Eeerrrr, if they really wanted to do something about it why not change the way the write software so that it is not so easy for outsiders to hack into their products and dump unwanted code onto their clients machines?...
Microsoft has had 20+ years (and a large portion of the money that exists in the world) to work on their security. They've achieved nothing but failure.
I have a question: Is it because they're inept or is it by design?
A year or so ago, Microsoft CTO Craig Mundie stated that "customers wouldn't pay for it until recently" when asked why it's taken so long for Microsoft to take security into their forefront.
...I wonder why the Seattle Times and Slashdot found this worthy to mention...
Your wondering why the homes of Starbucks and Geeks found this worthy to mention?
Re:Mental disorders are classifications
on
Coffee is Addictive
·
· Score: 3, Funny
mental illness n. Any of various conditions characterized by impairment of an individual's normal cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning, and caused by social, psychological, biochemical, genetic, or other factors...
... if such a thing exists, but what about a 3D topographical globe/map/what-have-you? Something with state/nationality borders included perhaps. Like I said, I don't know if such a thing exists, but I recall some globes having topographical features (raised mountains, oceans, the Great Lakes, etc.) included as features.
"...Ahhh yes, IT snobiness strikes again. The average person shouldn't have to "give two flying fucks" . The PC industry should get its act togeather and deliver "dumb" terminals that do exactly what people expect them to do. Chances are, you don't know anything about natural gas fittings, but you still use a stove. I don't know anything about generating and containing microwaves, but I still eat frozen burritos..."
No, but you (hopefully) know that natural gas has an additive so that you can smell it in case of a gas leak, and (hopefully) you know enough not to superheat water in your microwave so you dont get scalded. Folks seem fond of using car analogies as well. Even Ford and Chevy put in idiot lights so you know (albeit perhaps too late) that you're almost out of oil or that you really need to have your engine checked by someone who knows what they're doing.
Ignorance is no excuse for lack of maintenence. IIRC, there was an old commercial (for mufflers?) that had the slogan... "You can pay me now, or you can pay me [more] later". That sort of sums it up.
It's not "IT snobiness", it's the fact that, no matter how much you wish it so, a computer IS NOT an appliance - it's a tool. Just like every other tool, care, simple safety precautions, and maintenence are vital for your safety as well as those around you.
"...Kerry came across as commanding and presidential. Bush looked like a small child lost in the mall, looking for his mother..."
For the most part, I completely agree with you. Kerry seemed intelligent, decisive, and organized. While Kerry was talking, Bush had a disrespectful "spoiled child" look on his face as much to say "Cripes... Daddy, why do I have to be here?" That wasn't the case for Kerry when Bush was speaking. Kerry seemd to actualy listen to what Bush was saying, and rebutting things point by point. Bush would call for a rebuttal, but then just spew out sound-byte catch phrases.
In regards to Bush's comments and rebuttals, I've never seen a "leader" stammer and stutter so much in my life - and it had nothing to do with a speech impediment. The same phrases spewed out time andtime again got old rather quickly.
While I'm not fond of either candidate, Kerry certainly came across better than Bush did, IMO.
First off, I'm not a coder, so if I'm talking out my ass, feel free to slap me down for it...
All that aside, YOU ARE a coder. Quote: "(And no, I cannot switch, I develop products for x86/Windows)"
You could work on something like this yourself... isn't that the point of Open Source Software? YOU could stop waiting for it and actually do something about it yourself! Don't some of the best/most successful OSS projects available exist due to someone "scratching an itch" like that? The Evolution Project Pages even provide directlinks to developer info and contributor info. I have no doubt that it would be some sort of monumental undertaking, but hell, if YOU want it - it has to start somewhere. The sources are freely available to you and me and anyone else interested in doing something along those lines.
Like I said before: I'm no coder. Aside from a few handy shell scripts and customizing some application compiles, I'm pretty much of no use in the coding situation, but then again, I'm not the one asking/wishing about if/when it'll happen...
If this indeed is a virus/trojan/spyware//Microsoft Windows(TM) problem... Why do DMV employees need internet access in the first place?
If they need email to communicate with other employees, 99.99999999% of it can be handled via an internel email network - no internet needed. _No one_ particularly needs an @co.dmv.gov email address. Why does a DMV employee need IE connected to the internet? Short of "Internet" being part of it's name, there's no reason. Any "IE only" network applications they might be using should be on an "internal only" accessible network. This is ridiculous - DMV/Govt. employees DO NOT need to have internet access to do thier jobs. Cut them off and save millions of taxpayer dollars.
...The problem is, the parts that I don't agree with seem absolutely batshit insane (i.e. privatizing sidewalks? WTF?)....
Really. How is that any more/less "batshit insane" than taking the country to war under false pretenses or trying to categorize ketchup as a vegetable or calling fast-food workers manufacturing jobs or attempting to rewrite the United States Constitution so that it outlaws gay marriage?
I could agree with this, were my school more like a trade school, which it wasn't. Most of my elementary and later teachers actually encouraged some level of independent thinking and creativity...
From your website link, you look to be roughly about the same age as I am, early to mid-30's or so. We also seem to have had similar experiences in schools at a younger age, but let me tell you something - you and I have been out of school for a loooooong time.
I have nieces and nephews that are teenagers and elementary school age now and things are completely different in public schools. You and I didn't have the "no tolerance" rules/laws to contend with. Standardized tests were a lot farther and fewer between than they are now. Cripes, my oldest niece's school will only allow them to use pencils! They will get suspended if they are in possession of a pen! Take a look at the literacy level on just about any online gaming site, irc channel, or mass-appeal posting site. I'm not talking about leet-speak or common lingo, I'm talking about how many people who don't even know what words mean. Too many instances of seeing the word "of" where the word "have" should be (i.e. 'I could of done it that way.') - simple things like that. Perhaps I'm just nit-picking, but it seems to be an ugly trend I'm seeing. Frank Zappa once wrote, "You can't even speak your own fucking language", and that seems to be more and more true every day.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be that new a trend either. The last century and this new one has seen a serious intellectual decline in the US. Need proof of that? Take a look at the popular literature and best sellers lists from 100-125 years ago. Mark Twain and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle come to mind immediately. Most kids today could barely handle the ABRIDGED versions of those now _classics_, yet the everyone from the "country bumpkins"(one room school houses) to the "city slickers" (military and private schools) were reading the UNABRIDGED versions as their favorite literature way back when.
And to top it off, those country bumpkins' textbooks were nothing more than little tablets of chalkboard.
"Also pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we hereby state, und er penalty of perjury, that we are authorized to act on behalf of the owner s of the exclusive rights being infringed as set forth in this notification..."
Is ANYONE that's gotten one of these ever going to call them on this bullshit and have them sent to jail for perjury?
Most Linux users wouldn't. However, there are many AOL users that would like to be able to use Linux (or _I_ would like them to be abe to use Linux) and not have their entire AOL experience changed. While Penggy is a great idea, it does _not_ replace the AOL software, and for many people, AOL _is_ the internet. They have no idea wtf an antivirus is or that windows update even exists. They run Win9x on a 233, beefed up with some RAM, that their grandkid gave to them 3 years ago. All they know is that when they click on the little icon, a moment or 2 later their told that they've got mail. I deal with these folks on a daily basis.
I have no idea how this new thing works, but it would seem to be just a dialer, which is unfortunate. Something along the lines of actual AOL software, instead of just a dialer, would help me out immensely moving people over to Linux. In my business, I deal almost exclusively with home users, many of whom use AOL. There hasn't been a viable Linux solution for them. Perhaps we'll see how viable this is. The following line from Linspire's website makes me a bit apprehensive: "The AOL Dialer for Linux is not endorsed, supported or certified by America Online, Inc."
retrobox.com has a fantastic selection as well - the HP Omnibook 6000 I'm typing this on, a PII700 w/384 meg ram, came from there(just over $300) clicky clicky
I think people should support advertizing projects that take the high moral road. I'm going to reward these guys for staying legit and we'll see how it turns out.
I honestly think that's the most grotesque, the most disgusting, thing I ever seen posted to slashdot. If you honestly beieve that ANY advertiser is moving ANY sort of morality - you're in serious need of intensive therapy. I used to be one of those advertising guys. I was surrounded by like people all the time. No advertising/marketing person that's ever walked this earth has ever given a shit about you, your browser, your wife, your children, your hamster or any moral high ground. The ONLY thing that's cared about is the bottom line.
So you're saying it can't be done? Just like building an island for the Kansai International Airport couldn't be done? Just like removing what - 3 mountains for the Three Gorges Dam in China isn't being done as we speak? The scale is certainly a bit larger, but these projects were of unthinkable scale not to long ago as well.
Slashdot Mirror
Eeerrrr, if they really wanted to do something about it why not change the way the write software so that it is not so easy for outsiders to hack into their products and dump unwanted code onto their clients machines?...
Microsoft has had 20+ years (and a large portion of the money that exists in the world) to work on their security. They've achieved nothing but failure.
I have a question:
Is it because they're inept or is it by design?
A year or so ago, Microsoft CTO Craig Mundie stated that "customers wouldn't pay for it until recently" when asked why it's taken so long for Microsoft to take security into their forefront.
...I wonder why the Seattle Times and Slashdot found this worthy to mention...
Your wondering why the homes of Starbucks and Geeks found this worthy to mention?
mental illness
n.
Any of various conditions characterized by impairment of an individual's normal cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning, and caused by social, psychological, biochemical, genetic, or other factors...
So zits can now be considered a mental illness?
... if such a thing exists, but what about a 3D topographical globe/map/what-have-you? Something with state/nationality borders included perhaps. Like I said, I don't know if such a thing exists, but I recall some globes having topographical features (raised mountains, oceans, the Great Lakes, etc.) included as features.
"...Ahhh yes, IT snobiness strikes again. The average person shouldn't have to "give two flying fucks" . The PC industry should get its act togeather and deliver "dumb" terminals that do exactly what people expect them to do. Chances are, you don't know anything about natural gas fittings, but you still use a stove. I don't know anything about generating and containing microwaves, but I still eat frozen burritos..."
No, but you (hopefully) know that natural gas has an additive so that you can smell it in case of a gas leak, and (hopefully) you know enough not to superheat water in your microwave so you dont get scalded.
Folks seem fond of using car analogies as well. Even Ford and Chevy put in idiot lights so you know (albeit perhaps too late) that you're almost out of oil or that you really need to have your engine checked by someone who knows what they're doing.
Ignorance is no excuse for lack of maintenence. IIRC, there was an old commercial (for mufflers?) that had the slogan... "You can pay me now, or you can pay me [more] later". That sort of sums it up.
It's not "IT snobiness", it's the fact that, no matter how much you wish it so, a computer IS NOT an appliance - it's a tool. Just like every other tool, care, simple safety precautions, and maintenence are vital for your safety as well as those around you.
"...Kerry came across as commanding and presidential. Bush looked like a small child lost in the mall, looking for his mother..."
For the most part, I completely agree with you. Kerry seemed intelligent, decisive, and organized. While Kerry was talking, Bush had a disrespectful "spoiled child" look on his face as much to say "Cripes... Daddy, why do I have to be here?" That wasn't the case for Kerry when Bush was speaking. Kerry seemd to actualy listen to what Bush was saying, and rebutting things point by point. Bush would call for a rebuttal, but then just spew out sound-byte catch phrases.
In regards to Bush's comments and rebuttals, I've never seen a "leader" stammer and stutter so much in my life - and it had nothing to do with a speech impediment. The same phrases spewed out time andtime again got old rather quickly.
While I'm not fond of either candidate, Kerry certainly came across better than Bush did, IMO.
First off, I'm not a coder, so if I'm talking out my ass, feel free to slap me down for it...
All that aside, YOU ARE a coder.
Quote:
"(And no, I cannot switch, I develop products for x86/Windows)"
You could work on something like this yourself... isn't that the point of Open Source Software? YOU could stop waiting for it and actually do something about it yourself! Don't some of the best/most successful OSS projects available exist due to someone "scratching an itch" like that?
The Evolution Project Pages even provide direct links
to developer info and contributor info. I have no doubt that it would be some sort of monumental undertaking, but hell, if YOU want it - it has to start somewhere. The sources are freely available to you and me and anyone else interested in doing something along those lines.
Like I said before: I'm no coder. Aside from a few handy shell scripts and customizing some application compiles, I'm pretty much of no use in the coding situation, but then again, I'm not the one asking/wishing about if/when it'll happen...
If this indeed is a virus/trojan/spyware//Microsoft Windows(TM) problem...
Why do DMV employees need internet access in the first place?
If they need email to communicate with other employees, 99.99999999% of it can be handled via an internel email network - no internet needed. _No one_ particularly needs an @co.dmv.gov email address.
Why does a DMV employee need IE connected to the internet? Short of "Internet" being part of it's name, there's no reason. Any "IE only" network applications they might be using should be on an "internal only" accessible network.
This is ridiculous - DMV/Govt. employees DO NOT need to have internet access to do thier jobs. Cut them off and save millions of taxpayer dollars.
... or slink, potato, sid, sarge, etc...
I can't really give you a solution at the moment... ;o)
but are you hiring?
And prior governmental experience of some sort is a vital component of fitness for office.
I'm believe Minnesotans and Californians would disagree.
the ol' ;)
ping -f
from a few of the regs used to keep folks in line pretty well
This isn't the trilogy you're looking for.
...The problem is, the parts that I don't agree with seem absolutely batshit insane (i.e. privatizing sidewalks? WTF?)....
Really.
How is that any more/less "batshit insane" than taking the country to war under false pretenses or trying to categorize ketchup as a vegetable or calling fast-food workers manufacturing jobs or attempting to rewrite the United States Constitution so that it outlaws gay marriage?
I could agree with this, were my school more like a trade school, which it wasn't. Most of my elementary and later teachers actually encouraged some level of independent thinking and creativity...
From your website link, you look to be roughly about the same age as I am, early to mid-30's or so. We also seem to have had similar experiences in schools at a younger age, but let me tell you something - you and I have been out of school for a loooooong time.
I have nieces and nephews that are teenagers and elementary school age now and things are completely different in public schools.
You and I didn't have the "no tolerance" rules/laws to contend with. Standardized tests were a lot farther and fewer between than they are now. Cripes, my oldest niece's school will only allow them to use pencils! They will get suspended if they are in possession of a pen!
Take a look at the literacy level on just about any online gaming site, irc channel, or mass-appeal posting site. I'm not talking about leet-speak or common lingo, I'm talking about how many people who don't even know what words mean. Too many instances of seeing the word "of" where the word "have" should be (i.e. 'I could of done it that way.') - simple things like that. Perhaps I'm just nit-picking, but it seems to be an ugly trend I'm seeing. Frank Zappa once wrote, "You can't even speak your own fucking language", and that seems to be more and more true every day.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be that new a trend either. The last century and this new one has seen a serious intellectual decline in the US.
Need proof of that?
Take a look at the popular literature and best sellers lists from 100-125 years ago. Mark Twain and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle come to mind immediately.
Most kids today could barely handle the ABRIDGED versions of those now _classics_, yet the everyone from the "country bumpkins"(one room school houses) to the "city slickers" (military and private schools) were reading the UNABRIDGED versions as their favorite literature way back when.
And to top it off, those country bumpkins' textbooks were nothing more than little tablets of chalkboard.
"Also pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we hereby state, und
er penalty of perjury, that we are authorized to act on behalf of the owner
s of the exclusive rights being infringed as set forth in this notification..."
Is ANYONE that's gotten one of these ever going to call them on this bullshit and have them sent to jail for perjury?
I don't care if you're campaigning for the girlscouts, painting on public property is illegal.
But that's the point. It _wasn't_ paint - it was chalk. The same chalk that millions of kids draw all over sidewalks with ever day.
Why would linux users want to connect to AOL?
Most Linux users wouldn't. However, there are many AOL users that would like to be able to use Linux (or _I_ would like them to be abe to use Linux) and not have their entire AOL experience changed. While Penggy is a great idea, it does _not_ replace the AOL software, and for many people, AOL _is_ the internet. They have no idea wtf an antivirus is or that windows update even exists. They run Win9x on a 233, beefed up with some RAM, that their grandkid gave to them 3 years ago. All they know is that when they click on the little icon, a moment or 2 later their told that they've got mail.
I deal with these folks on a daily basis.
I have no idea how this new thing works, but it would seem to be just a dialer, which is unfortunate. Something along the lines of actual AOL software, instead of just a dialer, would help me out immensely moving people over to Linux. In my business, I deal almost exclusively with home users, many of whom use AOL. There hasn't been a viable Linux solution for them. Perhaps we'll see how viable this is.
The following line from Linspire's website makes me a bit apprehensive:
"The AOL Dialer for Linux is not endorsed, supported or certified by America Online, Inc."
So?
Are they going to run out of numbers or something?
Sub7 and Netbus have been able to do this for _years_. What's the big deal?
retrobox.com has a fantastic selection as well - the HP Omnibook 6000 I'm typing this on, a PII700 w/384 meg ram, came from there(just over $300)
clicky clicky
I think people should support advertizing projects that take the high moral road. I'm going to reward these guys for staying legit and we'll see how it turns out.
I honestly think that's the most grotesque, the most disgusting, thing I ever seen posted to slashdot. If you honestly beieve that ANY advertiser is moving ANY sort of morality - you're in serious need of intensive therapy.
I used to be one of those advertising guys. I was surrounded by like people all the time. No advertising/marketing person that's ever walked this earth has ever given a shit about you, your browser, your wife, your children, your hamster or any moral high ground. The ONLY thing that's cared about is the bottom line.
...where you also can't buy a baby
but you can buy the sperm, you can buy the egg,
and you can rent the uterus.
or perhaps Fritzie
So you're saying it can't be done? Just like building an island for the Kansai International Airport couldn't be done? Just like removing what - 3 mountains for the Three Gorges Dam in China isn't being done as we speak? The scale is certainly a bit larger, but these projects were of unthinkable scale not to long ago as well.