I have to ponder as to what kinds of technology could have made the impact from this disaster less horrendous than it was. Better monitoring for earthquakes, better medical care and better building materials for houses and such are some immediate things, although the latter two has more to do with socio-economic status than anything else.
I'm thinking of keeping things relatively cheap, yet as functional as possible.
With all this shit flying around regarding software patents, I was wondering how the aerospace companies might patent everything in their respective field.
The idea being that no one will develop outer space but these companies and, of course, NASA.
on this country. What the fuck are we supposed to do when the most minor widget has at least one patent attached to it? How are other countries going to take this? What stand do other first-world nations take on patents?
Microsoft, OTOH, is more like an economic black hole. Huge chunks of the revenue they collect just accumulates in their bank account. They don't seem to be able to figure out what to do with it, even though it's obvious that over the years they should have been investing more of it in improving the quality of their software.
Microsoft doesn't need to spend that money improving their software when they can use it obliterate competing products.
How about this: a law (appropriations bill??) that mandates a dollar goes to education for every dollar spend on the war on drugs/pirates/terrorists/Howard Stern/whatever. This kind of bullshit is sucking up far more money than it's worth.
Everyone here should come up with at least one completely ridiculous "fact" or "figure" and do their best to propagate it. Maybe if enough of us pee into the already polluted river of corporate communication we can get the public to begin to seek more pure sources?
Ayn Rand said something to the extent that if you want to expose a fraud, comply with it literally.
I find it interesting (and a little frightening) how otherwise educated people (reporters, for instance) can be so clueless in critical areas. Is this inevitable for people?
And yes, I do consider basic computer literacy a critical skill; your computer is not just an appliance. Letting your computer get 0wned is much like letting your car run out of oil.
Well, in a nutshell, it probably scares the shit out of people.
You'll have one group screaming that it's "unnatural" and/or violates God's Will(tm) and should be banned based on that. You'll have another group protesting that only "the rich" will benefit (which they will, at first at least). Another will get all sci-fi and give us a bunch of doomsday scenarios based on that.
J. Random Voter will either a) bend over and take it all or b) not care and go back to watching football.:(
Swordmaking?!
on
Black Hat
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· Score: 2, Insightful
Biggs interviews the worm writer and delves into the world of programmers he likens to sword makers, steeped in art and tradition.
Except that swordmaking takes skill and years of experience, as opposed to running a one-line script.
What are those savings for? To buy a small nation? To buy all the companies left in the software industry? To buy another industry? To buy favor with government officials?
It may very well be to "compete" with Open Source, in the same way they "competed" with Netscape.
Microsoft may very soon drastically reduce the price of it's products in order to smother Open Source products. Imagine the next version of Windows and/or Office costing $50 (or less!). They don't need to make money now because they have tens of billions to live off of in the meantime. In the meantime, the fact that Open Source software is more or less free becomes glossed over by the fact that the Microsoft products that everyone is so familiar with are now so cheap. Microsoft is going to smother Open Source with bags of money.
Engineers can put probes on Mars and take pictures of Jupiter, but if you want to be celebrated, you must go on TV:)
If the engineers that put the probes on Mars cannot be celebrated in today's culture without their pictures in the paper and on TV, that's pretty fucking sad.:(
Why should I have to worry about buying a TV and game console when I can download a decent emulator and go crazy with Final Fantasy 3 or [insert favorite game here]?
I'm willing to bet it will actually increase piracy by killing off a major source of bad quality product.
It's almost as if they want to make the problem worse.
*Puts on tinfoil hat*
If the problem with piracy does get worse, the MPAA can just rush to Congress to get more laws passed in their favor.
"Public safety is more important than public convenience."
Um, OK. Suppose some family and I are at a rally for J. Random Politician and my cellphone is jammed as a result of these security measures. Now WTF am I supposed to do if a family member - for any reason - needs emergency service? Who am I supposed to turn to?
Poor countries don't have the money to buy and maintain Windows; this is where open source software is becoming a real and powerful alternative," he said.
OK, but if they are too poor to maintain Windows, doesn't that also mean that they are that much more open to pressures and special "deals" (to ensure lock-in) from Microsoft?
. . . and having a hard-copy book has its benefits as well, in case you feel like not being tied down to the computer or laptop screen.
I myself find that I read faster with a physical book than staring at my laptop. My favorite technique is to get a bookmark and focus line by line, reading (for me, at least) fairly fast.
Slashdot Mirror
The question is will the **AA adhere to this law, or will they find a convenient loophole/exception?
I'm thinking of keeping things relatively cheap, yet as functional as possible.
Could this have something to do with why the Bushies are blocking access to their sites?
With all this shit flying around regarding software patents, I was wondering how the aerospace companies might patent everything in their respective field.
The idea being that no one will develop outer space but these companies and, of course, NASA.
I need to find a place to move!
Microsoft doesn't need to spend that money improving their software when they can use it obliterate competing products.
How about this: a law (appropriations bill??) that mandates a dollar goes to education for every dollar spend on the war on drugs/pirates/terrorists/Howard Stern/whatever. This kind of bullshit is sucking up far more money than it's worth.
Everyone here should come up with at least one completely ridiculous "fact" or "figure" and do their best to propagate it. Maybe if enough of us pee into the already polluted river of corporate communication we can get the public to begin to seek more pure sources?
Ayn Rand said something to the extent that if you want to expose a fraud, comply with it literally.
(thank you this marketing rant was brought to you by 3 straight days awake and sixty coffees)
What the hell were you doing up for such a long time?
Does the reason start with the word "Doom?"
;-)
Its a good skill to have but critical?
When you can't get some - or all - of your work done because your computer is hosed, that's pretty critical to a lot of people.
I find it interesting (and a little frightening) how otherwise educated people (reporters, for instance) can be so clueless in critical areas. Is this inevitable for people?
And yes, I do consider basic computer literacy a critical skill; your computer is not just an appliance. Letting your computer get 0wned is much like letting your car run out of oil.
Why CANT we do research on human enhancement?
Well, in a nutshell, it probably scares the shit out of people.
You'll have one group screaming that it's "unnatural" and/or violates God's Will(tm) and should be banned based on that. You'll have another group protesting that only "the rich" will benefit (which they will, at first at least). Another will get all sci-fi and give us a bunch of doomsday scenarios based on that.
J. Random Voter will either a) bend over and take it all or b) not care and go back to watching football. :(
Except that swordmaking takes skill and years of experience, as opposed to running a one-line script.
It may very well be to "compete" with Open Source, in the same way they "competed" with Netscape.
Microsoft may very soon drastically reduce the price of it's products in order to smother Open Source products. Imagine the next version of Windows and/or Office costing $50 (or less!). They don't need to make money now because they have tens of billions to live off of in the meantime. In the meantime, the fact that Open Source software is more or less free becomes glossed over by the fact that the Microsoft products that everyone is so familiar with are now so cheap. Microsoft is going to smother Open Source with bags of money.
If the engineers that put the probes on Mars cannot be celebrated in today's culture without their pictures in the paper and on TV, that's pretty fucking sad. :(
Why should I have to worry about buying a TV and game console when I can download a decent emulator and go crazy with Final Fantasy 3 or [insert favorite game here]?
People in management can get very bright; you just need to burn them at a higher temperature until they glow a nice, pretty blue.
:)
*Puts on tinfoil hat*
If the problem with piracy does get worse, the MPAA can just rush to Congress to get more laws passed in their favor.
"Public safety is more important than public convenience."
Um, OK. Suppose some family and I are at a rally for J. Random Politician and my cellphone is jammed as a result of these security measures. Now WTF am I supposed to do if a family member - for any reason - needs emergency service? Who am I supposed to turn to?
From the article:
Poor countries don't have the money to buy and maintain Windows; this is where open source software is becoming a real and powerful alternative," he said.
OK, but if they are too poor to maintain Windows, doesn't that also mean that they are that much more open to pressures and special "deals" (to ensure lock-in) from Microsoft?
Back in January we had this thread on textbook price gouging.
I myself find that I read faster with a physical book than staring at my laptop. My favorite technique is to get a bookmark and focus line by line, reading (for me, at least) fairly fast.
I applaud you, but don't forget the the last thing the RIAA/MPAA want you to spend money on . . . BOOKS! :D
Better yet, the next time you go book shopping, stock up on some of Lessig's works. Double whammy!
That is scary and fascinating at the same time. Do you know of any books or papers that deal with this issue? Links? Thanks. :)
What reputation? He's a fucking spammer!
Spammers don't need other people to wreck their reputation; they lost it when they became spammers.