"Pro-Am astronomers have made 'significant contributions' to the knowledge of the universe"
While the hero tag may be a bit overdone, I'd say that Pro-Ams in general make significant contributions to the knowledge *in* the universe. I've used countless freeware utilities and enjoyed a lot of hardware hacks posted (on/. and elsewhere) that simply wouldn't exist without overly-enthusiastic folks with free time, a passion for what they do, and the desire to share with the world. Some things aren't complicated enough to warrant selling for $20 (the minimum people seem to be able to bring themselves to sell any software for, no matter what it does), but my life is that much easier because someone gave it to the world.
Sharing with the world is like community service but better. The world benefits at very little cost to the one who shares. And honestly, I've found more useful information on the web by hobbyists than professionals. Not that I ever post any of my projects to the web, since they never seem innovative or polished enough, but I keep intending to...
Bah. This is sensationalist media. We all know about how fragile media is, and how the original claims of 200 year archival life weren't quite correct. If you really care about your content, you'll have multiple copies (possibly on different media types) in different locations. You'll refresh the media as new technology comes out (i.e. CDR->DVDR->Blu-Ray, etc). Problem solved (probability of data remaining is very high). If you just burn a disc then leave it in your car for a decade, you'll get what you deserve.
As for printing: professional printing will last a while, but look at pictures from 50 years ago (or 100). Not always holding up so well now, eh? Inkjet prints will do worse.
So... digital copies will obviously outlast if and only if you preserve and maintain them properly.
How about a law that renders post-POS EULAs null and void? I've always wondered how EULAs were legal in the first place. A binding contract is supposed to have a meeting of the minds before it's valid... so if you don't see/understand something in it how is that section binding? 'Course, IANAL...
Well, it's been common knowledge for a while that caffine is physically addictive. Anything that gives you headaches and the shakes for 3 days when you quit using it is physically addictive.
I personally feel there is some sort of mental defect in coffee addicts, but that doesn't relieve them of any responsibility in the matter.
Hold on there. Just because most of the cell providers are substandard in the US doesn't mean that the hardware manufacturers aren't remiss in their duties as well. It seems that as time goes on and we get more features in phones, the call performance declines. The people who seem happiest with their phones have the simple phone-only models. All I'm asking is for focussing on the call quality circuitry before adding a bunch of gimmicks. The consumers flocking to the gimmicks aren't helping a lot in this matter. One further note - I've seen statistics that some manufacturers have a higher dropped call rate (Motorola) - so if you can trust the statistics the manufacturers CAN be blamed.
I must have been lucky, I ready quite a few of those books by the end of high school. Mostly for class, as there are some fine pieces of literature in there. Several on my own. I still think at least a few of those should be required reading.
The Anarchist's Cookbook is the only one I see administrators having a valid problem with. First half is about making your own drugs, second half is about blowing yourself up (well, making explosives. Amounts to the same thing with a bunch of stoned teenagers). While some may see natural selection at work here, the school administration would nevertheless face a lot of tough questions.
Need a bill to make it illegal for big corporations to "induce" lawmakers to take away fair use rights, or to "induce" technology companies to add restrictions that the market doesn't want.
The term "bachelor's degree" is getting watered down. As everyone is noticing, this is a trade school and not a university. Calling the degree the same thing as what you get at a university is nothing short of encouraging the graduates to lie to future employers. I've never done hiring, but I hope they check the accreditation of universities rather than assuming that a BS is always the same.
I have nothing against trade schools, but I've met too many people with two year degrees who think they're smarter and better educated than university graduates...
Unless you're a genius, please don't attempt homemeade devices to input anything directly into your brain. That sounds worse than creepy, it sounds like mail-order courses on open-heart surgery. The only thing I can think of for less that $100 that interacts directly with the brain is the standard drill. Leave the rest to experts and people who know what they're doing.
Well the obvious choice would be null@127.0.0.1 since any (semi-intelligent) human can tell it's false, but half-baked web pages can't. I used to use null@aol.com sometimes until I realized that some poor schmoe might be getting spammed at aol. It's not very nice to use an address that might exist...
GPS systems are intergrated into new celphones. Are those banned...
Yes, in some places. The entire point of this article is that in areas that cell phones are banned, cell phones in coke cans are also banned. Common sense. The only reason this was ever broadcast (and hence covered by the media) is so that responsible parties would be made aware that their 12-pack might have a cell phone hidden in it. Just a friendly remider so nobody is caught unaware by coke.
And concerning using cell phones for spying, it certainly is possible with some phones, so there's no reason not to treat this cell phone as being as much or more dangerous than any other cell phone. If you don't bring it with you, you don't really need to know if it has exploitable security flaws, do you?
Re:At least it's not a "For Dummies" book
on
Linux for Non-Geeks
·
· Score: 1
I might buy the last one, just for the joy of people seeing it on my shelf at work.
I thought it was understood that knowing a little assembly makes you a better programmer. Not that I know as much as I should, but it's been useful.
On the other hand, it's important to distinguish between software engineers and code monkeys. Cobbling a bunch of keywords together that can compile (heh, if your language even compiles) does not constitute crafting software. A lot of people who think of themselves as programmers are much closer to "power users" than programmers. Not to bash those folks, but the industry should understand that difference well enough as to not try to write realtime life-critical code in visual basic;) You shouldn't use the "engineering" tagline on things that don't actually use the principles of engineering.
I think some guys will be disappointed when they use this and find that not as many girls like porn as previously thought. That might make for an awkward virtual room...
Before I use any cryptography product, I usually check the Russian Password Crackers website, to see if there is any known attack (no link, you'll kill the site). If the listed attack is "plaintext" stay away... Yea, my assumption is that someone who knows more about cracking encryption has looked at the product, and that it has been out long enough to discover the problem. You can get the idea of what companies employ crpytographers and which ones use the word as a marketing gimmick.
Slashdot had the article a few months ago about a wireless beer mug monitoring system using additional equipment under the table. Maybe someone more industrious than me will include the link. I don't remember if it was related to this effort at all, but it's certainly related.
Considering I just went to xp this month, I kindof doubt I'll be running longhorn as my primary os before my computer is actually running those specs. Ok, so I've actually tried running it in virtualpc but performance wasn't so hot. If I had only known I needed to give it 4 GHz and a gig of ram!
Almost all war-related technological innovation of the last 50 years has been targeted at reducing civilian casualties, collateral damage, and exposure of our own troops to fire.
Well stated. Anti-war folks have a hard time understanding that better weapons can mean less war/killing. And better information can mean a LOT less killing. Many of the things that are unreasonable are outlawed by the Geneva convention (biowarfare, etc).
This is a place where DOS did it right and no linux distro yet has matched
Maybe they're worried that MS will go after them like SCO is?
I love the command line, but when working on different distros of Un*x or linux, a command summary would really help when commands differ between versions. The Nutshell books are great for the versions they match, but other than that I've often ended up searching the web for the proper syntax. Using a windows machine.
why are only software companies able to make themselves free from accountability when every other industry has to design for it
Because the general public demands it. The public buys products that are cheap, quick to market, and full of useless features. Stability is optional. Now, when you buy aircraft aluminum for an airplane, do you go witht the cheapest, easiest to get crap? Do you set the manufacture scedule without knowing how much work it takes to build it properly? No, there are standards for a reason. Software companies are encouraged by the buying public to allow managers and marketers drive products rather than engineering standards.
If you think about it, software is still so new it's barely understood, especially by the business world. When a manager finds that they can cut budget and schedule in half and still get a product that sells, they don't care that the quality is substandard... the bar is set so low that few notice.
That's a tough question - the fridge can be hazardous (as others mentioned) if you aren't careful with how you use it. I like the idea of a vacume sealed container because with no air, there should be no humidity.
I've never looked, but if you can get a humidor to keep cigars at the right temperature and humidity, you should be able to find items for evacuating air and humidity, and maybe even cooling.
or, maybe a vaccume sealed container in the fridge?
Slashdot Mirror
"Pro-Am astronomers have made 'significant contributions' to the knowledge of the universe"
/. and elsewhere) that simply wouldn't exist without overly-enthusiastic folks with free time, a passion for what they do, and the desire to share with the world. Some things aren't complicated enough to warrant selling for $20 (the minimum people seem to be able to bring themselves to sell any software for, no matter what it does), but my life is that much easier because someone gave it to the world.
While the hero tag may be a bit overdone, I'd say that Pro-Ams in general make significant contributions to the knowledge *in* the universe. I've used countless freeware utilities and enjoyed a lot of hardware hacks posted (on
Sharing with the world is like community service but better. The world benefits at very little cost to the one who shares. And honestly, I've found more useful information on the web by hobbyists than professionals. Not that I ever post any of my projects to the web, since they never seem innovative or polished enough, but I keep intending to...
Bah. This is sensationalist media. We all know about how fragile media is, and how the original claims of 200 year archival life weren't quite correct. If you really care about your content, you'll have multiple copies (possibly on different media types) in different locations. You'll refresh the media as new technology comes out (i.e. CDR->DVDR->Blu-Ray, etc). Problem solved (probability of data remaining is very high). If you just burn a disc then leave it in your car for a decade, you'll get what you deserve.
As for printing: professional printing will last a while, but look at pictures from 50 years ago (or 100). Not always holding up so well now, eh? Inkjet prints will do worse.
So... digital copies will obviously outlast if and only if you preserve and maintain them properly.
Best Buy doesn't want you shopping there, unless you buy compulsively and get the extended warranty just beause the salesman suggests you do so.
Does anyone else see diplomats kidnapped en masse in January when they're the ones with RFID passports that can be read from a distance?
Maybe this is a ploy to keep Americans in the country because they can be sniffed out from a distance by terrorists whenever they leave.
How about a law that renders post-POS EULAs null and void?
I've always wondered how EULAs were legal in the first place. A binding contract is supposed to have a meeting of the minds before it's valid... so if you don't see/understand something in it how is that section binding? 'Course, IANAL...
Well, it's been common knowledge for a while that caffine is physically addictive. Anything that gives you headaches and the shakes for 3 days when you quit using it is physically addictive.
I personally feel there is some sort of mental defect in coffee addicts, but that doesn't relieve them of any responsibility in the matter.
Hold on there. Just because most of the cell providers are substandard in the US doesn't mean that the hardware manufacturers aren't remiss in their duties as well. It seems that as time goes on and we get more features in phones, the call performance declines. The people who seem happiest with their phones have the simple phone-only models. All I'm asking is for focussing on the call quality circuitry before adding a bunch of gimmicks. The consumers flocking to the gimmicks aren't helping a lot in this matter. One further note - I've seen statistics that some manufacturers have a higher dropped call rate (Motorola) - so if you can trust the statistics the manufacturers CAN be blamed.
So if this is anything like SouthPark will this create a wormhole and send the occupant back to the age of dinosaurs?
I must have been lucky, I ready quite a few of those books by the end of high school. Mostly for class, as there are some fine pieces of literature in there. Several on my own. I still think at least a few of those should be required reading.
The Anarchist's Cookbook is the only one I see administrators having a valid problem with. First half is about making your own drugs, second half is about blowing yourself up (well, making explosives. Amounts to the same thing with a bunch of stoned teenagers). While some may see natural selection at work here, the school administration would nevertheless face a lot of tough questions.
Need a bill to make it illegal for big corporations to "induce" lawmakers to take away fair use rights, or to "induce" technology companies to add restrictions that the market doesn't want.
The term "bachelor's degree" is getting watered down. As everyone is noticing, this is a trade school and not a university. Calling the degree the same thing as what you get at a university is nothing short of encouraging the graduates to lie to future employers. I've never done hiring, but I hope they check the accreditation of universities rather than assuming that a BS is always the same.
I have nothing against trade schools, but I've met too many people with two year degrees who think they're smarter and better educated than university graduates...
Unless you're a genius, please don't attempt homemeade devices to input anything directly into your brain. That sounds worse than creepy, it sounds like mail-order courses on open-heart surgery. The only thing I can think of for less that $100 that interacts directly with the brain is the standard drill. Leave the rest to experts and people who know what they're doing.
Well the obvious choice would be null@127.0.0.1 since any (semi-intelligent) human can tell it's false, but half-baked web pages can't. I used to use null@aol.com sometimes until I realized that some poor schmoe might be getting spammed at aol. It's not very nice to use an address that might exist...
GPS systems are intergrated into new celphones. Are those banned...
Yes, in some places. The entire point of this article is that in areas that cell phones are banned, cell phones in coke cans are also banned. Common sense. The only reason this was ever broadcast (and hence covered by the media) is so that responsible parties would be made aware that their 12-pack might have a cell phone hidden in it. Just a friendly remider so nobody is caught unaware by coke.
And concerning using cell phones for spying, it certainly is possible with some phones, so there's no reason not to treat this cell phone as being as much or more dangerous than any other cell phone. If you don't bring it with you, you don't really need to know if it has exploitable security flaws, do you?
I might buy the last one, just for the joy of people seeing it on my shelf at work.
I thought it was understood that knowing a little assembly makes you a better programmer. Not that I know as much as I should, but it's been useful.
;) You shouldn't use the "engineering" tagline on things that don't actually use the principles of engineering.
On the other hand, it's important to distinguish between software engineers and code monkeys. Cobbling a bunch of keywords together that can compile (heh, if your language even compiles) does not constitute crafting software. A lot of people who think of themselves as programmers are much closer to "power users" than programmers. Not to bash those folks, but the industry should understand that difference well enough as to not try to write realtime life-critical code in visual basic
I think some guys will be disappointed when they use this and find that not as many girls like porn as previously thought. That might make for an awkward virtual room...
Before I use any cryptography product, I usually check the Russian Password Crackers website, to see if there is any known attack (no link, you'll kill the site). If the listed attack is "plaintext" stay away... Yea, my assumption is that someone who knows more about cracking encryption has looked at the product, and that it has been out long enough to discover the problem. You can get the idea of what companies employ crpytographers and which ones use the word as a marketing gimmick.
Slashdot had the article a few months ago about a wireless beer mug monitoring system using additional equipment under the table. Maybe someone more industrious than me will include the link. I don't remember if it was related to this effort at all, but it's certainly related.
Considering I just went to xp this month, I kindof doubt I'll be running longhorn as my primary os before my computer is actually running those specs. Ok, so I've actually tried running it in virtualpc but performance wasn't so hot. If I had only known I needed to give it 4 GHz and a gig of ram!
Almost all war-related technological innovation of the last 50 years has been targeted at reducing civilian casualties, collateral damage, and exposure of our own troops to fire.
Well stated. Anti-war folks have a hard time understanding that better weapons can mean less war/killing. And better information can mean a LOT less killing. Many of the things that are unreasonable are outlawed by the Geneva convention (biowarfare, etc).
Nifty idea, but without pictures (not just illustrations) it doesn't really get any bonus points.
This is a place where DOS did it right and no linux distro yet has matched
Maybe they're worried that MS will go after them like SCO is?
I love the command line, but when working on different distros of Un*x or linux, a command summary would really help when commands differ between versions. The Nutshell books are great for the versions they match, but other than that I've often ended up searching the web for the proper syntax. Using a windows machine.
why are only software companies able to make themselves free from accountability when every other industry has to design for it
Because the general public demands it. The public buys products that are cheap, quick to market, and full of useless features. Stability is optional. Now, when you buy aircraft aluminum for an airplane, do you go witht the cheapest, easiest to get crap? Do you set the manufacture scedule without knowing how much work it takes to build it properly? No, there are standards for a reason. Software companies are encouraged by the buying public to allow managers and marketers drive products rather than engineering standards.
If you think about it, software is still so new it's barely understood, especially by the business world. When a manager finds that they can cut budget and schedule in half and still get a product that sells, they don't care that the quality is substandard... the bar is set so low that few notice.
That's a tough question - the fridge can be hazardous (as others mentioned) if you aren't careful with how you use it. I like the idea of a vacume sealed container because with no air, there should be no humidity.
I've never looked, but if you can get a humidor to keep cigars at the right temperature and humidity, you should be able to find items for evacuating air and humidity, and maybe even cooling.
or, maybe a vaccume sealed container in the fridge?