China, Japan, and South Korea, getting together for anything? I know some Chinese folk, and the hatred between those three groups is palpable. They must really perceive U.S. interests, as represented by the proliferation of Microsoft software, as extremely threatening.
The other scenario would be that the screaming incompetence of Microsoft, as evidenced during the last few weeks, is a more powerful force than years of bitter intercultural hatred. It would be funny to see MS spin this - with XP you can fly, but Win2003 will bring about world peace!
various cybercultural oddities (a.k.a. memes) over the years have made a fleeting impact on Net culture
I didn't think a meme was a cybercultural oddity. I thought it was a (usually false) idea whose character was to spread through human consciousness in a viral manner (e.g. - all small bandages are Band Aids (tm), the SR-71's fuel is the consistency of peanut butter, etc.).
This brings up a question. Has the idea of a meme become a meme?
So as far as I'm concerned, the computer world already has BETTER safety than automobiles.
You're kidding, right? You can't possibly be serious. I've never known a car to suddenly halt on a busy highway because it didn't like the flavor of chocolate cookies in the groceries I was carrying.
I guess sympathy depends on who you think is the more innocent bystander, and who you think is most harmed:
The entire free software community (demonized and slandered in a ridiculous effort to get bought out by IBM)
Some oddball outfit whose ISP doesn't know how to manage traffic and bandwidth.
That is assuming, of course, you believe any of this. If you do, then I'd characterize SCO's Internet presence as a public menace, and sue them for damages.
The article seems to suggest a unified desktop as a means to provide a stable target for application developers, so that the application suite can overcome Microsoft's desktop domination.
The problem is that I just don't see a good case for taking away the user's freedom in order to accomplish that. Most of the Linux converts I've directly dealt with are attracted by the choice of different window managers, web browsers, e-mail clients, etc. In fact, the biggest reason I insist upon using Linux at work is because I can choose a set of applications that work for me. Indeed, I booted Red Hat as a distro because I didn't effectively have that freedom.
I think it is more important that Linux be free (in the RMS sense of the word), rather than dominate.
So they tested this technology with air traffic controllers to determine if it was safe to implement for PHBs. I believe I would have chosen a different test group.
Windows usage is demonstrated to be part of a worldwide Evil Plot(tm).
So, at what point am I justified in shooting Windows users on sight, in the name of protecting humankind?
It is interesting to me that the British seem to be leading the way in staggeringly invasive electronic law enforcement. Can someone in the know lend some insight as to what it is about the character of the UK government (and people) that is behind these efforts?
I ask because in the U.S., electronic law enforcement is basically about establishing and maintaining revenue streams. Any penalties involving fines pretty much boil down to corruption machines and stealth taxes, so when you see this sort of thing pop up over here, you usually have only to follow the money to find out who or what is motivating it.
I did read the article. Legally barred from using the Internet != having your particular ISP cancel your account, unless it's the only ISP available to him.
This guy's talking about being barred from use of the Internet as a result of a DMCA subpoena. WTF? Is this sensationalism or is there legal basis for this claim?
now you can mod me to hell, i know i don't have a popular opinion
As you can see, it's not unpopular at all. Slashdot's readership features a large number of programmers, so IP is something of a sacred cow, especially when discussed in general terms.
there's not a real excuse to not follow the terms and conditions of a license if you are running a professional business.
Carefully reading each license for every piece of software you have to use and implementing regular audits and/or metering is not an activity whose absence represents or in any way calls for an excuse. These are exceptional, absurd activities with which the competition is not wasting their time and resources. Put simply, however important licensing agreements are to you, a professional business generally doesn't have time for that kind of crap.
Sounds like an idea for a legal fucking offense fund, bitch!!. If someone I trust (such as EFF or FSF) starts such a thing, I will donate with extreme catharsis.
When you're pretty much any company, you don't have to give reasons to everything you do. At least not publically.
I'm sure the SEC would disagree with you on certain technicalities, but that notwithstanding, your argument is rather meaningless. If local regulations permitted, a company could kill people for sport. If the discussion is sufficiently hypothetical, there is no practical limit to its absurdity.
The forces of competition and the need to retain customers would normally motivate a company to provide critical information relating to the support of its products. Microsoft has long since outgrown either of those needs, as the grandparent so succinctly points out. Microsoft is therefore significantly more divorced from its user base than is any other software manufacturer, and the last week seems to indicate that this is indeed bad(tm).
The only thing I was wondering about was whether the vulgarity was a natural part of the culture of that web site, or if it was just an attention grabbing mechanism.
Slashdot Mirror
China, Japan, and South Korea, getting together for anything? I know some Chinese folk, and the hatred between those three groups is palpable. They must really perceive U.S. interests, as represented by the proliferation of Microsoft software, as extremely threatening.
The other scenario would be that the screaming incompetence of Microsoft, as evidenced during the last few weeks, is a more powerful force than years of bitter intercultural hatred. It would be funny to see MS spin this - with XP you can fly, but Win2003 will bring about world peace!
various cybercultural oddities (a.k.a. memes) over the years have made a fleeting impact on Net culture
I didn't think a meme was a cybercultural oddity. I thought it was a (usually false) idea whose character was to spread through human consciousness in a viral manner (e.g. - all small bandages are Band Aids (tm), the SR-71's fuel is the consistency of peanut butter, etc.).
This brings up a question. Has the idea of a meme become a meme?
I guess freedom doesn't begin at home.
If I anonymously placed this on my manager's desk, he would wander out and ask absently:
So as far as I'm concerned, the computer world already has BETTER safety than automobiles.
You're kidding, right? You can't possibly be serious. I've never known a car to suddenly halt on a busy highway because it didn't like the flavor of chocolate cookies in the groceries I was carrying.
I guess sympathy depends on who you think is the more innocent bystander, and who you think is most harmed:
That is assuming, of course, you believe any of this. If you do, then I'd characterize SCO's Internet presence as a public menace, and sue them for damages.
The article seems to suggest a unified desktop as a means to provide a stable target for application developers, so that the application suite can overcome Microsoft's desktop domination.
The problem is that I just don't see a good case for taking away the user's freedom in order to accomplish that. Most of the Linux converts I've directly dealt with are attracted by the choice of different window managers, web browsers, e-mail clients, etc. In fact, the biggest reason I insist upon using Linux at work is because I can choose a set of applications that work for me. Indeed, I booted Red Hat as a distro because I didn't effectively have that freedom.
I think it is more important that Linux be free (in the RMS sense of the word), rather than dominate.
From instructions for setting up and using a flying Dragonball Z action figure:(from the site)
That's just disgusting.
So they tested this technology with air traffic controllers to determine if it was safe to implement for PHBs. I believe I would have chosen a different test group.
Windows usage is demonstrated to be part of a worldwide Evil Plot(tm).
So, at what point am I justified in shooting Windows users on sight, in the name of protecting humankind?
Your first three paragraphs are brilliant. The fourth, when taken in context of my experience as a student pilot, is not.
Lets all send Darl to Mars, and put him in charge of the intellectual property there.
Yeah, that would really piss of the Psi Corps.
It is interesting to me that the British seem to be leading the way in staggeringly invasive electronic law enforcement. Can someone in the know lend some insight as to what it is about the character of the UK government (and people) that is behind these efforts?
I ask because in the U.S., electronic law enforcement is basically about establishing and maintaining revenue streams. Any penalties involving fines pretty much boil down to corruption machines and stealth taxes, so when you see this sort of thing pop up over here, you usually have only to follow the money to find out who or what is motivating it.
You want me to send you a copy?
Applying the patch will also not prevent you from spewing Dr. Pepper all over your laptop keyboard. I have just discovered this.
I did read the article. Legally barred from using the Internet != having your particular ISP cancel your account, unless it's the only ISP available to him.
This guy's talking about being barred from use of the Internet as a result of a DMCA subpoena. WTF? Is this sensationalism or is there legal basis for this claim?
now you can mod me to hell, i know i don't have a popular opinion
As you can see, it's not unpopular at all. Slashdot's readership features a large number of programmers, so IP is something of a sacred cow, especially when discussed in general terms.
there's not a real excuse to not follow the terms and conditions of a license if you are running a professional business.
Carefully reading each license for every piece of software you have to use and implementing regular audits and/or metering is not an activity whose absence represents or in any way calls for an excuse. These are exceptional, absurd activities with which the competition is not wasting their time and resources. Put simply, however important licensing agreements are to you, a professional business generally doesn't have time for that kind of crap.
Sounds like an idea for a legal fucking offense fund, bitch!!. If someone I trust (such as EFF or FSF) starts such a thing, I will donate with extreme catharsis.
Newsgroup support is becoming a big thing around Microsoft Product Support.
Funny for an organization whose main selling point against open source is centrally provided corporate support.
When you're pretty much any company, you don't have to give reasons to everything you do. At least not publically.
I'm sure the SEC would disagree with you on certain technicalities, but that notwithstanding, your argument is rather meaningless. If local regulations permitted, a company could kill people for sport. If the discussion is sufficiently hypothetical, there is no practical limit to its absurdity.
The forces of competition and the need to retain customers would normally motivate a company to provide critical information relating to the support of its products. Microsoft has long since outgrown either of those needs, as the grandparent so succinctly points out. Microsoft is therefore significantly more divorced from its user base than is any other software manufacturer, and the last week seems to indicate that this is indeed bad(tm).
The only thing I was wondering about was whether the vulgarity was a natural part of the culture of that web site, or if it was just an attention grabbing mechanism.
I guess this clears it up.
I believe the report is that a sunspot is forming which COULD create an X-class flare. No flare is currently underway, AFAIK.
But they dont create a TOTAL blackout.
Yeah They do.
UPS for the tank - insightful. UPS for the fish - funny. It's all in the visuals.