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User: ssafarik

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  1. Re:Actually, there already is a language called M on Microsoft's New Programming Language, "M" · · Score: 1

    And the Matlab language is called M.

  2. Squares 2 on What Are The Best Free Games Online? · · Score: 1

    Fetchfido has a lot of good games, but I suppose my favorite is Squares 2, http://www.fetchfido.co.uk/games/squares-2/squares-2.htm

    Steve.

  3. Beans and Toast on What Breakfast Gets You Going? · · Score: 1

    A can of black beans heated on the stove, poured over two pieces of toast. Or poured over two pieces of toast with an egg on them. Nothing beats it, and you don't get the sugar roller-coaster.

  4. What more do they want? on EU Says Microsoft Still Not Compliant · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I'm curious what more the EU wants? MS, after all, has provided the source code as the final and most authorative documentation. Do the EU want MS to create some new documentation product that makes the info more user friendly? What gives?

  5. For the good of the people on Economist's Take On Open Source Development · · Score: 1

    If our government acted for the good of the people, maybe this would happen. But I think we all know that the corporations come first, and the people are somewhere further down.

    Steve.

  6. Text of the bill on Real-ID Passes U.S. Senate 100-0 · · Score: 2, Informative

    SEC. 202. MINIMUM DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS AND ISSUANCE STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL RECOGNITION.

    (a) Minimum Standards for Federal Use-

    (1) IN GENERAL- Beginning 3 years after the date of the enactment of this division, a Federal agency may not accept, for any official purpose, a driver's license or identification card issued by a State to any person unless the State is meeting the requirements of this section.

    (2) STATE CERTIFICATIONS- The Secretary shall determine whether a State is meeting the requirements of this section based on certifications made by the State to the Secretary of Transportation. Such certifications shall be made at such times and in such manner as the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may prescribe by regulation.

    (b) Minimum Document Requirements- To meet the requirements of this section, a State shall include, at a minimum, the following information and features on each driver's license and identification card issued to a person by the State:

    (1) The person's full legal name.

    (2) The person's date of birth.

    (3) The person's gender.

    (4) The person's driver's license or identification card number.

    (5) A digital photograph of the person.

    (6) The person's address of principle residence.

    (7) The person's signature.

    (8) Physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes.

    (9) A common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements.

    (c) Minimum Issuance Standards-

    (1) IN GENERAL- To meet the requirements of this section, a State shall require, at a minimum, presentation and verification of the following information before issuing a driver's license or identification card to a person:

    (A) A photo identity document, except that a non-photo identity document is acceptable if it includes both the person's full legal name and date of birth.

    (B) Documentation showing the person's date of birth.

    (C) Proof of the person's social security account number or verification that the person is not eligible for a social security account number.

    (D) Documentation showing the person's name and address of principal residence.

    (2) SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS-

    (A) IN GENERAL- To meet the requirements of this section, a State shall comply with the minimum standards of this paragraph.

    (B) EVIDENCE OF LAWFUL STATUS- A State shall require, before issuing a driver's license or identification card to a person, valid documentary evidence that the person--

    (i) is a citizen of the United States;

    (ii) is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent or temporary residence in the United States;

    (iii) has conditional permanent resident status in the United States;

    (iv) has an approved application for asylum in the United States or has entered into the United States in refugee status;

    (v) has a valid, unexpired nonimmigrant visa or nonimmigrant visa status for entry into the United States;

    (vi) has a pending application for asylum in the United States;

    (vii) has a pending or approved application for temporary protected status in the United States;

    (viii) has approved deferred action status; or

    (ix) has a pending application for adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States or conditional permanent resident status in the United States.

    (C) TEMPORARY DRIVERS' LICENSES AND IDENTIFICATION CARDS-

    (i) IN GENERAL- If a person presents evidence under any of clauses (v) through (ix) of subparagraph (B), the State may only issue a temporary driver's license or temporary identification card to the person.

    (ii) EXPIRATION DATE- A temporary driver's license or temporary identification card issued pursuant to this subparagraph shall be valid only during the period of time of the applicant's authorized sta

  7. Re:Your Rights Online? on Is Google AutoLink Patent-Pending By Microsoft? · · Score: 1, Redundant

    I didn't realize we had a right to new products.

  8. Become a pirate on An FM Broadcast Transmitter For Your Home · · Score: 1
    For around $120, you can buy a kit for a 4-watt PLL controlled FM transmitter from http://www.nrgkits.com. I've seen a lot of brands, and feel this one has the best signal quality. You'll have to solder it up yourself, but what you'll end up with is a highly stable signal that can reach 1-2 miles. Yes, the power is above what the FCC rules say, but after all, the airwaves are public property.

    Play nice, and don't broadcast on or near anyone else. And give something back to the public by playing alternative news or other content that you wouldn't normally hear on the radio.

  9. Use a common password too on Where Do Dummy Email Addresses Go? · · Score: 1

    People using one of these fake addresses should also use a common password. That way, when other people try to use the fake address at a site where it's already been used, they can log in successfully. I propose a password the same as the username, e.g. foo@bar.com with pw=foo, or someone@somewhere.com with pw=someone.

  10. Property on 31 Lawsuits Filed Over Alleged JPEG Patent · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Patents are like property in many ways. In the case of property, to retain ownership one must defend its boundaries. There's thing called adverse possession, where if someone encroaches on your property in "an open and notorious manner", and does so for ten years, then they can become the new legal owner of the property. I'd bet a similar adverse possession argument would hold in this sort of patent scenario. BTW, IANAL.

    Steve.

  11. Hit Counter on Delorean Time Machine Replica Up For Auction · · Score: 1

    Hey, look at that hit counter go!

  12. Poor Use of Resources on Bush's Space Panel Seeks Public Input · · Score: 1
    I believe that it is a poor use of resources to send manned missions to the Moon and/or Mars. Robotic vehicles offer a much better ratio of cost to data returned, and going to manned missions is a giant step backwards for the mostly egotistical gains to be made. If money were no object, or if the goal was to spend ourselves into bankruptcy, then these manned missions would be desirable. However, there are plenty of problems here on Earth on which the money could be better spent. Education, disease, and alternative power are just a few that could have plenty of "high tech" in them, and could also enhance the economy for the long term.

    To spend the money on these missions is a poor use of our limited resources, and I do not support it.

    Thanks,
    Steve.

  13. Sad Commentary on So, HP, What Exactly Are You Trying To Sell Us? · · Score: 1

    Isn't it sad that reporting on business is in such a state that one modestly antagonistic interview gets such attention? Granted that it's nice to see someone do more than just publish the newswire feed as given to them, but it would be better if that were the norm.

    Steve.

  14. Snippy comment on Belkin To Offer Firmware Fix For Router Hijacking · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Old Comment:
    -----
    Important message from Belkin:
    Belkin is aware of some recent postings that claim that Belkin wireless routers are spamming users during the setup process and periodically thereafter. It is not now, nor has it ever been, the policy of Belkin to intentionally spam our customers or anyone else. Belkin offers a free trial of our parental control feature in our routers, and to make our customers aware of the feature itself and to give them the opportunity to take advantage of the free trial, we have tried to direct users to the information regarding the parental control features. However, since this has become a source of concern to our users, and it is Belkin policy to address the concerns of our users quickly, Belkin has decided to remove this function from the routers. Each router's firmware that incorporates parental control as an option will be changed.

    Please expect more detailed information to follow early next week. Thank you.

    Current Comment:
    -----
    Important message from Belkin:
    We at Belkin apologize for the recent trouble our customers have experienced with the wireless router/browser redirect issue. We will be offering firmware fixes available for download early next week. We do not have exact details yet but we can tell you now that each Router's firmware that incorporates Parental Control as an option will be changed.

    Please expect more detailed information to follow early next week. Thank you.

  15. Golden Dollar on Bureau of Engraving and Printing Issues New US$20 · · Score: 1
    I thought the golden dollar was a great idea, in that paper currency wears out rapidly, whereas coins last for decades. So every few years you have to spend another 17 cents to replace the paper.

    The problem with it was the execution, where they kept reissuing paper 1's, instead of withdrawing them and replacing them with coins. The simple solution is simply stop printing paper 1's, and start issuing coin 1's. I don't see why they went to all the trouble of minting coins, only to not get them into circulation.

    Steve.

  16. Re:'improper contribution'. on SCO's Open Letter to Open Source Community · · Score: 1

    Sure, but what if I contribute something that I stole? Here's $1000. I stole it from the bank, but you can have it. Isn't that an improper contribution?

    Steve.

  17. Own Your Own Station on Congress May Overturn FCC's Media Consolidation Plan · · Score: 5, Interesting
    You can buy your own microradio FM transmitter from http://www.nrgkits.com for well under $200, and be on the air quickly. Play your favorite stream, your list of mp3's, be a local repeater for Al Jazeera, or whatever you please. The spectrum is owned by the public afterall.

    The FCC doesn't like it, but you can probably expect to be on the air at a couple of watts (1-2 mile range) for a year or more before they come knocking. Just choose your frequency carefully, and listen to neighboring stations for interference (which, BTW, almost never occurs).

  18. Scarab Robotics on Teach A Robot To Drive, Win A Million Bucks · · Score: 1

    A group called Scarab Robotics in Carnation, WA, (near Seattle) is building an entry. Sounds like they're open to volunteers.

    Steve.

  19. What Counts as Software? on California Considering More Internet Taxes · · Score: 2, Interesting

    When you're taxing "software downloads", where do you make the distinction between non-executable data, and executable software? Does a document containing a macro count? If I sell you a .pdf file, doesn't it "program" your computer to show you the document? The distinction between data & software is a hazy one.

  20. Zork 404 on Flash Version of Adventure · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There's also "Zork" as a 404 error page: Zork

  21. Microbroadcasting on How Would You Start a Radio Station? · · Score: 2, Informative

    To start a "real" station is for the most part impossible, due to the NAB, Clear Channel, FCC, big money, etc. But you can go ahead and create your own micropowered station with a couple of watts that will cover several miles, and not interfere with any existing stations. Get yourself a 4-watt transmitter from http://www.nrgkits.com, put it into a case, make yourself an antenna, and hook it all up to your mp3 list. This setup is affordable and doable with a bit of effort. Although the FCC rules presently say otherwise, the airwaves are public and you can assert your right to use them.

  22. Re:Windows Programming: A related question on SSH Secure Services on Windows 2K/XP? · · Score: 1

    Have you looked at the MSDN Library? (http://msdn.microsoft.com). Has nearly exhaustive info on programming for all the various Windows components.

    Steve.

  23. It's About Add/Remove Software on Separate Code Files And Commingling? · · Score: 2

    The issue, it seems to me, is not about whether IE was commingled into the distribution, but as MS says if parts of IE were in the same binary file as some non-IE functions. The effect being that to remove all IE binaries would not be possible if they were commingled in this way. This appears to be an Add/Remove Software issue.

    On a related note, as I understancd it, what we call IE is a relatively small amount of code to give a UI to the relatively large amount of code which comprises the internet functionality of Windows. When people talk about "removing IE", they seem to be talking about removing the small amount of code which is the IE UI. I don't think anyone really wants internet functionality removed, and I think adding it to Windows was a big gain for the user. Steve.

  24. Tabletop Football on The Universal Planar Manipulator · · Score: 1

    Or how about a toy football game where the players run around in a little stadium? Wow, that's modern!

  25. 3Com or Palm on 3Com To Charge $20 For Palm OS 3.5 · · Score: 1

    Why is everyone still saying this is coming from 3Com? Palm is now a completely separate entity. Is 3Com still doing the OS for them or something?