Here in Halifax, they're using biodiesel using waste fish oil as an additive to run (some of) the buses. The fish oil waste would otherwise have to be disposed of as garbage. So far, the buses run fine and no one is objecting to the smells. It is intended to expand the use of this.
'Taken one blog at a time, or one post at a time, the web might be less reliable than old media outlets like the NYT or CNN, but taken all together the web is far more accurate than old media.'
Sort of like a stopped clock is more accurate than a five-minute-slow clock because it's exactly right twice a day.
Another review, by Rob Slade, of this book is available here (amongst other places). He comes to a somewhat different conclusion:
The text is much more verbose than it really needs to be, and
sensational rather than precise. There is a lot of specific detail in some areas, particularly for those interested in UNIX system internals, but the material on malware itself tends to be careless, and the author is obviously much keener on attacking than defending. This work does not offer much help to those who want to fight malicious code.
Disclaimer: I have neither read the book, nor have an opinion on it. My only interest in malware is not to have it:^)
As in this case, for example, dealing with hidden collusion between prosecution and defendents in order to set a precedent while allowing a lesser penalty.
'If I have copies of music on my local system and leave F&PS open (as is the default with older versions of Windows), am I then guilty of distributing the content?'
Since 'purpose' is explicitly mentioned in the act, I would think not; especially as there is nothing in the Windows documentation that comes with the installation to indicate that F&PS is a problem. If I recall, the only statement is that you can share with your other computers! On the other hand, if F&PS is wide open, you'll probably be 0wn3d as a spam server or warez site in short order;^) Of course, if you're an experienced admin, there is a good possibility that the courts would determine that you should have known.
'If we take it a step further, and I have an ftp server available but secured with a single username/pass combo and someone guesses it or otherwise gains access... does that mean I'm distributing?'
Probably not; I think it would be much the same as though someone broke into your house and stole the CD copy you hade made. (Unless your username/pass combo is anonymous/e-mail address.)
'Most P2P applications will simply hunt out your media and share it. Will the law now make users responsible for how their software is configured, when it's the application providers who are setting the defaults?'
Well, the only P2P app I've ever used was some version of KaZaa and it was very obvious in the docs exactly where the shared directory was and how to ensure that anything you did not intend to provide for distribution was not so distributed. In this case, I think reasonable care could be expected of anyone to ensure that they don't share.
'It's going to be some interesting times, that's for sure.' Indeed!
You are correct; I (foolishly) used the term as "the other end of a download":^) What I mean is: making a copy on your hard drive available for download would count as distribution (subsection (2)(b)) or communicating to the public by telecommunication (subsection (2)(c)).
80. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the act of reproducing all or any substantial part of
(a) a musical work embodied in a sound recording,
(b) a performer's performance of a musical work embodied in a sound recording, or
(c) a sound recording in which a musical work, or a performer's performance of a musical work, is embodied
onto an audio recording medium for the private use of the person who makes the copy does not constitute an infringement of the copyright in the musical work, the performer's performance or the sound recording.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the act described in that subsection is done for the purpose of doing any of the following in relation to any of the things referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) to (c):
(a) selling or renting out, or by way of trade exposing or offering for sale or rental;
(b) distributing, whether or not for the purpose of trade;
(c) communicating to the public by telecommunication; or
(d) performing, or causing to be performed, in public.
I think, however, that uploading would count as distribution. More information here, for example.
'Of course, because EVERY RFID tag that will be installed anywhere is made specifically to spy on you! There are NO other legitimate uses, right?'
There are many legitimate, and even helpful (to the consumer) uses for RFID tags. The problem is that illegitimate uses cannot be detected or controlled without the consumer being able to find and (verifiably) deactivate the tags.
It is unlikely that legislation would be sufficient to prevent unacceptable abuse of the tags. The abuse is too easy to do and too hard to detect.
Given the business Cisco is in, it is moronic not to have code reviews and a locked down CMS. Heck, that is a major part of the reason that these people are paid big bucks.
' Uhh, unless my knowledge of history is off, RTM's worm hit only Vaxen...
Yes, Vax/VMS, an OS so ancient, I've used it but a little. Enough to believe that it's not very UNIX-like at all, at least...'
No, the worm only affected VAXen running 4.3BSD and sun 3 systems. It took advantage of flaws in sendmail and, IIRC, fingerd. VMS systems were unaffected by this.
' * COBOL is still the best language to make computations on money, because it has integrated fixed point types.
It seems that ADA maybe also has that last possibility, but I do not know if their fixed-point data types are based upon a float library or a real integer library.'
Ada's fixed point types are still binary based; essentially, they allow the absolute error to be fixed. For monetary computations, Ada offers a decimal type that exactly meets financial needs.
'Similarly, computer viruses are a kind of noxious hazard that does not have a precise counterpart in the non-Internet world, so it seems appropriate to address virus-writing miscreants with computer-specific or Internet-specific laws.'
(ob IANAL) Why would existing laws on vandalism not cover this? On the physical level, the magnetic regions on one's fixed disc are altered in a manner not authorised by the owner and cause the system to not function correctly. I don't see this as differing (w.r.t. vandalism) from dropping a wrench in an engine or maladjusting the control knobs.
'If there's no life on Mars, terraforming is an easy ethical decision.'
Is it necessarily an easy decision? Perhaps we need to debate the meta-question: Is life the only criterion relevant to whether we should muck around with a planetary system?
Slashdot Mirror
You can also read Client study for the state capital Munich, Executive summary of the final report which outlines the options and strategy for the upgrade.
I wonder how they pressurize the hydrogen in the tank. It would seem to me that a relatively sophisticated pumping system would be needed.
Here in Halifax, they're using biodiesel using waste fish oil as an additive to run (some of) the buses. The fish oil waste would otherwise have to be disposed of as garbage. So far, the buses run fine and no one is objecting to the smells. It is intended to expand the use of this.
Sort of like a stopped clock is more accurate than a five-minute-slow clock because it's exactly right twice a day.
Disclaimer: I have neither read the book, nor have an opinion on it. My only interest in malware is not to have it :^)
Here you go! (A good starting point for all things IF is here.)
As in this case, for example, dealing with hidden collusion between prosecution and defendents in order to set a precedent while allowing a lesser penalty.
Since 'purpose' is explicitly mentioned in the act, I would think not; especially as there is nothing in the Windows documentation that comes with the installation to indicate that F&PS is a problem. If I recall, the only statement is that you can share with your other computers! On the other hand, if F&PS is wide open, you'll probably be 0wn3d as a spam server or warez site in short order ;^) Of course, if you're an experienced admin, there is a good possibility that the courts would determine that you should have known.
'If we take it a step further, and I have an ftp server available but secured with a single username/pass combo and someone guesses it or otherwise gains access... does that mean I'm distributing?'
Probably not; I think it would be much the same as though someone broke into your house and stole the CD copy you hade made. (Unless your username/pass combo is anonymous/e-mail address.)
'Most P2P applications will simply hunt out your media and share it. Will the law now make users responsible for how their software is configured, when it's the application providers who are setting the defaults?'
Well, the only P2P app I've ever used was some version of KaZaa and it was very obvious in the docs exactly where the shared directory was and how to ensure that anything you did not intend to provide for distribution was not so distributed. In this case, I think reasonable care could be expected of anyone to ensure that they don't share.
'It's going to be some interesting times, that's for sure.'
Indeed!
(All of the above IMHO as IANAL :^)
You are correct; I (foolishly) used the term as "the other end of a download":^)
What I mean is: making a copy on your hard drive available for download would count as distribution (subsection (2)(b)) or communicating to the public by telecommunication (subsection (2)(c)).
Part VIII of the Copyright Act would appear to disagree:
Copying for Private Use
80. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the act of reproducing all or any substantial part of
(a) a musical work embodied in a sound recording,
(b) a performer's performance of a musical work embodied in a sound recording, or
(c) a sound recording in which a musical work, or a performer's performance of a musical work, is embodied
onto an audio recording medium for the private use of the person who makes the copy does not constitute an infringement of the copyright in the musical work, the performer's performance or the sound recording.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the act described in that subsection is done for the purpose of doing any of the following in relation to any of the things referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) to (c):
(a) selling or renting out, or by way of trade exposing or offering for sale or rental;
(b) distributing, whether or not for the purpose of trade;
(c) communicating to the public by telecommunication; or
(d) performing, or causing to be performed, in public.
I think, however, that uploading would count as distribution.
More information here, for example.
There are many legitimate, and even helpful (to the consumer) uses for RFID tags. The problem is that illegitimate uses cannot be detected or controlled without the consumer being able to find and (verifiably) deactivate the tags.
It is unlikely that legislation would be sufficient to prevent unacceptable abuse of the tags. The abuse is too easy to do and too hard to detect.
Corporations have no inherent rights.
... if Diebold and Cisco are owned by the same parent company!
Given the business Cisco is in, it is moronic not to have code reviews and a locked down CMS. Heck, that is a major part of the reason that these people are paid big bucks.
Yes, Vax/VMS, an OS so ancient, I've used it but a little. Enough to believe that it's not very UNIX-like at all, at least...'
No, the worm only affected VAXen running 4.3BSD and sun 3 systems. It took advantage of flaws in sendmail and, IIRC, fingerd. VMS systems were unaffected by this.
Hey, I can use my radio again ;^)
It seems that ADA maybe also has that last possibility, but I do not know if their fixed-point data types are based upon a float library or a real integer library.'
Ada's fixed point types are still binary based; essentially, they allow the absolute error to be fixed. For monetary computations, Ada offers a decimal type that exactly meets financial needs.
(ob IANAL)
Why would existing laws on vandalism not cover this?
On the physical level, the magnetic regions on one's fixed disc are altered in a manner not authorised by the owner and cause the system to not function correctly.
I don't see this as differing (w.r.t. vandalism) from dropping a wrench in an engine or maladjusting the control knobs.
Well, maybe, if the documentation were as clear as Ikea's :^)
Unfortunately,no. The [caps lock] and [control] keys are reversed!
In my day, we used analogue computers and the requirements changed continuously
er... in the year 3000
(or when they reach Falcon M ?)
Is it necessarily an easy decision? Perhaps we need to debate the meta-question: Is life the only criterion relevant to whether we should muck around with a planetary system?
Given our experiences with Biosphere 2 and my own attempts at gardening, I think Mars is safe for a while.
That's what the pony is for: broadband Pony Express; parallelism to the max!