Well, this would start to make it hard to not report cash income / spending on tax forms. With this tracking mechanism, it could, depending on the implementation, make it no different than using a debit card in a transaction (well, except that it's not from a bank account). They would have a record of the transaction, so that money must have come from somewheres. This would make it a real headache. What kind of technology would be needed to keep track of these bills? Would there be a central database? What about all those little vendors who only take cash (For ex. Gas stations). If the implementation forces tracking of the bills, the small vendors would have to upgrade their technology, which might be costly.
Seems like this is good for reducing counterfits, but also could put a lot of burden on the person using the bills...
They did say it would be possible to track where a bill has been. So I could know if the person who gave me this bill had gone to that adult video store eh?... Privacy could be an issue as well.
That's a good analogy. However, in the case of closed source, how does one go about analyzing the closed source code to see if it is in violation of the law? By it's very nature, closed source prevents outside scrutiny. I mean, who has gone through Microsoft's code and ensured they don't have code that belongs to someone else, to whom they have not given credit? Unless you have a suspicion that copying of code has taken place, there's really no way to determine this (as far as I know! I'm just an idiot after all.) This is kind of interesting; this seems like there is a certain amount of discrimination against open source vs. closed source.
Well, looking over the article (OK yes, I admit it, I didn't read the article before posting my last post), I see how F# could be very enticing to programmers (After all, we all have a lazy streak don't we?). In fact, I see that the day when programming will be possible for every logical thinking person who can speak a language. There must come a point when progrmaming languages become so sophisticated as to be able to decipher human language and translate it to machine code.
However, this language seems to be presenting a danger; it may be a good idea to reduce complexity, but inventing new languages to do it may or may not be the best way to do it. Can you imagine inventing a new language every time you run into something that seems simple but is actually complicated?
Perhaps I'm wrong, and F# solves all our problems, but I have large doubts when Microsoft (especially Microsoft) starts touting a new language as making things "simpler." I'll definately give the language a try when it is released though.
Wow, yet another language to learn among the morass of programming languages out there. F#...What's next? G#? D#? A#? Why do they discriminate against the flats of the world??
I'd like to see a few flat languages, especially E flat...
Anyway, I think it's too late for this. The only way Microsoft has dominance if it is the only option. I'm sorry, but it doesn't appear that F# is the only option that works for enterprise solutions at the moment.
Oh, and if they are right, the big linux guys can just yank out the "infringing" code, and have a patch for people to download that will patch the kernel/whatever is infringing. Of course, this might create some problems... But in the long run, it wouldn't be too difficult to fix up. However, I highly doubt their story is true. I have a tendency to disbelieve people who get their background facts wrong about something they supposedly know a lot about.
Why are they pointing this out now anyway? The source code has been freely available for... Well, since linux was started! Very odd if you ask me. Also, is this code in all linux versions, or did it start being used in certain later versions? We can only find out when (if) the case goes to court.
I could only see them winning if SCO went after some poor linux vendor who can't defend themselves.
Wow they talk about this like this is new to multiplayer gaming. (Also, I take issue with what he says about no clipping; it didn't make seethrough walls, it made it so that walls didn't block you anymore, at least in the original doom...idspispopd or something? Ha, it's been so long.) Cheating multiplayer was really big when Diablo came out; I could remember the cheating idiots who would destroy multiplayer games. In fact, cheaters are what ruined the multiplayer diablo experience for me. Starcraft as well. (Both games I actually bought BTW!)
I haven't played counter-strike, but it seems like the same types of people are at it again... I don't know, they always barge in and ruin perfectly innocent games. Cheating really does take out all the fun in multiplayer and even singleplayer videogames. That's why, you play with who you trust!
The only way to do THAT is to make friends...and know them well. A third party isn't going to be able to determine if someone will be a good friend for you or not.
My problem is I could never find anyone who was as obsessed as I was with videogames (Descent II was fun over modem, I got to kick my friend's ass all the time =P)
I think the only solution is for you to try it out. No one else is going to tell you "OHH this is what you really like, and Phoenix does it better for you!!!" You're the only one who knows what you like about your web browsers. Download it, give it a whirl. Personally, I download all major browsers available for linux, and then choose the one that appeals to my tastes. Remember, this is only version 0.6; it's a very young project, so there will probably be a lot of adjustments in the future.
BTW I tried opera, and I really liked it, but under linux for some reason it's incredibly slow, compared to Konqueror and Mozilla (Loading time of the application and viewing of webpages). I used version 6 for a while, then tried 7; I still find myself going back to galeon and/or konqueror. Firebird is fast, the UI is great.
I like the idea for rentals, I hate having to return stuff to the video store. I have doubts whether people will actually "recycle" the used-up dvds though. Personally, I do recycle, but I wonder if other people who don't like recycling will simply toss 'em, and then we'll have a massive trash problem on our hands...
The solution is scavenger robots, that search for used-up dvds =)
"Hey give that back! I was using that as a coaster! GNggghhhh!!"
Re:I don't understand why /. opposes this
on
Databases and Privacy
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
The whole POINT of marketing is to make people think they want something, when in fact they never wanted it before the marketing got to them. I don't want incessant ads that companies think I "want" to see; the only thing I want is to be left alone, and not be "persuaded" to buy useless junk that will just sit in a corner and collect dust.
You know, I think people need to get off this idea of "Oooh it's better for the environment!" I think it would be nice to not inhale smog, but "environment" is one of those keywords that are automatically blocked from the consciousness of rightwingers. We should start saying other things, like "No more 3 hour traffic jams!" and "Save lots of money because you don't have to buy gas or pay more for your car than you do food for your house!" Something like that. Something that isn't already associated with some phrase that has been turned into derogatory mish-mash by the political machines (Both sides are guilty of this! Not just republicans).
How a "handful of idealogues" are going to control the internet? Sure, there will always be stuff like CNN.com etc., which I just look at for giggles, but there will be other sources of information (Salon, counterpunch, etc. yes even slashdot =P)... always. The internet is such that a person can put up material if they want to. Granted, it'll probably get harder and harder to find, but it'll still exist. It's much easier to get your stuff out on the internet than on television or print, and I don't see why people will stop using it.
And, the register included a bit about spam in emails in that story. I still don't get it. Why are people so upset about spam? Maybe I"m sheltered, but I don't have any problems with spam; I get maybe one a week, but I quickly add that domain to my block list on the server. Are they talking about AOL people?
AOL is kind of like a crutch for people. It allows them to use the internet without actually really knowing what they're doing. If AOL never existed, I wonder if we would still have the problem of spam that we have now?
Of course there's also hotmail...I don't know what to say about that, I've never wanted to use Hotmail after it crashed my friend's browsers repeatedly because of the amount of spam in their inbox...
Gosh, that doesn't sound like a software problem to me... That sounds like a hardware problem. Little white bars across the bottom? Hmm. I remember these old PIII's at school, when they would overheat there would be green bars across the screen. Maybe you should do some tests on the Power supply (I would look at the connectors to the motherboard, I know that I had a problem when one of the connectors somehow burnt out, I think it was a crappy PS) The power supply is the often overlooked culprit of many problems. I remember I would get constant Bluescreens in windows 98, and it turned out my power supply was defunct, although that was back in...'97? or '98. Anyways. Just from my experience. If you didn't put the computer together yourself, see if you can get a techy to look at the hardware if it's still under warranty.
Hmm, I wouldn't make the leap to say that Doom caused massive massacres at schools, but I would agree that Carmack's obsession with video games doesn't exactly help society. I would suggest, however, that the videogames used by the US Military to "train" soldiers probably were very much influenced by Carmack's video game development. Now, I'll leave it up to you whether or not that is a good thing (desensitizing people to violence, that is...)
I think that this obsession with violent videogames is just a part of the larger psyche in humanity; there is that dark side that just keeps on butting it's head in. The computer gives a very large degree of expression, and violence seems to be natural for the computer. I'll let you decide all the psychological reasons behind the expression that forms through the media of the computer.
Gosh, that's very interesting. So people will take Microsoft seriously if Microsoft says "Ooh look, linux infringes on intellectual copyright laws!" if it's not true? SCO/Caldera hasn't given the code that violates the IP, and besides, their argument is frankly hot air.
IBM was not the reason Linux is a good OS; IBM did not start supporting linux until very recently. SCO/Caldera needs to get a grip and stop being slanderous (or is it the other word, libel? Can't remember which).
It just seems to me that SCO/Caldera is hoping people won't read the history of the Linux/Open source world.
Why do they insist on leaving Bilbo's early times out of all this? Personally I liked the environment that was set-up during "The Hobbit" more than the one during the lord of the rings series. Heck, it'd probably be better if it was even before Bilbo, before that silly ring started popping up everywhere.
A big unifying conflict can be good...and bad. Part of the attraction of a MMORPG is that it never ends...Or at least lasts a long time. If they start right before war breaks out with Sauron, the game won't last that long...
Dang, the server's already slashdotted..damn browser crashed when I tried to go to amazon while downloading. Hmm... Maybe amazon doesn't want me to play games o_O
How can the materials keep up with this? A new form of storage will have to be invented if we're going to be able to store 10 terabytes in the same size as 100gig hds store now...Don't we run into problems with limitations of the medium?
I want holographic storage...mmmmm.... Holgraphic pr0n!! Allrighhhttt!!!
What the...What does this mean? Secure data will have different looking windows? Shouldn't they be concentrating on other things, such as actual security vulnerabilities? Seems like they're trying to say "look we're paying attention to security!" without actually doing anything that is effective...
All I know is, I'm not buying Longhorn; I don't need MS holding my hand wherever I go. This seems like just another "feature" where something can go wrong...
I'm sorry, but I don't understand why you say Michael is attacking Microsoft... can you kindly say how he is bashing Microsoft? Seems to me like the stories exist, and he didn't say "MICROSOFT SUX0RS!!!11" That would have been childish...
Until something better comes out? Why would they need to get anything better? IMO Windows 2000 is perfectly stable enough for commercial apps. There's no need for them to change to another OS; windows 2000 gives 'em everything they need. Stability and features. The only reason they would upgrade is if they were "Forced to", if microsoft stopped supporting win2k completely (hopefully a long way off).
If it ain't broke, why fix it? Especially when the fix may introduce other problems..
Xbox? That previous story was right. Xbox was just an experiment in Microsoft propietary systems. Now they are making the aggressive move. Well, we'll see if people like not having choices. My major problem with this is: Why should people upgrade to 2ghz propietary machine if they just want to use the internet/word process. Heck, people are STILL ok just using a 700mhz machine. 700mhz is perfectly adequate (I still have one in my living room, word processing, internet, even the sims!) I'd be really surprised if people were willing to part with their cash for 1.5 second speed increase when they open internet explorer...
I imagine it's because Apple users like Apple. Windows users kind of have an ambivalence towards microsoft. We all have our separate reasons, but personally I dislike Microsoft's products (Eghhhh, Windows Media player is horrible! I can't stand the interface). Apple also has this attitude that's different than microsoft. Apple doesn't give the impression it's out to screw it's users (by making them pay 200$ every two years for a new operating system). Apple may charge for new OS, I'm not sure, I've never used it. But Apple doesn't give off the impression that their whole point is to screw the users.
I think you touch on an interesting aspect. All this wouldn't be a problem, if we could all live like hobos. Why can't we live with no money on some abandoned shack, coding away?
I don't think that was a joke. But it sounds kinda funny now that I read it... Hmm. Anyway, people in America used to be able to choose if they wanted to live the high-roller life, or to live simply. (it used to be much easier to live on very little). Now we don't have a choice, if you don't try to gain the high-roller life, you're in the gutter. Most Americans are one months paycheck away from homelessness. No matter how you look at it, that's no way to live a life.
I don't think spam is this bad? They keep on saying "Oooooohhhh spammm is going to destroooy teh interneneeeett ahhhhh." The only thing spam will destroy is the service providers who produce/receive it. AOL, MSN, i.e. big name providers are targeted because they have so many users. (Of course, news sites that are OWNED by AOL also are the ones running these stories...) So, they go down, or become so infested as to become unusable. People who use their services have to find another provider, or stop using the internet, or set up their own email server, or get an email with that local linux server guy in the neighborhood. I think they'd choose to find another provider (and maybe learn that the internet isn't AOL!)
However, all this aside, I still think the best immediate solution is a serverside "white list." Firewalls for spam. Mmm, Broiled Spam.
Slashdot Mirror
Seems like this is good for reducing counterfits, but also could put a lot of burden on the person using the bills...
They did say it would be possible to track where a bill has been. So I could know if the person who gave me this bill had gone to that adult video store eh?... Privacy could be an issue as well.
That's a good analogy. However, in the case of closed source, how does one go about analyzing the closed source code to see if it is in violation of the law? By it's very nature, closed source prevents outside scrutiny. I mean, who has gone through Microsoft's code and ensured they don't have code that belongs to someone else, to whom they have not given credit? Unless you have a suspicion that copying of code has taken place, there's really no way to determine this (as far as I know! I'm just an idiot after all.) This is kind of interesting; this seems like there is a certain amount of discrimination against open source vs. closed source.
However, this language seems to be presenting a danger; it may be a good idea to reduce complexity, but inventing new languages to do it may or may not be the best way to do it. Can you imagine inventing a new language every time you run into something that seems simple but is actually complicated?
Perhaps I'm wrong, and F# solves all our problems, but I have large doubts when Microsoft (especially Microsoft) starts touting a new language as making things "simpler." I'll definately give the language a try when it is released though.
I'd like to see a few flat languages, especially E flat...
Anyway, I think it's too late for this. The only way Microsoft has dominance if it is the only option. I'm sorry, but it doesn't appear that F# is the only option that works for enterprise solutions at the moment.
Oh, and if they are right, the big linux guys can just yank out the "infringing" code, and have a patch for people to download that will patch the kernel/whatever is infringing. Of course, this might create some problems... But in the long run, it wouldn't be too difficult to fix up. However, I highly doubt their story is true. I have a tendency to disbelieve people who get their background facts wrong about something they supposedly know a lot about.
Why are they pointing this out now anyway? The source code has been freely available for... Well, since linux was started! Very odd if you ask me. Also, is this code in all linux versions, or did it start being used in certain later versions? We can only find out when (if) the case goes to court.
I could only see them winning if SCO went after some poor linux vendor who can't defend themselves.
I haven't played counter-strike, but it seems like the same types of people are at it again... I don't know, they always barge in and ruin perfectly innocent games. Cheating really does take out all the fun in multiplayer and even singleplayer videogames. That's why, you play with who you trust!
The only way to do THAT is to make friends...and know them well. A third party isn't going to be able to determine if someone will be a good friend for you or not.
My problem is I could never find anyone who was as obsessed as I was with videogames (Descent II was fun over modem, I got to kick my friend's ass all the time =P)
BTW I tried opera, and I really liked it, but under linux for some reason it's incredibly slow, compared to Konqueror and Mozilla (Loading time of the application and viewing of webpages). I used version 6 for a while, then tried 7; I still find myself going back to galeon and/or konqueror. Firebird is fast, the UI is great.
The solution is scavenger robots, that search for used-up dvds =)
"Hey give that back! I was using that as a coaster! GNggghhhh!!"
The whole POINT of marketing is to make people think they want something, when in fact they never wanted it before the marketing got to them. I don't want incessant ads that companies think I "want" to see; the only thing I want is to be left alone, and not be "persuaded" to buy useless junk that will just sit in a corner and collect dust.
You know, I think people need to get off this idea of "Oooh it's better for the environment!" I think it would be nice to not inhale smog, but "environment" is one of those keywords that are automatically blocked from the consciousness of rightwingers. We should start saying other things, like "No more 3 hour traffic jams!" and "Save lots of money because you don't have to buy gas or pay more for your car than you do food for your house!" Something like that. Something that isn't already associated with some phrase that has been turned into derogatory mish-mash by the political machines (Both sides are guilty of this! Not just republicans).
And, the register included a bit about spam in emails in that story. I still don't get it. Why are people so upset about spam? Maybe I"m sheltered, but I don't have any problems with spam; I get maybe one a week, but I quickly add that domain to my block list on the server. Are they talking about AOL people?
AOL is kind of like a crutch for people. It allows them to use the internet without actually really knowing what they're doing. If AOL never existed, I wonder if we would still have the problem of spam that we have now?
Of course there's also hotmail...I don't know what to say about that, I've never wanted to use Hotmail after it crashed my friend's browsers repeatedly because of the amount of spam in their inbox...
Government Superior #1: "Were you able to trace it?"
Government Worker #1: "No, it's coming from all over the place, sir! We can't stop it!"
Government Superior #1: "Hmm... Perhaps... No, it can't be.. Not the dreaded SlashDotting..."
*RED ALERT*
Gosh, that doesn't sound like a software problem to me... That sounds like a hardware problem. Little white bars across the bottom? Hmm. I remember these old PIII's at school, when they would overheat there would be green bars across the screen. Maybe you should do some tests on the Power supply (I would look at the connectors to the motherboard, I know that I had a problem when one of the connectors somehow burnt out, I think it was a crappy PS) The power supply is the often overlooked culprit of many problems. I remember I would get constant Bluescreens in windows 98, and it turned out my power supply was defunct, although that was back in ...'97? or '98. Anyways. Just from my experience. If you didn't put the computer together yourself, see if you can get a techy to look at the hardware if it's still under warranty.
I think that this obsession with violent videogames is just a part of the larger psyche in humanity; there is that dark side that just keeps on butting it's head in. The computer gives a very large degree of expression, and violence seems to be natural for the computer. I'll let you decide all the psychological reasons behind the expression that forms through the media of the computer.
IBM was not the reason Linux is a good OS; IBM did not start supporting linux until very recently. SCO/Caldera needs to get a grip and stop being slanderous (or is it the other word, libel? Can't remember which).
It just seems to me that SCO/Caldera is hoping people won't read the history of the Linux/Open source world.
A big unifying conflict can be good...and bad. Part of the attraction of a MMORPG is that it never ends...Or at least lasts a long time. If they start right before war breaks out with Sauron, the game won't last that long...
Dang, the server's already slashdotted..damn browser crashed when I tried to go to amazon while downloading. Hmm... Maybe amazon doesn't want me to play games o_O
I want holographic storage...mmmmm.... Holgraphic pr0n!! Allrighhhttt!!!
All I know is, I'm not buying Longhorn; I don't need MS holding my hand wherever I go. This seems like just another "feature" where something can go wrong...
I'm sorry, but I don't understand why you say Michael is attacking Microsoft... can you kindly say how he is bashing Microsoft? Seems to me like the stories exist, and he didn't say "MICROSOFT SUX0RS!!!11" That would have been childish...
If it ain't broke, why fix it? Especially when the fix may introduce other problems..
Xbox? That previous story was right. Xbox was just an experiment in Microsoft propietary systems. Now they are making the aggressive move. Well, we'll see if people like not having choices. My major problem with this is: Why should people upgrade to 2ghz propietary machine if they just want to use the internet/word process. Heck, people are STILL ok just using a 700mhz machine. 700mhz is perfectly adequate (I still have one in my living room, word processing, internet, even the sims!) I'd be really surprised if people were willing to part with their cash for 1.5 second speed increase when they open internet explorer...
I imagine it's because Apple users like Apple. Windows users kind of have an ambivalence towards microsoft. We all have our separate reasons, but personally I dislike Microsoft's products (Eghhhh, Windows Media player is horrible! I can't stand the interface). Apple also has this attitude that's different than microsoft. Apple doesn't give the impression it's out to screw it's users (by making them pay 200$ every two years for a new operating system). Apple may charge for new OS, I'm not sure, I've never used it. But Apple doesn't give off the impression that their whole point is to screw the users.
I don't think that was a joke. But it sounds kinda funny now that I read it ... Hmm. Anyway, people in America used to be able to choose if they wanted to live the high-roller life, or to live simply. (it used to be much easier to live on very little). Now we don't have a choice, if you don't try to gain the high-roller life, you're in the gutter. Most Americans are one months paycheck away from homelessness. No matter how you look at it, that's no way to live a life.
However, all this aside, I still think the best immediate solution is a serverside "white list." Firewalls for spam. Mmm, Broiled Spam.