In programming language parlance, "runtime" refers to the implementation of the virtual machine. In compiled C, there's very little "virtual machine"; basically it's just startup and shutdown.
The standard library is not the runtime. Indeed, many programs (e.g. OS kernels, firmware) don't bother with a standard library, though they also typically implement a custom runtime.
New languages are the proving ground for new programming language features and implementation technologies. Right now, Dao doesn't nee people to make it mainstream, it needs people to see how that feature set and implementation technology works in practice.
You clearly value your conscience and/or your good name more than you value squeezing every drop of money out of every country you come into contact with.
But the claim is that she had no relationship with Facebook.
That claim, at least, is probably false. From TFA:
The boy said he apologised to her for the insults, but she leapt to her death from her third-floor bedroom window, writing on Facebook: ''Forgive me if I am not strong. I cannot take it any longer.''
She wrote that on Facebook. That means she probably had an account.
In the case of the PS3, there's also Blu-Ray patent licensing to consider. Sony deliberately took a hit on PS3 hardware profits to put a Blu-Ray player in more homes than HD-DVD players. This was a long-term strategy.
Because even single player games have to be connected [...]
Apart from a few recent exceptions, that is not true. The overwhelming majority of single-player PS3 and XBox 360 titles, even those from the last couple of years, don't require a connection.
I don't know how Italian contract law works, but in many jurisdictions there is a provision for "unconscionable conduct" or words to that effect.
There are many factors which might be taken into account in determining unconscionable conduct. Here are some examples from Australian law:
- the relative bargaining strength of the parties - whether any conditions were imposed on the weaker party that were not reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the stronger party - whether the weaker party could understand the documentation used - the use of undue influence, pressure or unfair tactics by the stronger party - the requirements of applicable industry codes - the willingness of the stronger party to negotiate - the extent to which the parties acted in good faith
If you look down the list, you can see a few factors which may come in to play when the stronger party is a company worth $15 billion and the weaker party is a 14 year old girl.
If this was about an EULA which a 14 year old "agreed to", most of us would conclude that she couldn't legally do that, so the EULA is not binding. Why is the same not true of a privacy policy? Would it matter if the 14 year old gave her age honestly (remember, the minimum age for using Facebook is 13), but any agreement made by a 14-year-old is still not legally binding?
These are questions, BTW, and I honestly don't know the answers. I don't know if a 14 year old in Italy can legally consent for her private information to be used by Facebook in the way that we all know Facebook uses private information, and what Facebook's responsibilities are if they know she is 14.
Yes, her parents should not have let her share private information on the net. This is not the whole story.
BTW, I'm a nerd too. I also tend to narrow in on one little factoid that, were it different, the whole mess wouldn't have happened. But this ignores the fact that a lot of things need to line up for messes to happen. It is a constant struggle for we nerds to fight that tendency to get too focussed on one detail, and miss the big picture.
Lets face it PC gaming has never been cheaper [...]
I agree with most of what you say, but has it occurred to you that PC gaming is cheap right now precisely because of consoles?
Thanks to the current generation of consoles, pretty much every game needs to work reasonably well on 2007-era hardware. In a year's time, this will not be true, and it seems likely that PC gaming will go through the "expensive" part of the upgrade cycle for a couple of years, and then be "cheap" for the next 3-4 years after that.
Slashdot Mirror
Are you kidding? I'd love to write one-liners for a living!
In programming language parlance, "runtime" refers to the implementation of the virtual machine. In compiled C, there's very little "virtual machine"; basically it's just startup and shutdown.
The standard library is not the runtime. Indeed, many programs (e.g. OS kernels, firmware) don't bother with a standard library, though they also typically implement a custom runtime.
The Dao that is feature-complete is not the true Dao.
Even C doesn't have a zero-sized runtime.
$ ls -l /usr/lib/crt1.o /usr/lib/crt1.o
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 10104 22 Mar 17:44
New languages are the proving ground for new programming language features and implementation technologies. Right now, Dao doesn't nee people to make it mainstream, it needs people to see how that feature set and implementation technology works in practice.
That settles it, then. I don't want to use a language if it encourages JavaScript-style code.
I was responding to your claim that "there was absolutely no relationship between Facebook and the girl".
The girl posted to her Facebook account right before she committed suicide.
You clearly value your conscience and/or your good name more than you value squeezing every drop of money out of every country you come into contact with.
Fair point. One other thing that may be relevant, therefore, is that the other account holders were all under the age of 18.
That claim, at least, is probably false. From TFA:
She wrote that on Facebook. That means she probably had an account.
In the case of the PS3, there's also Blu-Ray patent licensing to consider. Sony deliberately took a hit on PS3 hardware profits to put a Blu-Ray player in more homes than HD-DVD players. This was a long-term strategy.
Apart from a few recent exceptions, that is not true. The overwhelming majority of single-player PS3 and XBox 360 titles, even those from the last couple of years, don't require a connection.
By "big nerdgasm of gaming meccas", I think you meant "industry expo that just about everyone interesting doesn't bother with any more".
I think cyko was insinuating that Facebook was a law unto itself.
I don't know how Italian contract law works, but in many jurisdictions there is a provision for "unconscionable conduct" or words to that effect.
There are many factors which might be taken into account in determining unconscionable conduct. Here are some examples from Australian law:
- the relative bargaining strength of the parties
- whether any conditions were imposed on the weaker party that were not reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the stronger party
- whether the weaker party could understand the documentation used
- the use of undue influence, pressure or unfair tactics by the stronger party
- the requirements of applicable industry codes
- the willingness of the stronger party to negotiate
- the extent to which the parties acted in good faith
If you look down the list, you can see a few factors which may come in to play when the stronger party is a company worth $15 billion and the weaker party is a 14 year old girl.
If this was about an EULA which a 14 year old "agreed to", most of us would conclude that she couldn't legally do that, so the EULA is not binding. Why is the same not true of a privacy policy? Would it matter if the 14 year old gave her age honestly (remember, the minimum age for using Facebook is 13), but any agreement made by a 14-year-old is still not legally binding?
These are questions, BTW, and I honestly don't know the answers. I don't know if a 14 year old in Italy can legally consent for her private information to be used by Facebook in the way that we all know Facebook uses private information, and what Facebook's responsibilities are if they know she is 14.
Yes, her parents should not have let her share private information on the net. This is not the whole story.
BTW, I'm a nerd too. I also tend to narrow in on one little factoid that, were it different, the whole mess wouldn't have happened. But this ignores the fact that a lot of things need to line up for messes to happen. It is a constant struggle for we nerds to fight that tendency to get too focussed on one detail, and miss the big picture.
Mortal Kombat wasn't released in Australia at all until about a month ago due to the R rating. So there's very little lag there, at least.
Not that I care about brain-dead bash-em-up gorefests, but I do know these things.
I agree with most of what you say, but has it occurred to you that PC gaming is cheap right now precisely because of consoles?
Thanks to the current generation of consoles, pretty much every game needs to work reasonably well on 2007-era hardware. In a year's time, this will not be true, and it seems likely that PC gaming will go through the "expensive" part of the upgrade cycle for a couple of years, and then be "cheap" for the next 3-4 years after that.
There you go. Maybe my next console will be a Steam after all.
Let me quote you (as verbatim as I can remember) my 13-year-old daughter's reaction: "Cool! That means that XBox 360 games will be really cheap!"
So the smart kids get it, at least.
Steam also doesn't provide the all-important "games can be played even if your Internet connection is out for several days" feature.
It's an urban legend. You're welcome to read the Electrical Safety Act if you don't believe me.
Thankfully, changing your own light globe is perfectly legal.
If it helps, remember that the first historical use of "terror" to describe political violence was the Reign of Terror.
The (incorrect, but let's run with it) claim that Columbus is credited as discovering America does not imply the claim that Columbus was American. HTH