That's down right sinister. I'm not disagreeing (or agreeing) that this is happening. However I believe a sort of Social/Group Darwinism happens in significantly large complex organizations (like governments). Unthinking beauracracies evolve into whats best for the "beast" and not whats best for doing its job. Someone wrote a blog recently about whether the government agencies are grossly incomptent or "divinely comptent conspiracies" (not sure the quote is precise but its close enough). I prefer to think of it as both.
Where's the frontier where one can escape the thumb of large business and large government?
Well the company I work for is having a brief training tonight on the use of flex with J2EE. So I know it is definitely not reliant on Coldfusion. I got the feeling you didn't need to use any proprietary Flash development tools to use it either, but I did get the feeling it used the flash plugin someway from the brief overview I was given.
Is that completely unrelated to your first statement? I hope so. If you read the intro you would see that Jackson isn't even pegged 100% to be the director. I hope he is, b/c I think LOTR the movie turned out as well as could be hoped for and I think the hobbit being done in a different fashion would suck.
I think Jackson has done some good stuff and some really bad stuff. *shrug*
My conspiracy theory... I call it the silverback conspiracy (silver/gray haired typically-white old men). So many corporations are all in bed together. I noticed this while working in the defense industry, its frightening how many CEO's are on the Board of Directors of their "competiton." Seems less and less like a free market and more and more like cleverly disguised monopolies. I'm only half serious about the conspiracy theory.
I think all laws should come into effect with an expiration date that is proportional to the vote. (maybe elections should be run the same way). Someone squeaks by an election they get the shortest term possible. They have an overwhelming majority let their term lasts longer.
I'm going to chime in here, the tubes (er wires) should be provided by the government. The endpoints should be a free market. Pathways, roads, water pipes, power lines, cables, are inheritently monopolistic, to allow one organization that is motivated by profit to control these is bad. To allow every company that wants to create its own network (of roads, cables, phone lines) would be messy, ugly, and burdensome. The only sensible solution IMO, is to allow the government to provide/control these (in as free a manner as possible).
Can you help someone out by pointing me towards a link to a good site that show's how to set something like that up? I've got a bit of experience with linux and solaris, but mostly use windows. I don't have any experience using BSD (though I'd like to look at it). The more complicated my home network gets, the more I want to put something between the modem and the router. I would love to be able to monitor inbound/outbound traffic block certain sites etc. I can do some of that with the router, or firewalls on individual machines. I'm sure I can find several sites on google, but if you've had a good experience with a particular tutorial please share it with me.
There's a lot more to DOD software than that... in addition to web servers, browsers, databases etc. There are also specialized tools for publishing/viewing techmanuals (I actually did some work here). Unfortunately, the different branches have scores of contractors all writing different techmanuals. Often the company that sold product X to the military will also furnish the manuals. Ideally these manuals are written to a particular spec. Even more Ideally they are tagged against a particular DTD. Then in theory these should all be viewed by a common utility or viewer, and processed by a publication engine into printable format. Unfortunately these scores and scores of contractors, all like to develop viewers that require some sort of conversion that locks a particular group into using their viewer often with their own DTD. Really the DOD should develop its own viewer make it opensource and demand that all the contractors submit their Tech manuals/orders in a format that works for the viewer.
Long story short the DOD is a huge business and can reap the benefits of OSS just as much as any normal corp.
They talk about the ui being special with white letters on black vs. the reverse. What would work on selling me, being the nostalgic fool I am, would be Green on black (maybe even amber on black, but I'd prefer the green thank you).
I think the Dell mp3 player has a similar wheel to what you're talking about. I personally hate the iPod wheel, but the one on the dell just has a much nicer, more solid feel to me. I however don't own either device, or any mp3 player (besides my computer and car stereo). I'm still waiting for a pda with a 30gb+ HD that can do mp3's and video. Then maybe I'll have my portable mp3 player.
Often times when it comes to local elections, you only have a single choice. The last local election (for me at least) there were several people running unopposed. Often the smaller local positions have very little power or sway over things anyways, as Federal and State jurisdiction will just prevail over the local powers that be anyway.
I see the point that you and a few other people are making. That it should be easier to get the majority to vote for change rather than stage an armed revolution. First I want to say, by revolution, I don't necessarily mean "armed" (even if I said it that way -don't think I did). It could just be sweeping reforms, constitutional ammendments (not a single proposed one in recent years is worthwhile though). Lastly... this is purely tongue-in-cheek. If the american people are truly indifferent like a heard of sheep, wouldn't it be easier kill the shepherd, then to try to convince the herd to come to a consensus on a new shepherd? You mention paralells between society and biology and evolution. When it comes to pack/herd leadership, isn't that normally the way? BTW I'm not advocating this, just saying. If some group came along and ousted the current government and it didn't have a negative impact on most people's lives (or even had a positive impact), I think they would remain just as indifferent. Wouldn't they?
I would be happy with a serious third party that addressed concerns important to me. Both parties are so entrenched and interested in really one thing keeping the status quo. I have this odd belief that the government that should have the most influence over my life should be the one closest to me (city/county), but I don't hold to the libertarian view that all government is evil. I like public parks, roads, schools etc. I believe somethings can be managed better at larger level (Networks, be it roads, electrical, information, and even insurance). I don't think government should get too involved what runs through the networks. It all seems like such common sense to me. Maybe some day soon I will author a manifesto, (er political platform) although I have not the least desire to be in politics.
often there is often no third party candidate (sometimes there is a single candidate
I've got better things to do then being a candidate
I'm beginning to question the legitimacy of our elections
At 3 you see the futility of voting...
Once you start getting to 5, things really fall apart. One can only hope that the system will collapse (like that is going to be fun).
Damnit I'm starting to sound like a paranoid-libertarian.
Are you a US citizen? I don't mean to sound rude, but your post oozes with idealism and a certain lack in understanding of how US politics works. You seem to understand how its supposed to work, but it doesn't work this way. There are two political parties in power that for all intents and purposes might as well be one. They do a really good job of keeping all the power to themselves and locking out any independants/third parties. They both claim to have differing agendas (and to a small degree actually do), but when it comes to anyone proposing some real change it won't happen. The US is in need of a revolution something to streamline and open the government. You call american voters indifferent, wouldn't you be indifferent if your only choices were coke and pepsi and you really wanted something altogether different than a cola?
close to the end of the free year of MS's Express line (ending in Nov. I believe)
I know this is offtopic, but what does this mean? I downloaded most of the VS express editions. Will they stop working? or will they just not let anyone download them after november?
I agree completely. I also think things like cable/power lines/water pipes/roadways, basically any network system that requires use of eminent domain should belong to the people (ie the government). The end points and suppliers should all be non-government (with the possible exception of water as thats is a natural resource). To bad there isn't a common-sense party that is largely libertarian but uses common sense and acknowledges where the government is useful (or should be useful).
you bought the dvd/vhs movie you can do with it what you want? I did NOT RTFA but the headline makes it sound like you can "trade" your pristine copy for an edited one. That sounds fine, to me. Now if Walmart or some other chain is selling edited movies that would be a strict no no. But if I want to edit my dvds/vhs tapes or have someone else do it, thats my own damn business provided I'm not selling it as a new piece of art. /captcha liberty... hrm.
I'll go one up on you.... someone I know who happens to be an Assistant District Attorney gave this bit of advice:
Don't say anything to the police period. Anything you need to say to them can be said in court. Granted if you have a lawyer, and are wanting to strike a bargain it may be in your interest to talk, but always do so with a lawyer present.
Just to repeat the police are not your friends.
I would say that your ability to do anything besides eating largely rests on your ability to eat. I think that is a simple and true statement. If you don't eat food you will die. I didn't say I agreed with Rand, but I said the ability of the government to do anything relies on its ability to incarcerate and yeah the quote stretches this idea.
I'm not sure I buy Rand's quote 100% but its easy to refute some of those points. Government can't declare war with out soldiers, it is a crime not to sign up for selective services. Government can't build roads, fund space programs etc with out forcibly taking taxes, its a crime (you can go to jail) for not paying taxes. The Government is the only "creditor" that can forcibly take your belongings, and your freedom. Is that right or wrong? I'm not saying, but yes government's ability to operate rests largely on its ability to incarcerate people.
Just a transmitter in the gun and then another in a watch or ring, so that only the person with the both could actually fire the gun. (The gun won't fire unless the signal from the other device is less than 3 ft away). This way stolen guns won't fire and in theory only the owner could actually fire the weapon./captcha lockup hrm...
if you left your front door open, would it be legal for some stranger to wander in and use your stuff?
I hear this argument a lot, and I dont think its very accurate. Your front door isn't floating out into public space, If you play your music really loud and the sound waves travel out to my ears, am I stealing your music? No. and thats only half the analogy, because as we know the wireless card in the laptop also sends a message back to the wap but for that to happen the wap first has to send out a message notifying the laptop that it exists. So I guess to complete your analogy... if someone's front door has a sign that actively says "I'm open, I'm unlocked" kind of like an invatation for an open house which seems legal to me.
Slashdot Mirror
That's down right sinister. I'm not disagreeing (or agreeing) that this is happening. However I believe a sort of Social/Group Darwinism happens in significantly large complex organizations (like governments). Unthinking beauracracies evolve into whats best for the "beast" and not whats best for doing its job. Someone wrote a blog recently about whether the government agencies are grossly incomptent or "divinely comptent conspiracies" (not sure the quote is precise but its close enough). I prefer to think of it as both.
Where's the frontier where one can escape the thumb of large business and large government?
Well the company I work for is having a brief training tonight on the use of flex with J2EE. So I know it is definitely not reliant on Coldfusion. I got the feeling you didn't need to use any proprietary Flash development tools to use it either, but I did get the feeling it used the flash plugin someway from the brief overview I was given.
"I hate Jackson"
Is that completely unrelated to your first statement? I hope so. If you read the intro you would see that Jackson isn't even pegged 100% to be the director. I hope he is, b/c I think LOTR the movie turned out as well as could be hoped for and I think the hobbit being done in a different fashion would suck.
I think Jackson has done some good stuff and some really bad stuff. *shrug*
My conspiracy theory... I call it the silverback conspiracy (silver/gray haired typically-white old men). So many corporations are all in bed together. I noticed this while working in the defense industry, its frightening how many CEO's are on the Board of Directors of their "competiton." Seems less and less like a free market and more and more like cleverly disguised monopolies. I'm only half serious about the conspiracy theory.
Now let me adjust my tinfoil hat.
I think all laws should come into effect with an expiration date that is proportional to the vote. (maybe elections should be run the same way). Someone squeaks by an election they get the shortest term possible. They have an overwhelming majority let their term lasts longer.
I'm going to chime in here, the tubes (er wires) should be provided by the government. The endpoints should be a free market. Pathways, roads, water pipes, power lines, cables, are inheritently monopolistic, to allow one organization that is motivated by profit to control these is bad. To allow every company that wants to create its own network (of roads, cables, phone lines) would be messy, ugly, and burdensome. The only sensible solution IMO, is to allow the government to provide/control these (in as free a manner as possible).
Can you help someone out by pointing me towards a link to a good site that show's how to set something like that up? I've got a bit of experience with linux and solaris, but mostly use windows. I don't have any experience using BSD (though I'd like to look at it). The more complicated my home network gets, the more I want to put something between the modem and the router. I would love to be able to monitor inbound/outbound traffic block certain sites etc. I can do some of that with the router, or firewalls on individual machines. I'm sure I can find several sites on google, but if you've had a good experience with a particular tutorial please share it with me.
I think this niche is already covered. LinkedIn?
There's a lot more to DOD software than that... in addition to web servers, browsers, databases etc. There are also specialized tools for publishing/viewing techmanuals (I actually did some work here). Unfortunately, the different branches have scores of contractors all writing different techmanuals. Often the company that sold product X to the military will also furnish the manuals. Ideally these manuals are written to a particular spec. Even more Ideally they are tagged against a particular DTD. Then in theory these should all be viewed by a common utility or viewer, and processed by a publication engine into printable format. Unfortunately these scores and scores of contractors, all like to develop viewers that require some sort of conversion that locks a particular group into using their viewer often with their own DTD. Really the DOD should develop its own viewer make it opensource and demand that all the contractors submit their Tech manuals/orders in a format that works for the viewer.
Long story short the DOD is a huge business and can reap the benefits of OSS just as much as any normal corp.
As someone who's seen this first hand, you should be modded to +6 and beyond.
They talk about the ui being special with white letters on black vs. the reverse. What would work on selling me, being the nostalgic fool I am, would be Green on black (maybe even amber on black, but I'd prefer the green thank you).
I think the Dell mp3 player has a similar wheel to what you're talking about. I personally hate the iPod wheel, but the one on the dell just has a much nicer, more solid feel to me. I however don't own either device, or any mp3 player (besides my computer and car stereo). I'm still waiting for a pda with a 30gb+ HD that can do mp3's and video. Then maybe I'll have my portable mp3 player.
Often times when it comes to local elections, you only have a single choice. The last local election (for me at least) there were several people running unopposed. Often the smaller local positions have very little power or sway over things anyways, as Federal and State jurisdiction will just prevail over the local powers that be anyway.
I see the point that you and a few other people are making. That it should be easier to get the majority to vote for change rather than stage an armed revolution. First I want to say, by revolution, I don't necessarily mean "armed" (even if I said it that way -don't think I did). It could just be sweeping reforms, constitutional ammendments (not a single proposed one in recent years is worthwhile though). Lastly... this is purely tongue-in-cheek. If the american people are truly indifferent like a heard of sheep, wouldn't it be easier kill the shepherd, then to try to convince the herd to come to a consensus on a new shepherd? You mention paralells between society and biology and evolution. When it comes to pack/herd leadership, isn't that normally the way? BTW I'm not advocating this, just saying. If some group came along and ousted the current government and it didn't have a negative impact on most people's lives (or even had a positive impact), I think they would remain just as indifferent. Wouldn't they?
I would be happy with a serious third party that addressed concerns important to me. Both parties are so entrenched and interested in really one thing keeping the status quo. I have this odd belief that the government that should have the most influence over my life should be the one closest to me (city/county), but I don't hold to the libertarian view that all government is evil. I like public parks, roads, schools etc. I believe somethings can be managed better at larger level (Networks, be it roads, electrical, information, and even insurance). I don't think government should get too involved what runs through the networks. It all seems like such common sense to me. Maybe some day soon I will author a manifesto, (er political platform) although I have not the least desire to be in politics.
- I do vote.
- I think it is futile.
- often there is often no third party candidate (sometimes there is a single candidate
- I've got better things to do then being a candidate
- I'm beginning to question the legitimacy of our elections
At 3 you see the futility of voting... Once you start getting to 5, things really fall apart. One can only hope that the system will collapse (like that is going to be fun). Damnit I'm starting to sound like a paranoid-libertarian.Are you a US citizen? I don't mean to sound rude, but your post oozes with idealism and a certain lack in understanding of how US politics works. You seem to understand how its supposed to work, but it doesn't work this way. There are two political parties in power that for all intents and purposes might as well be one. They do a really good job of keeping all the power to themselves and locking out any independants/third parties. They both claim to have differing agendas (and to a small degree actually do), but when it comes to anyone proposing some real change it won't happen. The US is in need of a revolution something to streamline and open the government. You call american voters indifferent, wouldn't you be indifferent if your only choices were coke and pepsi and you really wanted something altogether different than a cola?
close to the end of the free year of MS's Express line (ending in Nov. I believe)
I know this is offtopic, but what does this mean? I downloaded most of the VS express editions. Will they stop working? or will they just not let anyone download them after november?
I agree completely. I also think things like cable/power lines/water pipes/roadways, basically any network system that requires use of eminent domain should belong to the people (ie the government).
The end points and suppliers should all be non-government (with the possible exception of water as thats is a natural resource). To bad there isn't a common-sense party that is largely libertarian but uses common sense and acknowledges where the government is useful (or should be useful).
you bought the dvd/vhs movie you can do with it what you want? I did NOT RTFA but the headline makes it sound like you can "trade" your pristine copy for an edited one. That sounds fine, to me. Now if Walmart or some other chain is selling edited movies that would be a strict no no. But if I want to edit my dvds/vhs tapes or have someone else do it, thats my own damn business provided I'm not selling it as a new piece of art.
/captcha liberty... hrm.
I'll go one up on you.... someone I know who happens to be an Assistant District Attorney gave this bit of advice:
Don't say anything to the police period. Anything you need to say to them can be said in court. Granted if you have a lawyer, and are wanting to strike a bargain it may be in your interest to talk, but always do so with a lawyer present.
Just to repeat the police are not your friends.
I would say that your ability to do anything besides eating largely rests on your ability to eat. I think that is a simple and true statement. If you don't eat food you will die. I didn't say I agreed with Rand, but I said the ability of the government to do anything relies on its ability to incarcerate and yeah the quote stretches this idea.
I'm not sure I buy Rand's quote 100% but its easy to refute some of those points. Government can't declare war with out soldiers, it is a crime not to sign up for selective services. Government can't build roads, fund space programs etc with out forcibly taking taxes, its a crime (you can go to jail) for not paying taxes. The Government is the only "creditor" that can forcibly take your belongings, and your freedom. Is that right or wrong? I'm not saying, but yes government's ability to operate rests largely on its ability to incarcerate people.
Just a transmitter in the gun and then another in a watch or ring, so that only the person with the both could actually fire the gun. (The gun won't fire unless the signal from the other device is less than 3 ft away). This way stolen guns won't fire and in theory only the owner could actually fire the weapon. /captcha lockup hrm...
if you left your front door open, would it be legal for some stranger to wander in and use your stuff?
I hear this argument a lot, and I dont think its very accurate. Your front door isn't floating out into public space, If you play your music really loud and the sound waves travel out to my ears, am I stealing your music? No. and thats only half the analogy, because as we know the wireless card in the laptop also sends a message back to the wap but for that to happen the wap first has to send out a message notifying the laptop that it exists. So I guess to complete your analogy... if someone's front door has a sign that actively says "I'm open, I'm unlocked" kind of like an invatation for an open house which seems legal to me.
*cough* Firefly *cough*
seriously, I'm not just karma-whoring.