Because no sane administrator would recommend or implement sendmail when there are numerous other open source applications to replace it? Sendmail is a case where the community determined the entire design had to trashed and replaced with an entirely new solution. Only ancient unix installations (or new installations created by ancient admins) utilize sendmail. That would be like comparing the security of OSX or Ubuntu to that of win95a...
"and by financially, if you are talking about spyware infections, there is no point in infecting a server with spyware."
I had thought of bigger fish. Thousands of credit card details, corporate websites, spam bots, etc. Systems running apache are far more likely to yield information of value than a desktop system.
"the user that will download a file and execute it"
For the final time, a user CAN NOT simply download and execute a file under linux. A downloaded file is created with the default creation mask which will render it non-executable. A user would actually have to understand the permissions model and have a general idea how to run the system beyond clicking icons on his/her desktop to accomplish this. Further, users who would intentionally execute a file from email are few nowdays. Usually they are led to believe the file is not an executable.
"Microsoft may be behind with some security patches, but many are available before major worms can reak havoc on the internet. People just aren't keeping their systems up-to-date."
It is great that they catch some bugs before there is a proven 0-day exploit. Although I've seen alerts right on slashdot for at least 3 0-days in the past 60 days or so. It just tickles me the wrong way when I realize that every time the subject of windows security comes up there is something like that to point out. Perhaps last time it was not 0-day exploits, it was just remote execute holes, or script kiddy url spoofs but there is always something.
I would never deny that with increased popularity there will be attacks on linux. Even without them, more exploits would be found and patched because with an increase in popularity, linux gains an increase in developers as well. But at this time there is no reason to believe that an innately more secure design like linux would be as easy to exploit as windows.
You are coming off a bit fanatical. The gp is not complaining about being forced to install everything, the gp is complaining about so many apps being included in the default install. ONE popular choice for the CORE system tasks would be far more reasonable. There is nothing wrong with putting the burden on those who want to use something else to go fetch and install it manually rather than forcing the majority to who do not to go through and deselect hundreds of packages they don't want in a custom install.
P.S. DISTRIBUTIONS: If you are going to put a crippled media player in, skip it and simply do not put a media player in at all. It resolves confusion for the novice user. It is much simpler to understand that he needs to go download a media player than to involve him/her in the politics surrounding this issue.
Yes but a full blown feature rich gui will not run on those kind of resources. Linux needs a lot of two things to reach its potential. Linux does not swap until it has to swap and the result is drastically improved performance if there is enough memory that the system does not need to swap, and reduced performance if the system does NOT have enough memory to avoid swapping. There is also a performance hit when the system has to turn swapping on.
Running X with a (novice) user friendly gui (read kde or gnome)will require more than 128mb ram to run smoothly. Actually you will able to hear the hard drive grinding everytime you so much as open the system menu.
The area where your average linux distro needs to improve is disk space. There is no excuse for the default desktop installation to take over 500mb. A great deal of this is caused by programmer never reinventing wheels in OSS. This means that every program has dependancies for a half dozen third party programs and libraries instead of incorporating just the functionality they need for their app. Those half dozen programs and libraries have followed the same bloat yielding philosophy and have their own dependancies; those in turn have their own dependancies and so on.
Hopefully this trend for easy and fast development will subside and increased hardware performance will begin to mean that your apps run faster instead of allowing developers to take the easy road over the efficient road. To all my fellow developers, the next time you are about to use a 3rd party lib instead of writing a couple optimized and custom tailored routines to the program you are working on; ask yourself why you you are against vb and microsoft bloated development environments and ask yourself if you aren't manually enforcing the same bloat and inefficiency in the name of ease and rapid development that those programs automatically enforce.
"Many people hold the same view about God that others hold about evolution. They have investigated evidence and asked the questions to satisfy them that they can put their faith in God."
Let's not go overboard here. There is plenty of evidence and to date all of the experts agree that evolution is the best proposed conclusion based upon that evidence to date. There is NO evidence pointing toward a diety of any kind. It is true that there is no evidence to dispute the possibility (although there are a number of proven errors in the most popular western doctrine that believers choose to gloss over); but that hardly qualifies as evidence to support it. This discovery helps to more firmly establish that there is no need to add an all powerful man in the sky to existing theories.
Please stop trolling. I hardly said anything about the US melting down over secret militias. The organized militias were nothing secret. McVeigh himself was openly a member of such a militia. Do a google search for Michigan Minutemen on google to find information about dozens of these militias throughout the United States. There are many conspiracy theories passed around but that is hardly one of them.
As for McVeigh being a setup, it is rather convient. Is there some reason you believe that our government who is caught with its hands in the cookie jar again and again is beyond suspicion? There have been dozens of incidents where our government has been caught red handed carrying out real life conspiracy theories. I hardly give them the benefit of the doubt when something looks fishy and I can not believe an intelligent adult ever could.
The marketshare argument has been made before again and again. Until Linux has a 90% desktop share this can not be tested. The best we can do is look to the other popular open source programs that do have a stronger marketshare.
Apache is an excellent example, Apache is the market leader in a much more financially appealing segment than the desktop. Strangely it is Microsoft's underdog IIS program that suffers from exploits and worms.
Remember the permissions model under linux does not allow you to simply click a link and execute code... not even local executable code.
"The question is, where is it safer to call them on it, here or China?"
Actually that question really does not amount to much. Where is more EFFECTIVE to call them on it? Here or in China? The answer is that it is not effective in either place.
All of these are excellent points. Let me add a few...
Could it be that the computer illiterate user would not have enough knowledge to make a file executable under linux and then create a launcher for it (it's not like you can just double click a file under linux).
Could it be that the exploit the virus uses to infect (since your common vector does not exist) would be patched within a few hours and the ease with which linux systems update ALL of the applications on the box would insure widespread distribution of said patch within 24hrs of the announcement.
"And, of course, you're assuming they want to print all their photos."
And of course, you are assuming they know how to do anything else. It is not that mom and pops wouldn't use their computers for photos, it is that they are not technically capable to do so. Even they could figure it out, they are too afraid to try.
Learning to read is good. Nobody said linux viruses do not exist. Although to the best of my knowledge NONE of those listed can actually infect a modern linux system.
"but it was publicized and things have changed (although not enough for me)"
Like what?
"So if your point was that it's cool to live in a place where the gov't fuck-up make front page news"
It would be if the truth had been in the front page news instead of the government version. Instead we were forced to find out about the truth in underground videos.
"Certainly the US government is not telling Google not to display search results for david koresh waco."
That is why our nation is worse than China now. Previously the government would have done exactly that, and you would not have heard about it. Since the impotence of the protests during vietnam the government has become more and more corrupt while being more open about it. All the while the government pretends it still stands for ideals like freedom.
If Bush ordered the invasion of an armed religious compound he would be admitting to flamethrowing tanks on TV and patting himself on the back for taking out the terrorists. The chinese at least still pretend the people could do something about it if they found out about atrosities.
I don't think so. The government lied and tried to cover up Waco the best it could. It simply failed to do so because of the strong militia movement at the time. Ruby Ridge was a similar action and there was a definate path leading to revolution.
Then Timothy McVey happened and the militia movement pretty much disappeared. I still suspect to this day that this incident was arranged by the feds to discredit the organized, trained, and armed resistance that was forming. Prior to that I knew of a major US state where most of the national guard had prepared to defect to the militia and plans were in place to secure their armories for when they did.
"Of course, there are bugs (smth like gaining ring0 from user etc) - but they exist on all systems"
Yes. But they exist at all times on windows systems. At the present moment there are none I am aware of on linux systems. If there were, they would probably be patched by tomorrow. I am not aware of any zero day exploits for linux. I can log onto a user account under windows and browse porn for a couple hours and see spyware that has infected the browser under every profile, right now with a fully patched XP. The same has been true since the release of the OS.
"Why *nix virus ale such rare? -these systems are less popular at home -these systems are used by more experienced user (eg. not clicking on NakedPamela.exe wchich arrived from 235gdsfge4@235cs.com...)"
I would argue that this has more to do with system design than the competence of the user. First, if you extrapolate the number of infections based on the ratio to users you will find that linux is still far far below what windows sees. This can be seen in a comparison with OSX as well, despite the fact that OSX has had far more 0-days than linux.
In linux clicking nakedpamela.exe would not result in the file executing. Not just from a mail client, but from anywhere. Under linux a file permission is required to make a file executable. Not merely an extension. And by default NO file is executable. Even if one intended to make one executable the user has to either change the permission from the cli and launch it or the user has to right-click and change the permissions under properties, then create a launcher (executables can not be launched directly in a typical linux gui and require a launcher shortcut be made). If a user has gained enough linux knowledge to come this far, and is still stupid enough to launch nakedpamela.exe they deserve what they get and probably won't admit it happened anyway.;)
"If virus doing that thing will be run on linux, on user account-it will infect all files with write permisions (/home/user ?)."
Yup.
"Same on windows."
Execept on windows it will escalate privs first, then infect files. Then it will proceed into worm mode (lets be honest, we are talking about the full class of programs grouped under viruses here, including worms, not just mere viruses) where it spreads via the latest remote exploit.
Yup, mom and pop take the card from their digital camera to walgreens, or cvs, or walmart, etc who then print them out on photo paper and give them a complementary photo cd in place of a negative.
You didn't think mom and pop actually manipulate photos on their computer do you? If they are that advanced then yes, they back up their photos.
"Actually, you're quite wrong. Linux flaws have existed and are still found today that can be (and have been) taken advantage of."
Actually that is pretty much in line with what I have said and does not make me wrong at all.
The system design and development model has led to two things, a shortage of privilage escalation flaws (flaws isn't good enough, they have to allow a user account to gain root under conditions the virus can create) and a short lifespan of any such flaws that exist.
Open source development leads to faster fixes, almost nobody argues this point anymore who is not pushing an agenda. Linux systems are far easier to keep up to date since they are almost entirely open source and free (speech+beer). The result are mechanisms like 'apt-get update; apt-get upgrade' that will update every piece of software on the system, whether os, 3rd party service, or text editor.
This and a strong security model (execute capability must be explicitly enabled by a user who knows how to do it and has permission, default create masks do not make files executable)(users ACTUALLY can only impact files they are supposed to be able to impact). Make the spreading of viruses on linux a non-issue. Flaws are patched faster than the viruses spead, damage is limited to a single user directory and even then only the data created since the last backup. Most clueless users are unable to execute the virus file in the first place because they are unable to set permissions.
grandchild.jpg.exe can never work on linux, period. You have to get the user to open a prompt cd to/home/granny/.email/files then chmod +X grandchild.jpg.exe, THEN./grandchild.jpg.exe (in linux you have to create a launcher to execute a file in the gui, double-clicking will not work.
"Oh and by the way, Windows has a "safe"(well, safer) operating mode in the form of a user account, but nobody uses it because it's a PITA,"
lol, if you say so. I challenge you to browse porn sites for a couple hours using IE under a user account. You will be amazed to find that spyware has spread beyond the one profile every time.
Doubtful, losing docs just means replacing them. Nowdays even mom and pop have some form of backup, even if it is just photo cd's. Losing the system means money. Either a new computer (if they do not have a tech they call) or calling a tech and paying him $65+/hr to fix their system for them.
As for users more informed than mom and pop, they have routine backups of their home directory at a minimum. They may or may not have backups of their tweaked configs.
Windows users are prepared for viruses and the reason Linux users do not sweat them much is not because linux viruses do not exist; it is because system design makes their impact minimal.
While admittedly a youngster myself, I have asked a number of individuals who were adults during watergate their opinion. So far I have yet to find any who believed that watergate was as bad as the current situation.
BEGIN RANT *sighs* If only programmers today were concerned with efficient, correct, and maintainable code. In reality the lazy/money factor usually wins out now days. That is why you see 10 billion frameworks out there and every project uses a handful of them.
Usually said programmers sell out efficient code claiming that the framework has been tested and worked on by a lot of people, blah blah blah. The truth is that two good programmers will churn out roughly the same number of bugs per 1000 lines of code. My homerolled 50-500 line custom library is going to have fewer bugs than your 10,000 line framework everytime and the bugs it does have will be easier to find. It is a given that a homerolled library will be faster since it will be tuned with the app in mind instead of general use. It is easier to maintain because one does not have to sort through code from a dozen different sources. If a bug is found you can also simply fix it instead of having to try to convince the framework authors there is a flaw in their precious art and wait 6 months for them to release a new version.
When he gave up liability for the companies actions he also disassociated his rights with that of the company. If the company hurting people is not the same as him hurting people than the reverse is also true.
By regulating the business you are restricting the businesses right to sell its product. Your dad is simply an investor.
I would like to point out that a free society means freedom for PEOPLE, not corporations. Regulating industry is not widening nor narrowing the gap in itself. The government can personally hold the reigns of every corporation without being a hair closer to invading on PERSONAL freedom.
The free market is not SUPPOSED to be a form of government, nor play a role in one. A dictatorship can have a free market economy.
As an individual who does believe in the two party system or choose sides in it I can assure you that there is no liberal media. Studies have shown clearly that adherents to EITHER party are not capable of examining issue with an unbiased perspective. Quite simply, democrats and republicans literally stop using the centers of the brain associated with reasoning and start using creative centers of the brain when party politics are encountered in any medium.
Like all things in this nation, BOTH parties are puppets for corporations. If either side claims to support an actual individual freedom they consistantly lose ground on that issue. Republicans win on corporate power, democrats win on gun control. Simply follow the pattern, if something empowers the government or corporate interests it wins, if it empowers the people it loses.
"What I don't understand is why "liberal media" is a negative phrase to liberals. I'd think the fact that the media tends to side with them would be viewed as a positive."
I'm sure liberals would be happy about a media that sides with them. First, the media does not side with the left so it can not be a positive. The idea of liberal media is used by right-wingers to justify ignoring news that contradicts what they believe in. The idea of a false liberal media is used by left-wingers to do the same thing.
Both parties are corrupt, but the current president has actually committed high treason and still sits in office. That anyone can hold their head up while wearing the colors of the party that controls congress and allows him to continue is beyond me. If this were a general and not the president he would have been put to death!
Slashdot Mirror
"why don't we look at something like sendmail?"
Because no sane administrator would recommend or implement sendmail when there are numerous other open source applications to replace it? Sendmail is a case where the community determined the entire design had to trashed and replaced with an entirely new solution. Only ancient unix installations (or new installations created by ancient admins) utilize sendmail. That would be like comparing the security of OSX or Ubuntu to that of win95a...
"and by financially, if you are talking about spyware infections, there is no point in infecting a server with spyware."
I had thought of bigger fish. Thousands of credit card details, corporate websites, spam bots, etc. Systems running apache are far more likely to yield information of value than a desktop system.
"the user that will download a file and execute it"
For the final time, a user CAN NOT simply download and execute a file under linux. A downloaded file is created with the default creation mask which will render it non-executable. A user would actually have to understand the permissions model and have a general idea how to run the system beyond clicking icons on his/her desktop to accomplish this. Further, users who would intentionally execute a file from email are few nowdays. Usually they are led to believe the file is not an executable.
"Microsoft may be behind with some security patches, but many are available before major worms can reak havoc on the internet. People just aren't keeping their systems up-to-date."
It is great that they catch some bugs before there is a proven 0-day exploit. Although I've seen alerts right on slashdot for at least 3 0-days in the past 60 days or so. It just tickles me the wrong way when I realize that every time the subject of windows security comes up there is something like that to point out. Perhaps last time it was not 0-day exploits, it was just remote execute holes, or script kiddy url spoofs but there is always something.
I would never deny that with increased popularity there will be attacks on linux. Even without them, more exploits would be found and patched because with an increase in popularity, linux gains an increase in developers as well. But at this time there is no reason to believe that an innately more secure design like linux would be as easy to exploit as windows.
You are coming off a bit fanatical. The gp is not complaining about being forced to install everything, the gp is complaining about so many apps being included in the default install. ONE popular choice for the CORE system tasks would be far more reasonable. There is nothing wrong with putting the burden on those who want to use something else to go fetch and install it manually rather than forcing the majority to who do not to go through and deselect hundreds of packages they don't want in a custom install.
P.S. DISTRIBUTIONS: If you are going to put a crippled media player in, skip it and simply do not put a media player in at all. It resolves confusion for the novice user. It is much simpler to understand that he needs to go download a media player than to involve him/her in the politics surrounding this issue.
Yes but a full blown feature rich gui will not run on those kind of resources. Linux needs a lot of two things to reach its potential. Linux does not swap until it has to swap and the result is drastically improved performance if there is enough memory that the system does not need to swap, and reduced performance if the system does NOT have enough memory to avoid swapping. There is also a performance hit when the system has to turn swapping on.
Running X with a (novice) user friendly gui (read kde or gnome)will require more than 128mb ram to run smoothly. Actually you will able to hear the hard drive grinding everytime you so much as open the system menu.
The area where your average linux distro needs to improve is disk space. There is no excuse for the default desktop installation to take over 500mb. A great deal of this is caused by programmer never reinventing wheels in OSS. This means that every program has dependancies for a half dozen third party programs and libraries instead of incorporating just the functionality they need for their app. Those half dozen programs and libraries have followed the same bloat yielding philosophy and have their own dependancies; those in turn have their own dependancies and so on.
Hopefully this trend for easy and fast development will subside and increased hardware performance will begin to mean that your apps run faster instead of allowing developers to take the easy road over the efficient road. To all my fellow developers, the next time you are about to use a 3rd party lib instead of writing a couple optimized and custom tailored routines to the program you are working on; ask yourself why you you are against vb and microsoft bloated development environments and ask yourself if you aren't manually enforcing the same bloat and inefficiency in the name of ease and rapid development that those programs automatically enforce.
"Many people hold the same view about God that others hold about evolution. They have investigated evidence and asked the questions to satisfy them that they can put their faith in God."
Let's not go overboard here. There is plenty of evidence and to date all of the experts agree that evolution is the best proposed conclusion based upon that evidence to date. There is NO evidence pointing toward a diety of any kind. It is true that there is no evidence to dispute the possibility (although there are a number of proven errors in the most popular western doctrine that believers choose to gloss over); but that hardly qualifies as evidence to support it. This discovery helps to more firmly establish that there is no need to add an all powerful man in the sky to existing theories.
"(are that what he though)"
Translate please.
Please stop trolling. I hardly said anything about the US melting down over secret militias. The organized militias were nothing secret. McVeigh himself was openly a member of such a militia. Do a google search for Michigan Minutemen on google to find information about dozens of these militias throughout the United States. There are many conspiracy theories passed around but that is hardly one of them.
As for McVeigh being a setup, it is rather convient. Is there some reason you believe that our government who is caught with its hands in the cookie jar again and again is beyond suspicion? There have been dozens of incidents where our government has been caught red handed carrying out real life conspiracy theories. I hardly give them the benefit of the doubt when something looks fishy and I can not believe an intelligent adult ever could.
The marketshare argument has been made before again and again. Until Linux has a 90% desktop share this can not be tested. The best we can do is look to the other popular open source programs that do have a stronger marketshare.
Apache is an excellent example, Apache is the market leader in a much more financially appealing segment than the desktop. Strangely it is Microsoft's underdog IIS program that suffers from exploits and worms.
Remember the permissions model under linux does not allow you to simply click a link and execute code... not even local executable code.
I am amazed that someone would blatantly troll using a term like 'conspiracy freaks' while logged in.
"The question is, where is it safer to call them on it, here or China?"
Actually that question really does not amount to much. Where is more EFFECTIVE to call them on it? Here or in China? The answer is that it is not effective in either place.
All of these are excellent points. Let me add a few...
Could it be that the computer illiterate user would not have enough knowledge to make a file executable under linux and then create a launcher for it (it's not like you can just double click a file under linux).
Could it be that the exploit the virus uses to infect (since your common vector does not exist) would be patched within a few hours and the ease with which linux systems update ALL of the applications on the box would insure widespread distribution of said patch within 24hrs of the announcement.
Walmart is free, not sure about the others.
"And, of course, you're assuming they want to print all their photos."
And of course, you are assuming they know how to do anything else. It is not that mom and pops wouldn't use their computers for photos, it is that they are not technically capable to do so. Even they could figure it out, they are too afraid to try.
"is not because linux viruses do not exist"
Learning to read is good. Nobody said linux viruses do not exist. Although to the best of my knowledge NONE of those listed can actually infect a modern linux system.
"but it was publicized and things have changed (although not enough for me)"
Like what?
"So if your point was that it's cool to live in a place where the gov't fuck-up make front page news"
It would be if the truth had been in the front page news instead of the government version. Instead we were forced to find out about the truth in underground videos.
"Certainly the US government is not telling Google not to display search results for david koresh waco."
That is why our nation is worse than China now. Previously the government would have done exactly that, and you would not have heard about it. Since the impotence of the protests during vietnam the government has become more and more corrupt while being more open about it. All the while the government pretends it still stands for ideals like freedom.
If Bush ordered the invasion of an armed religious compound he would be admitting to flamethrowing tanks on TV and patting himself on the back for taking out the terrorists. The chinese at least still pretend the people could do something about it if they found out about atrosities.
I don't think so. The government lied and tried to cover up Waco the best it could. It simply failed to do so because of the strong militia movement at the time. Ruby Ridge was a similar action and there was a definate path leading to revolution.
Then Timothy McVey happened and the militia movement pretty much disappeared. I still suspect to this day that this incident was arranged by the feds to discredit the organized, trained, and armed resistance that was forming. Prior to that I knew of a major US state where most of the national guard had prepared to defect to the militia and plans were in place to secure their armories for when they did.
"Of course, there are bugs (smth like gaining ring0 from user etc) - but they exist on all systems"
...)"
;)
Yes. But they exist at all times on windows systems. At the present moment there are none I am aware of on linux systems. If there were, they would probably be patched by tomorrow. I am not aware of any zero day exploits for linux. I can log onto a user account under windows and browse porn for a couple hours and see spyware that has infected the browser under every profile, right now with a fully patched XP. The same has been true since the release of the OS.
"Why *nix virus ale such rare?
-these systems are less popular at home
-these systems are used by more experienced user (eg. not clicking on NakedPamela.exe wchich arrived from 235gdsfge4@235cs.com
I would argue that this has more to do with system design than the competence of the user. First, if you extrapolate the number of infections based on the ratio to users you will find that linux is still far far below what windows sees. This can be seen in a comparison with OSX as well, despite the fact that OSX has had far more 0-days than linux.
In linux clicking nakedpamela.exe would not result in the file executing. Not just from a mail client, but from anywhere. Under linux a file permission is required to make a file executable. Not merely an extension. And by default NO file is executable. Even if one intended to make one executable the user has to either change the permission from the cli and launch it or the user has to right-click and change the permissions under properties, then create a launcher (executables can not be launched directly in a typical linux gui and require a launcher shortcut be made). If a user has gained enough linux knowledge to come this far, and is still stupid enough to launch nakedpamela.exe they deserve what they get and probably won't admit it happened anyway.
"If virus doing that thing will be run on linux, on user account-it will infect all files with write permisions (/home/user ?)."
Yup.
"Same on windows."
Execept on windows it will escalate privs first, then infect files. Then it will proceed into worm mode (lets be honest, we are talking about the full class of programs grouped under viruses here, including worms, not just mere viruses) where it spreads via the latest remote exploit.
Yup, mom and pop take the card from their digital camera to walgreens, or cvs, or walmart, etc who then print them out on photo paper and give them a complementary photo cd in place of a negative.
You didn't think mom and pop actually manipulate photos on their computer do you? If they are that advanced then yes, they back up their photos.
"Actually, you're quite wrong. Linux flaws have existed and are still found today that can be (and have been) taken advantage of."
/home/granny/.email/files then chmod +X grandchild.jpg.exe, THEN ./grandchild.jpg.exe (in linux you have to create a launcher to execute a file in the gui, double-clicking will not work.
Actually that is pretty much in line with what I have said and does not make me wrong at all.
The system design and development model has led to two things, a shortage of privilage escalation flaws (flaws isn't good enough, they have to allow a user account to gain root under conditions the virus can create) and a short lifespan of any such flaws that exist.
Open source development leads to faster fixes, almost nobody argues this point anymore who is not pushing an agenda. Linux systems are far easier to keep up to date since they are almost entirely open source and free (speech+beer). The result are mechanisms like 'apt-get update; apt-get upgrade' that will update every piece of software on the system, whether os, 3rd party service, or text editor.
This and a strong security model (execute capability must be explicitly enabled by a user who knows how to do it and has permission, default create masks do not make files executable)(users ACTUALLY can only impact files they are supposed to be able to impact). Make the spreading of viruses on linux a non-issue. Flaws are patched faster than the viruses spead, damage is limited to a single user directory and even then only the data created since the last backup. Most clueless users are unable to execute the virus file in the first place because they are unable to set permissions.
grandchild.jpg.exe can never work on linux, period. You have to get the user to open a prompt cd to
"Oh and by the way, Windows has a "safe"(well, safer) operating mode in the form of a user account, but nobody uses it because it's a PITA,"
lol, if you say so. I challenge you to browse porn sites for a couple hours using IE under a user account. You will be amazed to find that spyware has spread beyond the one profile every time.
Doubtful, losing docs just means replacing them. Nowdays even mom and pop have some form of backup, even if it is just photo cd's. Losing the system means money. Either a new computer (if they do not have a tech they call) or calling a tech and paying him $65+/hr to fix their system for them.
As for users more informed than mom and pop, they have routine backups of their home directory at a minimum. They may or may not have backups of their tweaked configs.
I like this one better.
The difference between the US and China.
Windows users are prepared for viruses and the reason Linux users do not sweat them much is not because linux viruses do not exist; it is because system design makes their impact minimal.
While admittedly a youngster myself, I have asked a number of individuals who were adults during watergate their opinion. So far I have yet to find any who believed that watergate was as bad as the current situation.
BEGIN RANT *sighs* If only programmers today were concerned with efficient, correct, and maintainable code. In reality the lazy/money factor usually wins out now days. That is why you see 10 billion frameworks out there and every project uses a handful of them.
Usually said programmers sell out efficient code claiming that the framework has been tested and worked on by a lot of people, blah blah blah. The truth is that two good programmers will churn out roughly the same number of bugs per 1000 lines of code. My homerolled 50-500 line custom library is going to have fewer bugs than your 10,000 line framework everytime and the bugs it does have will be easier to find. It is a given that a homerolled library will be faster since it will be tuned with the app in mind instead of general use. It is easier to maintain because one does not have to sort through code from a dozen different sources. If a bug is found you can also simply fix it instead of having to try to convince the framework authors there is a flaw in their precious art and wait 6 months for them to release a new version.
END RANT
When he gave up liability for the companies actions he also disassociated his rights with that of the company. If the company hurting people is not the same as him hurting people than the reverse is also true.
By regulating the business you are restricting the businesses right to sell its product. Your dad is simply an investor.
I would like to point out that a free society means freedom for PEOPLE, not corporations. Regulating industry is not widening nor narrowing the gap in itself. The government can personally hold the reigns of every corporation without being a hair closer to invading on PERSONAL freedom.
The free market is not SUPPOSED to be a form of government, nor play a role in one. A dictatorship can have a free market economy.
As an individual who does believe in the two party system or choose sides in it I can assure you that there is no liberal media. Studies have shown clearly that adherents to EITHER party are not capable of examining issue with an unbiased perspective. Quite simply, democrats and republicans literally stop using the centers of the brain associated with reasoning and start using creative centers of the brain when party politics are encountered in any medium.
Like all things in this nation, BOTH parties are puppets for corporations. If either side claims to support an actual individual freedom they consistantly lose ground on that issue. Republicans win on corporate power, democrats win on gun control. Simply follow the pattern, if something empowers the government or corporate interests it wins, if it empowers the people it loses.
"What I don't understand is why "liberal media" is a negative phrase to liberals. I'd think the fact that the media tends to side with them would be viewed as a positive."
I'm sure liberals would be happy about a media that sides with them. First, the media does not side with the left so it can not be a positive. The idea of liberal media is used by right-wingers to justify ignoring news that contradicts what they believe in. The idea of a false liberal media is used by left-wingers to do the same thing.
Both parties are corrupt, but the current president has actually committed high treason and still sits in office. That anyone can hold their head up while wearing the colors of the party that controls congress and allows him to continue is beyond me. If this were a general and not the president he would have been put to death!