why couldn't the database on the back end be configured to flag any ballots that seemed irregular for inspection? for instance, if the counting machine recorded ballot #41768 as being entirely blank, this could be flagged and brought to the attention of poll workers, who would then read the ballot and adjust the results accordingly
A very good point. And another thing... why wouldn't they standardize the type(s) of pen that you should use to mark the ballot. I mean people have thought about this kind of thing before (any time I used to take an exam, they always said to use a #2 pencil).
But you might consider *why* companies release such trash for Linux. Maybe it's because they can't claim to have any intellectual property so they can't get VC financing, thus they don't have enough money to pay developers to create something state-of-the-art.
These companies are probably running Linux to *save money*, not to market themselves to geeks.
There is much emphasis on the "growing" market for computers/internet stuff in China, and everyone who is anyone is trying to get into that market. But does it really exist?
The western media makes a big deal about the lack of freedom in China, but what about the attitude of the Chinese? Most people there don't seem to believe that they are being oppressed. None of the Chinese immigrants I know seem to care about the lack of "freedom" in China (okay, so I don't know any Falun Gong).
They didn't grow up in awe of the first amendment. The fact that it's harder to surf porn there doesn't seem to bother them. As for technological adoption, every second person I met there had a cell phone, digital camera, and an e-mail address.
The rep asked for my username and password to verify my identity and couldn't understand why I refused to give out my password over the phone.
So am I, actually. What you shouldn't do is to give out your password on the phone when someone calls you. That's how they trick you. "Hi, this is so-and-so calling from Verisign. Can I have your date of birth and mother's maiden name?" But if you call them, you know who they are. Who cares if you give out your password over the phone.
One time at work, I got locked out of my account for typing in my password 3 times (actually it happened quite frequently due to their lame-brain "user must change password every 6 months" policy). I called the help desk to have them reset my password, but they refused to give me the temporary password over the phone.
I was impressed. After all, they had no confirmation of who I was other than the fact that I was calling from the phone on my desk. So instead they sent me a voice-mail and I had to type in my voice-mail password. But my new found faith in MIS was quashed when I listened to the message: "Your new password is 'password'. That's p-a-s-s-w-o-r-d."
If you want REALLY good coffee, get in your car... go out on the highway... drive to the middle of nowhere and stop at the dirtiest, dingiest truck stop you can find.
Right... and I'm so sure you've actually tested that theory.
If they can't get a warrant to force me to unlock some content, then they can't see what it is. It could be legit, it could not. They would need to get a warrant to find out, and for that they need some reasonable grounds for suspicion. What do they need a warrant for? You are trying to share files with the general public; therefore the general public needs to be able to decrypt your files. If you use a web of trust, it may be a bit more difficult since they need to infiltrate the web of trust. But it's not *that* difficult, unless you are content to use a very small P2P network.
Make the guy on the other end pass a turing test in order to get your key. Or you create keys that only work in combination with n other trusted keys and you create a web of trust er wall of trust using some reasonable method.
I think the RIAA would love for you to use such a scheme. For one thing, you've just displayed consciousness of guilt. Plus, you've gone out of your way to subvert a copy protection scheme. Now, they could probably sue you for 10 times as much.
First, what's the problem? Why not use Slashdot to get help
It's not one single problem. It's juust a general lack of polish due to the fact that every version seems to be of Alpha quality. Mozilla 1.4 routinely crashes with various types of form elements (e.g. list boxes). Firebird 0.7 has a Javascript engine that doesn't work properly during OnInit. I'm sure that Firefox has its own problems that I haven't discovered yet.
they fix their integration with friggin' Javascript. I swear, every new version of Mozilla has new and more obscure bugs. Designing form-based web pages now requires beta testing against IE6, Netscape 7, and every version of Mozilla that ever existed.
I don't always agree with the Oscars on who should receive it, but IMHO Return of the King deserved each and everyone of them! Kudos to the jury for finally giving Peter Jackson the recognition he rightfully earned after creating (again IMHO) one of the most memorable film projects ever!
"Each and every one of them"? Come on... I mean the movie was good, but was the sound editing in ROTK that much better than the other nominees? (And let me not delve into the irony of a 3 hour movie winning best editing.)
It's the usual story. Companies demand experience on all posts, and then whine about lack of "qualified" applicants. While ignoring the fact that they themselves are creating a qualification that's impossible to get.
The problem is that you have to write these things on a tight budget. Of course they whine about the lack of qualified applicants. The standards for hiring are higher everywhere in the software industry, but all the average and below average people who used to have jobs are still out there resume spamming.
That is why I mine and smelt my own tin. Then I pound it flat with a large rock. After that I retreat into my cave and destroy the rock (just incase they picked me up on with satalite)
Umm... that's great, except that tinfoil is not made out of tin!! -a
I seriously wouldn't have an idea as to how to get money from a teller. You like show your ATM card or something?
Umm... yeah. Actually that works perfectly well at my bank. They prefer it if you fill out one of those deposit/withdrawal forms, but if you're lazy they'll do the whole thing for you. No PIN # involved either.
I think it is as legal as trying to spend a $100 bill that you just printed at home instead of the bill that got destroyed in the washing machine... after all, it's just a piece of paper:-)
You think a $100 bill wouldn't survive in the washing machine? The last time I stuck my wallet in the washing machine, a $20 bill was the only thing that did survive!
Licensing linux code from SCO invalidates the GPL on the rest of the kernel code. The licenses are not compatible. You will never get hundreds of kernel developers to re-license the code for your use. If you really think you need to buy this, give up. Install FreeBSD.
AFAIK, the GPL doesn't prevent you from *using* a program that infringes on patents or copyrights, it only prevents you from distributing said code. So your license to use the code cannot be revoked just because you stupidly decided to take out a license from SCO.
I have to disagree. The article was manipulative and the author plays fast and loose with statistics. I found the following quote amusing:
fraud has more than a legal definition. It is commonly defined in the dictionary as "an act of deceiving or misrepresenting".
Then he goes on to explain that newspapers are 3 times as effective as online job sites because 4.8% of hires come from newspapers whereas only 1.5% of hires come from CareerBuilder. Isn't that an abuse of statistics... comparing *all* newspapers against *one* job site?
Anyway, the whole article is rife with contradictions. Sure, networking is an effective way to find a job, but it's not something that's easy to optimize. What are you going to do... get a bunch of geeks to go out and join a social club? Just because 50% of your jobs come from networking, why does that mean you should neglect the other 50%?
I do agree that personal networking works better, but I have to point out that my employer advertises almost exclusively on Monster, and about 50% of our hires come from there. But developer/manager time is precious; I simply don't have time to look at every resume. We have to rely on a set of filtering criteria that can be applied by an HR person. 90% of everything on resumes is bullshit anyway. The only filter that really seems to work is an IQ test (or some other type of objective measurement).
Okay, I don't actually have a C++ compiler on this machine, but I am pretty damn sure the above code will generate two compiler errors due to illegal typecasts. Admittedly, the language lets you subvert the typing by casting through void *, but that's because C++ provides strong type-checking *and* full control.
If you define "strong typing" to mean that the programmer can't subvert it even if they try, then fine. But C++ provides strong type checking for many things, and it also provides native run-time type checking via dynamic_cast and RTTI (if you are willing to pay a performance penalty similar to what a "strongly typed" language would incur.
Slashdot Mirror
why couldn't the database on the back end be configured to flag any ballots that seemed irregular for inspection? for instance, if the counting machine recorded ballot #41768 as being entirely blank, this could be flagged and brought to the attention of poll workers, who would then read the ballot and adjust the results accordingly
A very good point. And another thing... why wouldn't they standardize the type(s) of pen that you should use to mark the ballot. I mean people have thought about this kind of thing before (any time I used to take an exam, they always said to use a #2 pencil).
-a
But you might consider *why* companies release such trash for Linux. Maybe it's because they can't claim to have any intellectual property so they can't get VC financing, thus they don't have enough money to pay developers to create something state-of-the-art.
These companies are probably running Linux to *save money*, not to market themselves to geeks.
-a
A huge difference is that IBM is now forced to compete on the merits of their services and solutions.
And here I thought IBM was forced to compete on the merits of their TV commercials. They certainly remind me of that fact almost every day.
30 years later and they're still basically selling FUD.
-a
I seem to remember /. was down for a few hours last week... but somehow that story didn't make the front page.
-a
There is much emphasis on the "growing" market for computers/internet stuff in China, and everyone who is anyone is trying to get into that market. But does it really exist?
The western media makes a big deal about the lack of freedom in China, but what about the attitude of the Chinese? Most people there don't seem to believe that they are being oppressed. None of the Chinese immigrants I know seem to care about the lack of "freedom" in China (okay, so I don't know any Falun Gong).
They didn't grow up in awe of the first amendment. The fact that it's harder to surf porn there doesn't seem to bother them. As for technological adoption, every second person I met there had a cell phone, digital camera, and an e-mail address.
-a
The rep asked for my username and password to verify my identity and couldn't understand why I refused to give out my password over the phone.
So am I, actually. What you shouldn't do is to give out your password on the phone when someone calls you. That's how they trick you. "Hi, this is so-and-so calling from Verisign. Can I have your date of birth and mother's maiden name?" But if you call them, you know who they are. Who cares if you give out your password over the phone.
One time at work, I got locked out of my account for typing in my password 3 times (actually it happened quite frequently due to their lame-brain "user must change password every 6 months" policy). I called the help desk to have them reset my password, but they refused to give me the temporary password over the phone.
I was impressed. After all, they had no confirmation of who I was other than the fact that I was calling from the phone on my desk. So instead they sent me a voice-mail and I had to type in my voice-mail password. But my new found faith in MIS was quashed when I listened to the message: "Your new password is 'password'. That's p-a-s-s-w-o-r-d."
-a
If you want REALLY good coffee, get in your car ... go out on the highway ... drive to the middle of nowhere and stop at the dirtiest, dingiest truck stop you can find.
Right... and I'm so sure you've actually tested that theory.
-a
If they can't get a warrant to force me to unlock some content, then they can't see what it is. It could be legit, it could not. They would need to get a warrant to find out, and for that they need some reasonable grounds for suspicion.
What do they need a warrant for? You are trying to share files with the general public; therefore the general public needs to be able to decrypt your files. If you use a web of trust, it may be a bit more difficult since they need to infiltrate the web of trust. But it's not *that* difficult, unless you are content to use a very small P2P network.
-a
Make the guy on the other end pass a turing test in order to get your key. Or you create keys that only work in combination with n other trusted keys and you create a web of trust er wall of trust using some reasonable method.
I think the RIAA would love for you to use such a scheme. For one thing, you've just displayed consciousness of guilt. Plus, you've gone out of your way to subvert a copy protection scheme. Now, they could probably sue you for 10 times as much.
-a
I don't think the answer is in the technology. By definition, technology can be defeated.
By definition? What, did you read that in the dictionary.
I'm not going to argue that *this* technology can't be defeated, but presuming that *all* technology can be defeated is a bit of a stretch.
-a
First, what's the problem? Why not use Slashdot to get help
It's not one single problem. It's juust a general lack of polish due to the fact that every version seems to be of Alpha quality. Mozilla 1.4 routinely crashes with various types of form elements (e.g. list boxes). Firebird 0.7 has a Javascript engine that doesn't work properly during OnInit. I'm sure that Firefox has its own problems that I haven't discovered yet.
-a
they fix their integration with friggin' Javascript. I swear, every new version of Mozilla has new and more obscure bugs. Designing form-based web pages now requires beta testing against IE6, Netscape 7, and every version of Mozilla that ever existed.
-a
I don't always agree with the Oscars on who should receive it, but IMHO Return of the King deserved each and everyone of them! Kudos to the jury for finally giving Peter Jackson the recognition he rightfully earned after creating (again IMHO) one of the most memorable film projects ever!
"Each and every one of them"? Come on... I mean the movie was good, but was the sound editing in ROTK that much better than the other nominees? (And let me not delve into the irony of a 3 hour movie winning best editing.)
-a
The amazing thing to me is that you still remember exactly which right-wing gun nuts you talked to in 91/92. Or did you go back later and look it up?
-a
It's the usual story. Companies demand experience on all posts, and then whine about lack of "qualified" applicants. While ignoring the fact that they themselves are creating a qualification that's impossible to get.
The problem is that you have to write these things on a tight budget. Of course they whine about the lack of qualified applicants. The standards for hiring are higher everywhere in the software industry, but all the average and below average people who used to have jobs are still out there resume spamming.
-a
That is why I mine and smelt my own tin. Then I pound it flat with a large rock. After that I retreat into my cave and destroy the rock (just incase they picked me up on with satalite)
Umm... that's great, except that tinfoil is not made out of tin!!
-a
So are you going to leave us in suspense or are you going to tell us how you came to be exchanging e-mails with Timothy McVeigh?
-a
I seriously wouldn't have an idea as to how to get money from a teller. You like show your ATM card or something?
Umm... yeah. Actually that works perfectly well at my bank. They prefer it if you fill out one of those deposit/withdrawal forms, but if you're lazy they'll do the whole thing for you. No PIN # involved either.
-a
I think it is as legal as trying to spend a $100 bill that you just printed at home instead of the bill that got destroyed in the washing machine... after all, it's just a piece of paper :-)
You think a $100 bill wouldn't survive in the washing machine? The last time I stuck my wallet in the washing machine, a $20 bill was the only thing that did survive!
-a
But the case will be built on the testimony of those involved - witnesses. If nobody wants to cooperate, what's Inspector Gadget to do?
Umm... go go gadget sodium pentathol?
-a
Licensing linux code from SCO invalidates the GPL on the rest of the kernel code. The licenses are not compatible. You will never get hundreds of kernel developers to re-license the code for your use. If you really think you need to buy this, give up. Install FreeBSD.
AFAIK, the GPL doesn't prevent you from *using* a program that infringes on patents or copyrights, it only prevents you from distributing said code. So your license to use the code cannot be revoked just because you stupidly decided to take out a license from SCO.
-a
Then he goes on to explain that newspapers are 3 times as effective as online job sites because 4.8% of hires come from newspapers whereas only 1.5% of hires come from CareerBuilder. Isn't that an abuse of statistics... comparing *all* newspapers against *one* job site?
Anyway, the whole article is rife with contradictions. Sure, networking is an effective way to find a job, but it's not something that's easy to optimize. What are you going to do... get a bunch of geeks to go out and join a social club? Just because 50% of your jobs come from networking, why does that mean you should neglect the other 50%?
-a
I do agree that personal networking works better, but I have to point out that my employer advertises almost exclusively on Monster, and about 50% of our hires come from there. But developer/manager time is precious; I simply don't have time to look at every resume. We have to rely on a set of filtering criteria that can be applied by an HR person. 90% of everything on resumes is bullshit anyway. The only filter that really seems to work is an IQ test (or some other type of objective measurement).
-a
Okay, I don't actually have a C++ compiler on this machine, but I am pretty damn sure the above code will generate two compiler errors due to illegal typecasts. Admittedly, the language lets you subvert the typing by casting through void *, but that's because C++ provides strong type-checking *and* full control.
If you define "strong typing" to mean that the programmer can't subvert it even if they try, then fine. But C++ provides strong type checking for many things, and it also provides native run-time type checking via dynamic_cast and RTTI (if you are willing to pay a performance penalty similar to what a "strongly typed" language would incur.
-a
Hungarian notation on the other hand is problematic because a) it is just a non-functional workaround for the weak typing in C and C++
C++ has weak typing? Source?
-a