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User: Codifex+Maximus

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Comments · 836

  1. Let it go on The Dismantling of POTS: Bold Move Or Grave Error? · · Score: 1

    If things get bad enough for infrastructure such as digital phone and data to go offline then we've got greater problems that POTS couldn't handle anyway. If maintaining POTS is slowing adoption of faster internet infrastructure then it should go. It was fun and I have fond memories of modem connection sounds but... the 1K chunks of files coming over were excruciating to endure.

    Fiber Optic right to the home firewall/router is what I'd like to see.

  2. Re:Yeah sure on 11-Year-Old Coloradan Will Brew Beer In Space, By Proxy · · Score: 1

    Why not have a "Small Beer"?

  3. Brew your own beer. on 11-Year-Old Coloradan Will Brew Beer In Space, By Proxy · · Score: 1

    Remember that article about the guy who brewed his own beer? He had a hardy version of Saccaromyces Cerevisiae (sp?) resident in his stomach. Everytime he ate anything starchy he got drunk.

    Hope they saved a sample of that yeasty.

  4. Help us GOOGLE! You're our only hope. on No FiOS In Boston? We'll Make an Ad Anyway · · Score: 1

    At this rate, we're gonna be an Internet Third World Country. Not dissing third world countries mind you...

  5. Re:I don't think encoding/decoding are fundamental on When Does the Universe Compute? · · Score: 0

    I used to adhere to the Theory of Entropy. Made sense at the time kinda like the flat world and Earth being the center of everything.

    With a greater understanding of Physics and Cosmology, I've come to realize that the Earth is not flat nor the center of everything. With the realization that Energy is neither created nor destroyed only converted - the Theory of Entropy is disrupted in my mind and therefore proven false.

    Now, discounting Entropy doesn't mean I deny that systems have a tendency to reach a Steady State where a perceived equilibrium has been established.

  6. Re:Well, I have a theory on When Does the Universe Compute? · · Score: 1

    To me, there are only four primary dimensions.

    Length, Width, Height and Time.

    The L*W*H dimensions ARE space. No need for a space dimension.

    Time is a measurement used to delineate Frames.

    I would say, do not limit yourself to only thinking in 2 dimensions as you cannot live in them. It takes 3. I will say that it also takes a bit more thought to see the world or understand it in 3 dimensions. One should try.

  7. Universe does compute - per se. on When Does the Universe Compute? · · Score: 1

    I think whether or not the Universe computes is relative.

    What is it you're trying to compute? If you are trying to compute the dynamics of the Universe then the Universe does compute. It computes itself better than any other model.

    If you are talking about abstractions then probably computers do very well give proper instruction and dataset.

    To get a computer to compute the universe is like trying to force a very large round peg into a very small square hole.

  8. Re:Learn some terminology on Ask Slashdot: Learning DB the Right Way; Books, Tutorials, or What? · · Score: 1

    You are correct. Access in it's simplest form is NOT a true database in that it is not a first class server of data per se. It can be used in a multi-user fashion though. You have multiple users running Access and a client program which is linked to a common Access database file on the network. All the intelligence except for data validation is implemented in the client. Back in the old days (the 90's), Access did not have row-locking but locked chunks of the database. Concurrency was a major issue and required code to bulldoze it's way into a record pessimistic lock so it could store data without stomping on someone else's update. The trick was to pad out the chuck to be one record in size. Wasteful of space but good for performance. These days, the ability to lock an actual row means less space wasted in the database - potentially saving gigabytes in a table with millions of records.

    Access is more a Swiss Army Knife type of user database tool than a mission critical system. I wouldn't dream of using it for anything but data analysis of smaller sets of data, reporting and prototyping of client frontsides.

  9. Database efficiency considerations on Ask Slashdot: Learning DB the Right Way; Books, Tutorials, or What? · · Score: 1

    Let's see - proper RDBMS considerations:
    Proper normalization of data
    Efficient keying for relating data. Compound keys can be difficult to work with.
    Use of simplest possible recordset type for working with data.
    Understanding of boolean logic and sets. Needful for creating efficient SQL queries.
    Understanding of a particular RDBMS's optimization techniques/order of operations.
    Data validation to prevent GIGO.
    Record locking schemes to prevent inconsistent updates - transactions should be used to minimize impact.
    Learn those things which your chosen RDBMS does NOT do well and find a way to optimize or work around them.

  10. Re:The great thing about standards on Ask Slashdot: Is Postgres On Par With Oracle? · · Score: 1

    Why in the world would Oracle want to make their SQL portable? So their customers could easily migrate to competing RDBMS? All they have to do is to get the managers to buy in and they're set.

  11. Re:what keeps us from switching ? on Ask Slashdot: Is Postgres On Par With Oracle? · · Score: 2

    I'd call SQL a special purpose language designed for managing relational databases.

    Technically, plopez is correct. SQL is the scripting language, with version differences between implementations, to the native interface for a particular RDBMS. Many RDBMS provide access to that native interface bypassing SQL.

  12. Re:Who would prefer you living in a hovel, you mea on Ask Slashdot: Is Postgres On Par With Oracle? · · Score: 2

    >>Last of all you need the executive board.
    But, without the executive board, where would all the profit go?

  13. Perks on Do Developers Need Free Perks To Thrive? · · Score: 1

    Those perks tend to keep coders at their work rather than going out for long lunches. Also, your reference to cut perks being an indicator of rocky road ahead, I agree.

  14. Let the magnet ride levitated using magnetic field on Transporting a 15-Meter-Wide, 600-Ton Magnet Cross Country · · Score: 1

    Hmm... it may be possible to create an electromagnet run off a mobile power supply that would put North to North or South to South so that the magnet would levitate off a surface and ride smoothly. Depends on configuration of the magnet though.

  15. Re:Good on Boston Replacing Microsoft Exchange With Google Apps · · Score: 1

    What really gets me is...

    People keep using Excel spreadsheets for databases. They send discreet versions of this "database" to everyone in the company instead of utilizing a secure reliable DBMS to store the data centrally.

  16. Re:Good on Boston Replacing Microsoft Exchange With Google Apps · · Score: 1

    When I read this: If you hear me saying "Stop fu*king helping me!" then you know for sure.

    All I could see was that dang paperclip tapping.

  17. Where did the savings go? on Ask Slashdot: Why Won't Companies Upgrade Old Software? · · Score: 1

    That money saved went to CEO bonuses and salaries most likely. It sure didn't filter it's way down to the lowly stockholders.

  18. Lack of... on Windfarm Sickness Spreads By Word of Mouth · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's probably Carbon Monoxide and Soot withdrawal that is causing these wind farm health episodes.

  19. I'd be more afraid of... on Protecting the Solar System From Contamination · · Score: 1

    I'd be more afraid of intelligent extraterrestrial life extrapolating our location using the trajectory of our spacecraft.

  20. Re:Criminal on Linux: Booting Via UEFI Can Brick Samsung Notebooks · · Score: 1

    I take it you're not going to elaborate but only curse at people.

  21. Re:Criminal on Linux: Booting Via UEFI Can Brick Samsung Notebooks · · Score: 1

    bws111 said, "Secure boot is an optional feature of UEFI"

    Not for long.

  22. Re:Disconcerting... on Linux: Booting Via UEFI Can Brick Samsung Notebooks · · Score: 1

    AC said, "UEFI will not boot if NVRAM storage is damaged."

    Obvious design flaw.

  23. Re:Bricked device on Linux: Booting Via UEFI Can Brick Samsung Notebooks · · Score: 1

    Whatever happened to "benign failure mode"?

  24. Re:Fucking UEFI on Linux: Booting Via UEFI Can Brick Samsung Notebooks · · Score: 1

    Something like SecureBoot has been implemented for at least six years on motherboards I figure.

    Many OEM hardware vendors would have a special key stored in the firmware somewhere. Without that key, the user can't reinstall the OEM version of Windows that shipped with the machine. I know this because when a motherboard would fail, we'd take one with the same form factor, size and compatible with the original CPU off-the-shelf and install it. Then we'd try to use the OEM Windows CD and no go - wont install. Called manufacturer and was informed that the replacement motherboard had not been "signed". Poor customer was forced to buy another copy of Windows or pay exorbitant cost for replacement OEM mobo.

    It's a Lock-In scheme. Plain and simple.

  25. Re:MS says: on Linux: Booting Via UEFI Can Brick Samsung Notebooks · · Score: 1

    Microsoft invades the firmware. What better to exclude competitors?