Just one note: it is illegal for most organizations to require you to provide your SSN. There are only a few situations in which you can actually be required to provide it. Requested, yes, but if a site denies you services because you do not provide your SSN, they can get legally screwed. ---
And you, sir, are a flamer. What's the use of posting a flame at +2? Do you really think your flame needs that extra point? Do you really think your flame will change anything, other than lowering my opinion of you?
You know, this might be possible. A system that allows for a programmable magnetic strip would allow you to easily carry multiple credit cards in one card, or multiple cards (library card, if it's magnetic and not barcode like mine, security card, and so forth). Bring on the smart cards! ---
Okay, so if the Palm gets smaller it's not infringing as it's not modular. What about the Visor? While not truly modular IMO, it does support the Springboard expansion modules. If that were to become, say, half as thin, then it'd be quite close to the thickness of a few stacked credit cards. And, of course, it's all modular software-wise. Of course, this is all academic as we don't know the actual wording of the patent. It sounds interesting enough to go actually look at though. ---
There are two studies; the older one shows a long-term correlation between violence and violent video games. This new one shows that playing violent video games has a short term causatory effect on violence. There has not been any demonstration of long-term causation.
It's also important to remember that the violence in this study is removed; it is not direct, there is no one harming anyone else physically.
People should get used to editing plain text; it's the basic skill of running Unix systems, and a damn good thing to standardize on. Text editors have been tuned for a long time, and they can be used very efficiently with a little practice - much more so than a configuration GUI.
And after all, the text editors are "good enough", so we shouldn't even try to create anything better, right? ---
Seriously. My mom is using them for her pottery. See, you put the piece onto the CD, and then when you want to move it, you have a platter! Very useful indeed, since it means you don't have to let the piece dry (somewhat) on the wheel or attempt not to deform it moving it. There are commercial things that do the same, but they cost money; AOL CDs, on the other hand, do not. ---
Everyone keeps saying "I hope he gives it to....". He's not choosing the charity, folks! The winner of the auction is, according to the eBay description: The bank opens the bidding at $500. If nobody raises it, I'll donate the $500, plus another $500 (for a total of $1000), to Nashville's Table. Otherwise, the proceeds go to the highest bidder's charity of choice. Given that the bidding is at $5000 as of this posting... ---
"computer (and internet access) in every classroom" is a bunch of shit that politicians use to get elected, but that never happen.
Exactly. I don't call access to Netscape (all that is given at my school) "internet access". And oh joy, on a different computer I can use ClarisWorks. Wow. They just don't seem to get that computers can run more than one program. As if anyone will learn something about computers from that. You'd learn more taking the Music Theory course. ---
A lot of people when given the oppurtunity to act as responisible adults do so, but unfortunately, just as many choose not to. Look at the number of people who drink and drive. They have the opportunity to act responsibly, and choose not to. Look at the kids from Columbine. They had a lot of freedom (as witnessed by the fact their parents didn't know what was going on). They chose everything but to act responsibly. We should treat kids above their age, but within reason. Giving them free reign to explore everything on the seedier side of the Internet is NOT within reason.
There's a huge difference between reading about making bombs and actually making them. By reading violent material, am I harming anyone? Some might argue that I am harming myself, and might extend that to say that I am indirectly harming others, but getting a high grade on a scaled test indirectly harms others as well.
So your argument falls flat. I personally see no problems with people seeing whatever they want to see, and I think that the misdirection 'problem' is not a real problem, given the location of most of said misdirecting links (most of them are on pages that are read only by those who don't care about the content of the misdirection, only about the misdirection itself). ---
While many of the codecs supported by xanim are not free (in both senses... still don't understand that analogy), I'm sure there are some in there. It's a good list of codecs to start from if you want to check all of them. I was unable to find a page with a list of free/non-free video codecs in the 10 minutes I spent on it.
Does anyone know what codecs could possibly be used for this? ---
If I remember correctly, the ICANN guidelines etc. state that a registrar must have the ability to revoke a domain at any time for any reason. I know that NSI does this. They might also reserve the right to revoke it themselves. ---
I find that it's not just fems who don't respond well to aggressive criticism, it's most people. Or so it has been in my experience. Being an ENTP myself, I come across this alot. Sometimes it makes me friends, more often it makes me enemies (like my english class).
I don't understand why people refuse to justify their arguments. "It's just an opinion, I don't need to back it up." Hell yes you do, if you want me to care about it. At least when it comes to things like interpretations of books and such; I'm not going to say that someone needs to back up "I liked such-and-such-a-movie." ---
I mean, think of it, how many female geek heroes do you have?
I have no geek heroes, period. Or heroes at all, for that matter. I've never seen the need for them.
I think people use them to have something to look at, to say "One day, I'll be like that," in some way or another. But I look at life and say "One day, I'll be able to do such-and-such" or "Cool, I can do this now!"
I don't know how true this is for others, though.
I'm male, by the way (in case it matters to your interpretation of this post). ---
The sexists the poster was referring to were the rabid feminazis that were apparently quoted in the article (I haven't read it... but then again, I don't need to to respond to a post that isn't about the article, now do I. Given the content of most posts...) ---
Where are you getting those statistics from? I'd be interested in seeing an actual study; I've seen the figures quoted all over the place but never have I seen a demonstration. ---
The Boston Globe also reported on this (in the dead tree version), on page 7 of the Business section. They spelled l0pht wrong; "Lopht" was their rendering. ---
Many people tout open sourcing as the ultimate cure to all security woes. And yet, as we know, open source products still have security problems, perhaps as many as closed source products. Sure, sure, there are some very secure, very well tested open-source programs, but I'm sure the same applies to closed source.
Just open-sourcing something will not make it inherently more secure. I don't know how many people would actually be interested in working with this code, but I'd be willing to bet it's a lot less than those who want to work on, say, GNOME, or ProFTPd. After all, more people want to use those programs.
Yes, this has been said before, but it needed to be said again. ---
From the article: OS X will be completely open source, like the popular Linux operating system, with Quartz, Open GL and QuickTime all built in.
If this is true, that means that we finally get QuickTime for Unixen! Which includes Linux, my personal O/S of choice. So I really really hope that it's true.
Even if it's not open, if Apple has a Quicktime that runs on a Unix architecture (OS X), then there is little reason for them not to port it to Linux, BSD, Solaris, whatever. I know I want it.
I don't think I'd go for it if it cost money, though. Maybe if it was only 5 bucks. But since it's free for every other O/Sen thus far, I would feel like Apple was trying to gouge me since, in theory, I have no alternative. No thanks, I'll just use the Windows box in the other room.
What do you think? Is there a good reason for Apple not to port it, given that it's easy? ---
Folks, a tech making fun of someone learning how to operate a computer is like a school teacher making fun of a child learning how to read.
Okay, fine. But the people UF is making fun of are not trying. Same goes for any other tech support strip, or even any other tech support joke.
Someone calls me up (worked tech supp for a while) and tells me that we broke their computer. Tells me constantly that they didn't change anything. Turns out that they'd written their email address in the address field in windows TCP/IP setup. They just aren't trying.
Now, if someone calls me up with a real problem; say their modem driver is kinda screwy so they need an init string, or maybe the line they're calling is down; that I don't laugh at. That's just not funny. Laughing at them because they don't know the init string, or how to find the init string, or even that they need one, just doesn't make any sense. ---
Re:Why we need desktop ENVIRONMENTS
on
The ROX Desktop
·
· Score: 1
DnD should be centralised in what should be termed the UI manager -- i.e. a WM with extra bits bolted on.
Why does it have to be a WM? One protocol for DnD between the app that controls the root window (the desktop), the file manager, any dock/start menu or equivalent. Seperate programs for each. If I want a desktop, then I run that program. If I want a start menu (ala windows, not as in X), I run that program (possibly embedded in a taskbar program). ---
One example of the lack of knowlege on techies' parts is the recent furor over the "censorship" in Australia.
I recently read the code, and no where does it state that people will be unwillingly censored. It says that ISPs must provide a method for people to get filtered 'net access, whether by providing software (at a fee or not, up to the ISP) or through seperate dial-ups and server-side filtering. It also says that ISP accounts can't be sold to those under 18, a questionable proposition, but I can't say whether or not it makes sense without knowing more about Australia's laws with respect to minors and such things as contracts and payments.
I would be unsurprised if other such 'incidents' were the same thing: paranoia and, dare I say it, hype. ---
Why do we need Desktop Environments (DEs)? In their current form, at least, they are mostly useless. I don't want desktop icons; the dock is much better. And, with KDE at least, there's no way to turn off said desktop icons, which only clutter my desktop. So if I want to use, say, kfm, I can't, not without running the rest of KDE, memory and CPU time I'd rather not spend.
I can see some use for them in the drag-n-drop functions and interprogram communication and integration (a la CORBA). But why oh why must this come with a desktop?
I, for one, would love to see a desktopless DE, if you get my meaning. Everything but the desktop, and the taskbar. Pure functionality. Pure libraries, really.
This way, the DE doesn't become too homogenous, as with GNOME and KDE, where for many things, there is only one program, since that is the one developed by the GNOME/KDE team.
I fear I have little time for such projects myself right now, but it's an idea for those with more time, and more skill, than I. ---
Slashdot Mirror
Just one note: it is illegal for most organizations to require you to provide your SSN. There are only a few situations in which you can actually be required to provide it. Requested, yes, but if a site denies you services because you do not provide your SSN, they can get legally screwed.
---
And you, sir, are a flamer. What's the use of posting a flame at +2? Do you really think your flame needs that extra
point? Do you really think your flame will change anything, other than lowering my opinion of you?
---
You know, this might be possible. A system that allows for a programmable magnetic strip would allow you to easily carry multiple credit cards in one card, or multiple cards (library card, if it's magnetic and not barcode like mine, security card, and so forth). Bring on the smart cards!
---
Okay, so if the Palm gets smaller it's not infringing as it's not modular. What about the Visor? While not truly modular IMO, it does support the Springboard expansion modules. If that were to become, say, half as thin, then it'd be quite close to the thickness of a few stacked credit cards. And, of course, it's all modular software-wise. Of course, this is all academic as we don't know the actual wording of the patent. It sounds interesting enough to go actually look at though.
---
There are two studies; the older one shows a long-term correlation between violence and violent video games. This new one shows that playing violent video games has a short term causatory effect on violence. There has not been any demonstration of long-term causation.
It's also important to remember that the violence in this study is removed; it is not direct, there is no one harming anyone else physically.
---
People should get used to editing plain text; it's the basic skill of running Unix systems, and a damn good thing to standardize on. Text editors have been tuned for a long time, and they can be used very efficiently with a little practice - much more so than a configuration GUI.
And after all, the text editors are "good enough", so we shouldn't even try to create anything better, right?
---
Pottery.
Seriously. My mom is using them for her pottery. See, you put the piece onto the CD, and then when you want to move it, you have a platter! Very useful indeed, since it means you don't have to let the piece dry (somewhat) on the wheel or attempt not to deform it moving it. There are commercial things that do the same, but they cost money; AOL CDs, on the other hand, do not.
---
Everyone keeps saying "I hope he gives it to ....". He's not choosing the charity, folks! The winner of the auction is, according to the eBay description: The bank opens the bidding at $500. If nobody raises it, I'll donate the $500, plus another $500 (for a total of $1000), to Nashville's Table. Otherwise, the proceeds go to the highest bidder's charity of choice. Given that the bidding is at $5000 as of this posting...
---
What if Win2K is good? What if it works? What if it's the greatest thing since sliced silicon?
It still won't be free.
---
"computer (and internet access) in every classroom" is a bunch of shit that politicians use to get elected, but that never happen.
Exactly. I don't call access to Netscape (all that is given at my school) "internet access". And oh joy, on a different computer I can use ClarisWorks. Wow. They just don't seem to get that computers can run more than one program. As if anyone will learn something about computers from that. You'd learn more taking the Music Theory course.
---
A lot of people when given the oppurtunity to act as responisible adults do so, but unfortunately, just as many choose not to. Look at the number of people who drink and drive. They have the opportunity to act responsibly, and choose not to. Look at the kids from Columbine. They had a lot of freedom (as witnessed by the fact their parents didn't know what was going on). They chose everything but to act responsibly. We should treat kids above their age, but within reason. Giving them free reign to explore everything on the seedier side of the Internet is NOT within reason.
There's a huge difference between reading about making bombs and actually making them. By reading violent material, am I harming anyone? Some might argue that I am harming myself, and might extend that to say that I am indirectly harming others, but getting a high grade on a scaled test indirectly harms others as well.
So your argument falls flat. I personally see no problems with people seeing whatever they want to see, and I think that the misdirection 'problem' is not a real problem, given the location of most of said misdirecting links (most of them are on pages that are read only by those who don't care about the content of the misdirection, only about the misdirection itself).
---
While many of the codecs supported by xanim are not free (in both senses... still don't understand that analogy), I'm sure there are some in there. It's a good list of codecs to start from if you want to check all of them. I was unable to find a page with a list of free/non-free video codecs in the 10 minutes I spent on it.
Does anyone know what codecs could possibly be used for this?
---
If I remember correctly, the ICANN guidelines etc. state that a registrar must have the ability to revoke a domain at any time for any reason. I know that NSI does this. They might also reserve the right to revoke it themselves.
---
I find that it's not just fems who don't respond well to aggressive criticism, it's most people. Or so it has been in my experience. Being an ENTP myself, I come across this alot. Sometimes it makes me friends, more often it makes me enemies (like my english class).
I don't understand why people refuse to justify their arguments. "It's just an opinion, I don't need to back it up." Hell yes you do, if you want me to care about it. At least when it comes to things like interpretations of books and such; I'm not going to say that someone needs to back up "I liked such-and-such-a-movie."
---
I mean, think of it, how many female geek heroes do you have?
I have no geek heroes, period. Or heroes at all, for that matter. I've never seen the need for them.
I think people use them to have something to look at, to say "One day, I'll be like that," in some way or another. But I look at life and say "One day, I'll be able to do such-and-such" or "Cool, I can do this now!"
I don't know how true this is for others, though.
I'm male, by the way (in case it matters to your interpretation of this post).
---
"I hate sexist people."
The sexists the poster was referring to were the rabid feminazis that were apparently quoted in the article (I haven't read it... but then again, I don't need to to respond to a post that isn't about the article, now do I. Given the content of most posts...)
---
Where are you getting those statistics from? I'd be interested in seeing an actual study; I've seen the figures quoted all over the place but never have I seen a demonstration.
---
There's no government like no government.
The problem with anarchy is that structure will quickly spring up. Tyrants appear. So it won't be anarchy for long.
How can anarchy be maintained? I can't answer that one. Wish I could.
---
The Boston Globe also reported on this (in the dead tree version), on page 7 of the Business section. They spelled l0pht wrong; "Lopht" was their rendering.
---
Many people tout open sourcing as the ultimate cure to all security woes. And yet, as we know, open source products still have security problems, perhaps as many as closed source products. Sure, sure, there are some very secure, very well tested open-source programs, but I'm sure the same applies to closed source.
Just open-sourcing something will not make it inherently more secure. I don't know how many people would actually be interested in working with this code, but I'd be willing to bet it's a lot less than those who want to work on, say, GNOME, or ProFTPd. After all, more people want to use those programs.
Yes, this has been said before, but it needed to be said again.
---
From the article: OS X will be completely open source, like the popular Linux operating system, with Quartz, Open GL and QuickTime all built in.
If this is true, that means that we finally get QuickTime for Unixen! Which includes Linux, my personal O/S of choice. So I really really hope that it's true.
Even if it's not open, if Apple has a Quicktime that runs on a Unix architecture (OS X), then there is little reason for them not to port it to Linux, BSD, Solaris, whatever. I know I want it.
I don't think I'd go for it if it cost money, though. Maybe if it was only 5 bucks. But since it's free for every other O/Sen thus far, I would feel like Apple was trying to gouge me since, in theory, I have no alternative. No thanks, I'll just use the Windows box in the other room.
What do you think? Is there a good reason for Apple not to port it, given that it's easy?
---
Folks, a tech making fun of someone learning how to operate a computer is like a school teacher making fun of a child learning how to read.
Okay, fine. But the people UF is making fun of are not trying. Same goes for any other tech support strip, or even any other tech support joke.
Someone calls me up (worked tech supp for a while) and tells me that we broke their computer. Tells me constantly that they didn't change anything. Turns out that they'd written their email address in the address field in windows TCP/IP setup. They just aren't trying.
Now, if someone calls me up with a real problem; say their modem driver is kinda screwy so they need an init string, or maybe the line they're calling is down; that I don't laugh at. That's just not funny. Laughing at them because they don't know the init string, or how to find the init string, or even that they need one, just doesn't make any sense.
---
DnD should be centralised in what should be termed the UI manager -- i.e. a WM with extra bits bolted on.
Why does it have to be a WM? One protocol for DnD between the app that controls the root window (the desktop), the file manager, any dock/start menu or equivalent. Seperate programs for each. If I want a desktop, then I run that program. If I want a start menu (ala windows, not as in X), I run that program (possibly embedded in a taskbar program).
---
One example of the lack of knowlege on techies' parts is the recent furor over the "censorship" in Australia.
I recently read the code, and no where does it state that people will be unwillingly censored. It says that ISPs must provide a method for people to get filtered 'net access, whether by providing software (at a fee or not, up to the ISP) or through seperate dial-ups and server-side filtering. It also says that ISP accounts can't be sold to those under 18, a questionable proposition, but I can't say whether or not it makes sense without knowing more about Australia's laws with respect to minors and such things as contracts and payments.
I would be unsurprised if other such 'incidents' were the same thing: paranoia and, dare I say it, hype.
---
I don't get it.
Why do we need Desktop Environments (DEs)? In their current form, at least, they are mostly useless. I don't want desktop icons; the dock is much better. And, with KDE at least, there's no way to turn off said desktop icons, which only clutter my desktop. So if I want to use, say, kfm, I can't, not without running the rest of KDE, memory and CPU time I'd rather not spend.
I can see some use for them in the drag-n-drop functions and interprogram communication and integration (a la CORBA). But why oh why must this come with a desktop?
I, for one, would love to see a desktopless DE, if you get my meaning. Everything but the desktop, and the taskbar. Pure functionality. Pure libraries, really.
This way, the DE doesn't become too homogenous, as with GNOME and KDE, where for many things, there is only one program, since that is the one developed by the GNOME/KDE team.
I fear I have little time for such projects myself right now, but it's an idea for those with more time, and more skill, than I.
---