and ask them if they will sponsor this? Or do I have to get a certain number of signatures? Or what?) I think it would be a great law and it would stop the "Let's make this law have a title that no one can vote against." Like was done with the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act would have been titled something like "A law to reduce several civil rights as well as to override some privacy rights for the sake of national security."
Personally - it will probably never make it. After all - look at the balanced budget act and how far that's gotten.
This is a really easy one to answer. If you look to history you can find many instances where this same problem has come up before. The short and sweet answer is: It never works.
The slightly longer answer is: Even monkeys avoid pain. Thus, as will be shown, the longer the committee is around, the less they will do to monitor Microsoft and the more they will adamantly state that they are complying with the court order. In this way they can misdirect any and all probes to find out exactly what they are doing.
Basically, the judge is incorrect. You cannot have someone monitor themselves because they will be saying they are doing what you've asked them to do when really they never do.
Ask yourself this: We recently had a string of murders committed by two people. Should we give them back their guns and set them free? We should. Let's just tell them not to shoot anyone else - ok? I'm sure they will do as we ask. After all - they've promised not to do it again and are willing to report in anytime we ask them to do so. You believe them? Don't you?
I didn't think so. So now, change the word "gun" to "unlimited funds" and "shoot anyone else" to "harm any other business [like make them go out of business or do anymore FUDs and such]" and you basically have what's going on with this case. Oh yes, I almost forgot, change "murders" to "business fallouts/forced foreclosures/buyouts/takeovers/whatever" and "two people" to "Microsoft". Why! It reads the same. Bless me!
For better or worse - the verdict's in on Microsoft vs DOJ. I would have to say it's worse. Not that I hate Microsoft but is it just me or does anyone else believe that this is the biggest slap to the American public we have ever seen? What kind of a government do we have here? Who's been bribing people? Or maybe I should just say "How much have they received?" You don't have to have an IQ of 1,000 to realize that something shady has gone on here. Excuse me? But "In the public's interest?" The public is interested in everyone being treated the same way. Yet rich boys get off a lot better than poor ones. The same goes for rich companies. And let me say one other thing - the world does NOT revolve around Microsoft. And anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.
And yes, I know people who think Microsoft is wonderful. Well, hate to tell you this - but a lot of people thought Hitler, Mussolini, and even Saddam Hussein were wonderful too. They aren't and this decision stinks.
Let me tell you what the real problem is: Our nation was founded by people who never even imagined that we would be able to communicate instantly around the globe. Nor did they even consider that an invention (the computer) would allow a very very small number of people to control most of what went on in this country. Instead, their outlook was that everything would take a very very long time to happen. Messages took months, sometimes years to reach someone. Thus, we were insulated against immediate threats and we were able to react correctly to various problems as they arose. Today our government is overrun from multiple directions. Not by accident, but on purpose. Because companies can hire as many lobbiests as they wish and as many lawyers as they wish (note Microsoft's hiring every available lawyer they could during the case to ensure their case succeeded [as reported by the newspapers and online magazines] against the government). The government, which is made up of a few people, with limited funds, gets overwhelmed. Further, by constantly running ads which are strongly slanted in favor of the company and against their competition (which, in this case, is the government) they get people to write letters which puts pressure on the governmental agencies, senators, members of Congress, and others. These same companies also create other companies who's sole purpose for existence is to continually create (not write) letters via computers using technology to scan handwriting and turn it into fonts used to make these letters look different (as well as to change around sentences so each letter looks unique). And that is fraud - plain and simple. It was done to put pressure on the justice department in Utah so they would drop the case. These are the kinds of people you are supporting when you buy their products.
So yes! I am unhappy about the outcome of this case. You should be too. Do you really think a company, who is willing to do what this company has done - is going to be all nicey-nicey now that the case is over? Are you an idiot? As the song says: WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES! THEY'VE ROTTED ON THE VINE. THEIR STENCH IS OVERWHELMING. YOU ARE LIVING LIKE SWINE. EATING OF THE GARBAGE, STREWN OUT BY CORPORATE WASTE. WALLOW IN THE FILT. AND ENJOY THE BRAND NEW TASTE.
Are you mad yet? I hope so. You should be.
I'm waiting until the Nth revision comes out on the SATA drives. ;-)
And yes, I've written and pointed this out to my reps. :-)
When companies talk about MTBF, or number of re-writes, or anything like that you have to remember these few rules:
1. They were done under ideal conditions and not your normal, everyday, household conditions.
2. They count every time they were actually able to do whatever. (Like in being able to write to the CDRW disk they will count even partial writes in order to boost their numbers.)
3. They don't care if they make outrageous statements. It takes a very long time to prove them otherwise. (Take the cigarette industry - PLEASE! Look how long it's taken to prove them wrong. [And they are STILL fighting it in the courts.])
It used to be that if you cut whatever the company said in half you could be close to what the actual figures were. Now it's about a tenth of what they say. Not that all companies are like this. But there are quite a few.
I thought I'd pitch in a few titles since the originator said we don't have any:
Trusted Computing = Criminal Computing
(Where the user is automatically guilty until proven to be a Microsoft stock holder.)
Digital Rights Management = Digital Mismanagement
(Where the user loses all of their rights.)
Or maybe:
DRM = Digital Rights Mismanagement
Either way - just some thoughts. Remember a few rules:
1. You must repeat a catchy phrase at least 100 times before people start catching on to it. Thus the great amount of press with the phrases in them all over the place.
2. You should do at least one public message. Put it on video and send it to the TV stations across the land. They have to play it (by law). They can play it late at night (say 3:00am) but they do have to play it. Also, I am not sure of this, but I believe you can specify a range of dates for the message to be played. Don't make it too scary, make a good punch line, and don't make it last more than 15 seconds. Something like "Did you know your rights are being taken away? Wondering why your computer isn't working the way you want it to? Write to the Free Software Foundation and find out why!" Don't forget the address and/or phone number.
3. Be sure to emphasize the words which are the most negative as those will tend to stick in people's minds. (Like the "MISmanagement" above.)
4. Emphasize also that George Orwell's 1984 is coming true faster than people think. Give examples of DoubleSpeak using Digital Rights (Mis)management as an example. Tell them that Gene Roddenberry's StarTrek ideals are being left behind. Instead of the computer helping humans it is being made to HARM humans in ways Mr. Roddenberry never imagined.
5. Then contact every TV station in the nation. Get on the news. Present a viable front. Don't rant and rave - act like Mr. Spock. Cold, calculated, and very very logical.
6. Do the old handout thing. Write up in 100 words or less what the problem is and then get people to start going around handing out leaflets. We did it when the government was going to cut back on the space station and it helped out a lot. Putting the names and addresses of the people in both Houses helps to get people to write. If you do it right you can get six or eight leaflets per 8.5"x11" page.
The big thing is is that everyone has to get up off of their butts and try to help. If you just sit there you get what you deserve. All it takes is a smile on your face to get many businesses (especially retail outlets) to hand out these things for you. Especially if you are a patron.
Last thing - be assertive in your leaflet. Don't say "Are you being hoodwinked?" Say "YOU ARE BEING HOOKWINKED" and then explain (in one or two short sentences please and stick strickly to the subject) why you are being hoodwinked.
Yeah, I know - it sounds like a lot of work. It is. So get your friends to go out to eat and a movie and take some leaflets along to hand out along the way. It makes it a lot easier to do.
Power your laptop - eat beans!
Or...
Did you hear the one about the guy who put a tube up his arse to help power his laptop? The laptop ran great but it gave shitty answers.
Or...
Cow-power: Milk it for all it's worth.
The only problem with bringing in your own stuff is when the bottles shoot softdrink up in the air. :-) Had this happen when the bottle got dropped inside of my wife's purse. Fastest cold drink I ever drank. ~5secs.
..the fog machine version. At least then you can cool the computer, yourself, your popsicle, etc.... while you play. This one you probably need bifocals in order to use it. ;-)
The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Reminds me of the IRS. :-)
So if they modified the Xbox's RAM dynamically (like at start-up) would it still be illegal? In other words - instead of containing a complete RAM the mod chip contained a set of instructions to load the ROM chip's information into itself and then modifed it so it worked in the manner the mod chip manufacturer wanted it to - would it still be illegal?