This has always been a problem with MSFT. They are usually several weeks or months behind on security bugs. I guess their new Security push is bringing it down to 1 week - or there abouts...
What gets me is they're using a natoriously insecure OS, with clear text values in the database... Thats just asking for more trouble than you can get in.
im sure glad that youve cleared that up for me here in the us we have similar problems heck you can walk down the rode and meat peps that think they tha sh*t an aks you what up
Seriously though, educational standards have gone down around the globe. Quality of services and products have gone down too. Now, for the sake of arguement, things have gotten (much) better around the globe too.
You obviously haven't ever worked for the government.
Its not just government either - some companies don't let their users use thumb drives because of IP theft issues.
While I work for part of the government that currently doesn't care about my cell phone, I've been applying to various parts that do care (Computer shtuff) - my current phone has a camera on it and if I get one job or another, I'll have to get a second phone (no camera) and change my card out daily. Heck, my father-in-law can't carry around a phone with a camera due to gov contracts...
BTW - its soooo much easier here in Europe than it is in the US when it comes to cell phones. I tried to get a cell phone for my sister for Xmas and found that I would have to enter into a contract with any number of companies that serviced the area she lives in. Even the "prepaid" phones like Virgin had this issue. Here in the EU, I would have been able to buy a prepaid phone and send along a damn prepaid card with it. After that ran out, she would have been able to choose from any number of prepaid cards to use.
I think what they're doing is logging the IP's into a datbase instead of rummaging through the Apache logs (or whatever they're using - I can't hit it from a Gov Network...) but I do agree that its pretty stupid - they're trying to scare the dumb people of the earth - wait, thats most of them...
You joke, but oddly enough, I use to create the filter rules for a major ISP's Support and Service system... Ah heck - look at my history - it was Earthlink.
Anywho - I agree. With the newer stuff, especially from a company known to just throw anything out there, these things will always happen. My wife just recently decided she wanted an original NES. The thing just works. The Super Mario game works, my two Zelda games work - all these years later. I'd would LOVE to see the xbox in as many years with used games still working as they should.
Quote from MSFT: "We have received a few isolated reports of consoles not working as expected. The call rate is well below what you'd expect for a consumer electronics product of this complexity."
I barely call that acknowledging the problem. In the support world, thats admitting they've had calls, but not enough to merrit an investigation on the units. If everyone where calling in, they'd openly admit they've had a lot of complaints about it and where doing an investigation on the issue.
To me, buying a new gaming system right when it comes out is like buying new software on the v1 release date. Its going to have a few problems, so wait a little bit for them to be ironed out.
Ours had faces printed on them as well. Security got upset with us because we would peel the "face" side off and stick it to something or another badge. All you need is the wire antenna and chip inside. Amazing what can open the door when you do something like that.
We got caught when security found one guy opening the door with his coffee mug too many times. He had glued the stuff to the buttom of the cup and just carried it around all day like the manager on office space.
I hate to reply to this because it looks like a troll, but oh well.
If you like Postgress so well, why don't you add the functionality into Wordpress? I personally don't see the need for the arguement of PostgreSQL vs MySQL because I've honestly never threw anything at MySQL that it couldn't handle. Whats the old addage? If it isn't broke, don't fix it....
Now before everyone jumps on me, I realize that PostgreSQL can make my life much easier in some respects. But c'mon people - if you want it, code it yourself. I've hand coded functionality into Mambo & Wordpress. I've also fixed other peoples problems in both as well. Heck, one time (at band camp...) I hand coded a CMS - that wasn't fun at all, but I couldn't find something that would work the way I wanted.
Stop yelling at the masses that create something for free and do it yourself.
Well, there are 2 issues causing me to buy piece by piece...
1 - APO address. Its really a pain to get stuff shipped to me because half the idiots on the web selling things tend to think these are PO boxes or someone trying to get an international shipment for free. In fact, I saw a seller on eBay (in Ohio) that jacked APO shipping prices up $39.95 on top of his $25 fee - all that for a power supply. I'm sorry, but $25 is enough to cover your packaging and the 3 minutes it takes to fill out a customs form.
2 - My wife currently is upset about the amount of computers in the house as it is and thinks I have enough to build another computer as it is (nope). So, I'm slowely getting packages for a part here, 3 parts there, as I can afford it to slowley build one up. One day, the case will show up, we'll have a fight and all will be well after I rebuild the apartment after she blows up. (Kids, don't try this at home)
Yea, I can hear the CRT, the laptop power supplies and all that. Unfortunately, my wife just got me a 42 inch plasma for XMas and I can hear that too - just don't have the heart to tell her.
My wife would be able to hear it, but due to hearing damage from being a professional musician, thats not gonna happen.
My issue is, I'm building a new computer too (LONG overdue) and I'm faced with the same decisions. I've basically decided that its going to annoy me no matter what. I've also decided that since its going to cost me an arm and a leg to get it, I'm buying it in X pieces per month. The power supply isn't going to cost as much as the processor, but its still a decent amount. I'm making mine as quiet as I can, putting extra rubber washers in it, etc and hope that helps a little.
Unfortunately, he's technically correct. STARTING a business requires almost no skill. You fill out some forms (or pay someone to do it later), money changes hands and *poof*, you're a business owner. And, for some reason, everyonce in awhile an Ask Slashdot story has a group of these types thinking they can make it with the "advice" of thousands that would rather argue with each other.
Now - to get were you where going, with businesses that are up and running requiring no skill, I have to agree with you - wow... There are business owners that get into something good, but they quickly get noticed as being a bad place to deal with.
On a more personal note, I've forgotten what the story was about after scrolling through an entire page of comments based on the first post...
I'm curious how this system works out for the developers on their paycheck and during tax season though. If you have W4 employees and you're paying them large bonuses, the taxes must eat up the bonuses.
The way the system is setup and talked about though, I have a feeling there are no actual W4 employees, just contractors and outsourcers.
I agree that the checkboxes shouldn't be checked...
At the same time, I absolutely hate the websites that switch that option on whenever their TOS changes or when they feel like it.
Now, I've had friends that think they're important when they get email and after a year or so, they complain very loudly. The problem is, they cause the problems themselves because they check every box they can just to get email.
In my unprofessional experience, most of the "I DIDN'T KNOW!" lawsuits or big news stories concerning spam invovle a reseller program of some sort.
Now, another thing I'm seeing more recently are people getting updates from websites with maybe a few links for advertising (or requests) for advertising due to people forgetting to turn off the 'email me' feature on a website when they register. Thats technically an opt-in, but they still end up complaining and screaming SPAM!
The backroads in Oregon are the same way - often no center lane or outer markers. On the main roads, there are usually markers and reflectors on both sides.
Now, I'd really be interested to see these things in Europe where there are unmarked roads that go on for hours. There are even lanes in cities where they are unmarked, but are technically 2 lanes and the locals use them as such.
In the states, it varies by state and even then, sometimes by the metro location you're in. In some areas, the "inspection" is just merely a smog check. For instance, my home state does not require an inspection, but in certain metro areas, requires a smog check.
The US inspection system is a joke in most states. Its usually a 100 point inspection, they look at your wheels, windshield, brakes, etc and point out something that should be obvious. The inspections in Europe are much better. Heck, the military POV (personally owned vehicle) inspections that the American soldiers go through in Europe are even more of a joke. So much so that if an American buys a European car, when they clear the car from European Customs - Customs snips the registration to show it was owned by an American.
In Europe, I needed new tires for my car as I was down to the bars in the tires and I was running on the original breaks which needed to be replaced. For grins, I took it in and it passed without them even looking twice. Luckily everything was in the mail already on its way.
Gernally speaking, the younger ones follow directions much better and think things through. They aren't concerned if you're just getting a feel for their settings and having a look around. They don't care if you say that you need to rip and replace DUN.
I noticed a trend as I started to actually get off tier 1 and move up to Tier 3. The gamers these days (not only the kids) are idiots.
Now, I know I probably just pissed off a lot of you (I'm a gamer too), but they're the ones crying about their ping times when the times are fine, about the hop count, etc. That really irked me because, most of who I had to support, knew nothing of how the game/network/internet worked behind the scenes. They usually took someones advice on a forum somewhere, used this neat cool program called Ping and found out that they had 1 dropped packet somewhere. While doing email, I absolutely hated the automated "This user is experiencing network difficulty. See below for the information..." emails. It was the official policy at the ISP that I worked at to trash those things.
Ok, I'm starting to rant about something off topic. I'll shut up now.
Yup. They know their computers better than anyone else. Most of the time, they could guess where I was going to have them go and beat me there. In one case, the gentleman just told me where he should go - "Your TCP/IP properties" and bam - he was there in seconds. Absolutely amazing. No clicking around looking at things while you're talking, no arguing no nothing.
Of course, I learned the very hard way about how Jaws liked TCP/IP. That took an hour and a half of counting tabs and enters to fix that situation. Not only did it fix the problem he was having, but when his computer started talking again, that dude was so cool about it "Ok, you and I are going to go have a stiff drink now. Thanks for the help!"
I agree - if you're smart enough to look for the signs, you don't need the bar.
I humor these idiots once in awhile, if I'm sitting at the computer and watch a message come in (and I'm really bored). I'll hit their site, give false info and submit it.
One of the funniest things I've seen is one site that used an java popup image to put it over the default location of the IE toolbar. So when I cliked the link, part of my Firefox tabs where covered up (I'm in webdev, so I can't disable javascript). Laughed my butt off over that one.
Luckily my wife is still pissed off at paypal for screwing her over on a fraud issue and she refuses to visit their website for anything. Won't even touch eBay anymore - its great!
I agree. The only Thermal Paper I've seen have problems are the CC slips you get as receipts.
I also agree that the main thing you'll need to worry about is water damage rather than heat. Its more likely to be raining when the mail is delivered than some guy walking around in a sauna reading your evelope watching it overheat. With that said, I would stay away from inkjet printers as they tend to bleed when water hits the paper. Thats a bad thing when the postman is walking around in the rain and the office/house number is a blob...
As a for-instance, I received a letter from my grandmother last night (really...) and she had tested out her new printer. The zip code was a massive blob and someone at the post office (may have been a military postal worker since I'm an APO) wrote the zip on the envelope.
My wife doesn't read Slashdot, but she sure as hell knows when I'm on it - even from another room. Its like she's got detatchable eyes and she leaves them in the office or something - its crazy. I'll be reading and I'll hear "You've been on Slashdot for long enough!" from the living room... I don't get it.
Most of Europe is like this as well. The folks that are clueless will tell you its left over from the war. I get told a lot of times by some of my drunk friends that they should just save the money and take the ration marks off the glasses.
But anyway, if you're in Europe and buy a glass of something, there is always a measurement line on the glass so you know what you're getting.
Slashdot Mirror
This has always been a problem with MSFT. They are usually several weeks or months behind on security bugs. I guess their new Security push is bringing it down to 1 week - or there abouts...
What gets me is they're using a natoriously insecure OS, with clear text values in the database... Thats just asking for more trouble than you can get in.
im sure glad that youve cleared that up for me here in the us we have similar problems heck you can walk down the rode and meat peps that think they tha sh*t an aks you what up
Seriously though, educational standards have gone down around the globe. Quality of services and products have gone down too. Now, for the sake of arguement, things have gotten (much) better around the globe too.
Had to be the fact that I was purchasing over the web since I'm stationed in Germany.
Virgin wanted my info and CC so they could setup their system to alert me when the minutes got low and needed a quick recharge.
Others had contracts that I didn't agree with.
You obviously haven't ever worked for the government.
Its not just government either - some companies don't let their users use thumb drives because of IP theft issues.
While I work for part of the government that currently doesn't care about my cell phone, I've been applying to various parts that do care (Computer shtuff) - my current phone has a camera on it and if I get one job or another, I'll have to get a second phone (no camera) and change my card out daily. Heck, my father-in-law can't carry around a phone with a camera due to gov contracts...
BTW - its soooo much easier here in Europe than it is in the US when it comes to cell phones. I tried to get a cell phone for my sister for Xmas and found that I would have to enter into a contract with any number of companies that serviced the area she lives in. Even the "prepaid" phones like Virgin had this issue. Here in the EU, I would have been able to buy a prepaid phone and send along a damn prepaid card with it. After that ran out, she would have been able to choose from any number of prepaid cards to use.
I think what they're doing is logging the IP's into a datbase instead of rummaging through the Apache logs (or whatever they're using - I can't hit it from a Gov Network...) but I do agree that its pretty stupid - they're trying to scare the dumb people of the earth - wait, thats most of them...
You joke, but oddly enough, I use to create the filter rules for a major ISP's Support and Service system... Ah heck - look at my history - it was Earthlink.
Anywho - I agree. With the newer stuff, especially from a company known to just throw anything out there, these things will always happen. My wife just recently decided she wanted an original NES. The thing just works. The Super Mario game works, my two Zelda games work - all these years later. I'd would LOVE to see the xbox in as many years with used games still working as they should.
Quote from MSFT: "We have received a few isolated reports of consoles not working as expected. The call rate is well below what you'd expect for a consumer electronics product of this complexity."
I barely call that acknowledging the problem. In the support world, thats admitting they've had calls, but not enough to merrit an investigation on the units. If everyone where calling in, they'd openly admit they've had a lot of complaints about it and where doing an investigation on the issue.
To me, buying a new gaming system right when it comes out is like buying new software on the v1 release date. Its going to have a few problems, so wait a little bit for them to be ironed out.
Ours had faces printed on them as well. Security got upset with us because we would peel the "face" side off and stick it to something or another badge. All you need is the wire antenna and chip inside. Amazing what can open the door when you do something like that.
We got caught when security found one guy opening the door with his coffee mug too many times. He had glued the stuff to the buttom of the cup and just carried it around all day like the manager on office space.
I hate to reply to this because it looks like a troll, but oh well.
If you like Postgress so well, why don't you add the functionality into Wordpress? I personally don't see the need for the arguement of PostgreSQL vs MySQL because I've honestly never threw anything at MySQL that it couldn't handle. Whats the old addage? If it isn't broke, don't fix it....
Now before everyone jumps on me, I realize that PostgreSQL can make my life much easier in some respects. But c'mon people - if you want it, code it yourself. I've hand coded functionality into Mambo & Wordpress. I've also fixed other peoples problems in both as well. Heck, one time (at band camp...) I hand coded a CMS - that wasn't fun at all, but I couldn't find something that would work the way I wanted.
Stop yelling at the masses that create something for free and do it yourself.
Well, there are 2 issues causing me to buy piece by piece...
1 - APO address. Its really a pain to get stuff shipped to me because half the idiots on the web selling things tend to think these are PO boxes or someone trying to get an international shipment for free. In fact, I saw a seller on eBay (in Ohio) that jacked APO shipping prices up $39.95 on top of his $25 fee - all that for a power supply. I'm sorry, but $25 is enough to cover your packaging and the 3 minutes it takes to fill out a customs form.
2 - My wife currently is upset about the amount of computers in the house as it is and thinks I have enough to build another computer as it is (nope). So, I'm slowely getting packages for a part here, 3 parts there, as I can afford it to slowley build one up. One day, the case will show up, we'll have a fight and all will be well after I rebuild the apartment after she blows up. (Kids, don't try this at home)
Yea, I can hear the CRT, the laptop power supplies and all that. Unfortunately, my wife just got me a 42 inch plasma for XMas and I can hear that too - just don't have the heart to tell her.
My wife would be able to hear it, but due to hearing damage from being a professional musician, thats not gonna happen.
My issue is, I'm building a new computer too (LONG overdue) and I'm faced with the same decisions. I've basically decided that its going to annoy me no matter what. I've also decided that since its going to cost me an arm and a leg to get it, I'm buying it in X pieces per month. The power supply isn't going to cost as much as the processor, but its still a decent amount. I'm making mine as quiet as I can, putting extra rubber washers in it, etc and hope that helps a little.
Unfortunately, he's technically correct. STARTING a business requires almost no skill. You fill out some forms (or pay someone to do it later), money changes hands and *poof*, you're a business owner. And, for some reason, everyonce in awhile an Ask Slashdot story has a group of these types thinking they can make it with the "advice" of thousands that would rather argue with each other.
Now - to get were you where going, with businesses that are up and running requiring no skill, I have to agree with you - wow... There are business owners that get into something good, but they quickly get noticed as being a bad place to deal with.
On a more personal note, I've forgotten what the story was about after scrolling through an entire page of comments based on the first post...
I'm curious how this system works out for the developers on their paycheck and during tax season though. If you have W4 employees and you're paying them large bonuses, the taxes must eat up the bonuses.
The way the system is setup and talked about though, I have a feeling there are no actual W4 employees, just contractors and outsourcers.
I agree that the checkboxes shouldn't be checked...
At the same time, I absolutely hate the websites that switch that option on whenever their TOS changes or when they feel like it.
Now, I've had friends that think they're important when they get email and after a year or so, they complain very loudly. The problem is, they cause the problems themselves because they check every box they can just to get email.
Ah now, play nice...
In my unprofessional experience, most of the "I DIDN'T KNOW!" lawsuits or big news stories concerning spam invovle a reseller program of some sort.
Now, another thing I'm seeing more recently are people getting updates from websites with maybe a few links for advertising (or requests) for advertising due to people forgetting to turn off the 'email me' feature on a website when they register. Thats technically an opt-in, but they still end up complaining and screaming SPAM!
The backroads in Oregon are the same way - often no center lane or outer markers. On the main roads, there are usually markers and reflectors on both sides.
Now, I'd really be interested to see these things in Europe where there are unmarked roads that go on for hours. There are even lanes in cities where they are unmarked, but are technically 2 lanes and the locals use them as such.
In the states, it varies by state and even then, sometimes by the metro location you're in. In some areas, the "inspection" is just merely a smog check. For instance, my home state does not require an inspection, but in certain metro areas, requires a smog check.
The US inspection system is a joke in most states. Its usually a 100 point inspection, they look at your wheels, windshield, brakes, etc and point out something that should be obvious. The inspections in Europe are much better. Heck, the military POV (personally owned vehicle) inspections that the American soldiers go through in Europe are even more of a joke. So much so that if an American buys a European car, when they clear the car from European Customs - Customs snips the registration to show it was owned by an American.
In Europe, I needed new tires for my car as I was down to the bars in the tires and I was running on the original breaks which needed to be replaced. For grins, I took it in and it passed without them even looking twice. Luckily everything was in the mail already on its way.
Oh, I do - while she could figure out a port scanner, her laptop is right in front of me 90% of the time. Its creepy dude.
Gernally speaking, the younger ones follow directions much better and think things through. They aren't concerned if you're just getting a feel for their settings and having a look around. They don't care if you say that you need to rip and replace DUN.
I noticed a trend as I started to actually get off tier 1 and move up to Tier 3. The gamers these days (not only the kids) are idiots.
Now, I know I probably just pissed off a lot of you (I'm a gamer too), but they're the ones crying about their ping times when the times are fine, about the hop count, etc. That really irked me because, most of who I had to support, knew nothing of how the game/network/internet worked behind the scenes. They usually took someones advice on a forum somewhere, used this neat cool program called Ping and found out that they had 1 dropped packet somewhere. While doing email, I absolutely hated the automated "This user is experiencing network difficulty. See below for the information..." emails. It was the official policy at the ISP that I worked at to trash those things.
Ok, I'm starting to rant about something off topic. I'll shut up now.
Yup. They know their computers better than anyone else. Most of the time, they could guess where I was going to have them go and beat me there. In one case, the gentleman just told me where he should go - "Your TCP/IP properties" and bam - he was there in seconds. Absolutely amazing. No clicking around looking at things while you're talking, no arguing no nothing.
Of course, I learned the very hard way about how Jaws liked TCP/IP. That took an hour and a half of counting tabs and enters to fix that situation. Not only did it fix the problem he was having, but when his computer started talking again, that dude was so cool about it "Ok, you and I are going to go have a stiff drink now. Thanks for the help!"
I agree - if you're smart enough to look for the signs, you don't need the bar.
I humor these idiots once in awhile, if I'm sitting at the computer and watch a message come in (and I'm really bored). I'll hit their site, give false info and submit it.
One of the funniest things I've seen is one site that used an java popup image to put it over the default location of the IE toolbar. So when I cliked the link, part of my Firefox tabs where covered up (I'm in webdev, so I can't disable javascript). Laughed my butt off over that one.
Luckily my wife is still pissed off at paypal for screwing her over on a fraud issue and she refuses to visit their website for anything. Won't even touch eBay anymore - its great!
I agree. The only Thermal Paper I've seen have problems are the CC slips you get as receipts.
I also agree that the main thing you'll need to worry about is water damage rather than heat. Its more likely to be raining when the mail is delivered than some guy walking around in a sauna reading your evelope watching it overheat. With that said, I would stay away from inkjet printers as they tend to bleed when water hits the paper. Thats a bad thing when the postman is walking around in the rain and the office/house number is a blob...
As a for-instance, I received a letter from my grandmother last night (really...) and she had tested out her new printer. The zip code was a massive blob and someone at the post office (may have been a military postal worker since I'm an APO) wrote the zip on the envelope.
My wife doesn't read Slashdot, but she sure as hell knows when I'm on it - even from another room. Its like she's got detatchable eyes and she leaves them in the office or something - its crazy. I'll be reading and I'll hear "You've been on Slashdot for long enough!" from the living room... I don't get it.
Most of Europe is like this as well. The folks that are clueless will tell you its left over from the war. I get told a lot of times by some of my drunk friends that they should just save the money and take the ration marks off the glasses.
But anyway, if you're in Europe and buy a glass of something, there is always a measurement line on the glass so you know what you're getting.