Don't use IM software unless it's part of a closed, managed network. For example: www.omnipod.com is what we use for inter-office IM here. It's a closed network, and all files sent are automatically virus scanned before they can be received. Safe and effective, and keeps our employees from IM-ing with people outside the company.
will the iTunes people and the Media Monopolies in general learn that they will NEVER win the DRM war and all they are doing is costing themselves money and customers?
They're not insane, they've just chosen to be your enemy.
Yours too, unless you also happen to be a member of the Wahabbist sect. Don't ever think that just because you want to understand them that they care. The Wahabbists hate all who are not like them, and will happily kill anyone who disagrees with them on any point related to thier beliefs. This is why we must continue to fight. To do any less is to surrender our necks to thier swords.
We have these ads in Planetside. Not only are they disruptive and annoying (They have included ads with SOUND! ARGH!) They are non-destructible. I have seen fights in buildings where an entire wall is COATED in bulletholes and blast marks, but the damn advert and it's frame are squeaky clean!
Fortunately, there is a way to block them, at least for now. You can modify your HOSTS file in Windows and blackhole the advert servers. This kills off the ad generating process that normally starts with the game, and the ad panels in-game will display a pre-fab neutral background.
I think that we as gamers need to ensure that we block ads for any pay to play game. Freebie games like AO, ads are OK, it's how the company stays profitable. But for Pay2play games, As we are already paying a subscription fee so the company can make thier profits, there is no reason to subject ourselves to this type of insult.
Block the ads, and then MAKE SURE the game company KNOWS you are blocking the ads either via e-mail or the game forums. If enough of us make the small effort to prevent the ads, the companies will drop them as unprofitable, and we can get back to pure ad-free gaming.
Better look out buddy, the Black Helicopters are coming for you. Better put you tinfoil hat back on so they can't track you with the chip the aliens implanted in your head!
I'd go point by point and disprove every single point you made, but frankly, to anyone who is less than crazy you've already made my argument better than I could have. Besides that, I doubt you'd believe me anyway. You'd just say "That's what THEY want you to think!"
Ugh. Seriously, what is it with all the conspiracy theory nuts on Slashdot recently?
Actually, that vision disappeared in the mid 1800's due to the civil war.
Remember, the Civil war was not about freeing the slaves.
It was a fundamental construction argument about the rights of states vs the rights of the federal government. Basically, is the United States is a loose confederation of equal states where the Federal Government exists at the behest of those states, or is it an unbreakable compact with a strong central government, whereby no one state has the right to leave the union?
This was the premise of the war. It was an argument that ran very deep into American psyche at the time. In a way, it was the Abortion debate of it's time, only MUCH more intense. This is why we have records of slaves being released by thier masters to go fight for the CONFEDERACY. Not because the masters ordered it, but because the slaves understood the importance of states rights and a weaker central government, and asked permission to go fight for the Confederacy.
When the North won the war, that basically ended the debate. And as much as I abhor slavery, I still think the wrong side won. We would be better off today if the states had more power. Also, with a weaker central government, the states would have more power over with whom and how often we go to war. Those who oppose the war against terror (not me, but I know there are plenty who do) would have a greater say in government as the power would be shifted to a more local battle within the state.
no sane intelligent designer would make a cell this way.
Of course, it could also be that the Designer's intelligence is so far beyond your own as to be beyond your comprehension. Things which humans cannot comprehend are often labeled as illogical. Until we learn to understand them, at which point they become perfectly logical.
Not that I am neccisarily arguing for intelligent design, it's just that our universe is infinitely complex. Deeming something "insanely designed" only points out your limited knowledge. I prefer to acknowledge that the complexity of DNA is a fascinating mystery which we have yet to fully unravel.
Teacher's Unions know the most about keeping themselves in power. Home-schooling, Teleschooling, and Education Voucher programs have all been proven time and time again as SUPERIOR methods of schooling or obtaining quality schooling. Yet what have Teacher's Unions opposed time and time again? All of the above. They aren't interested in what is best for our children. They are interested in keeping thier jobs and thier power.
Yes, there are plenty of INDIVIDUAL teachers that are very good. That has NOTHING to do with the Teacher's Unions, and everything to do with a talented individual succeeding DESPITE the system they are in. Please don't try and use standout teachers as examples of why we should continue to deny our children the best opportunities and continue to prop up a failed socialist government beaurocracy. It's an insult to our intelligence and a waste of our time.
I think we need to keep in mind that Western-style schooling is a bit of an anomaly, historically speaking. It's actually MORE normal for children to spend more time at home with family than kids do today. Even throughout America's history, home-schooling and private-schooling were much more the norm than public-schooling.
I would posit that the public school system as it stands today is actually more HARMFUL socially to our kids than helpful. This is mostly due to the large class sizes, the overall lack of discipline and the lack of healthy student-teacher interaction. This is not something that is really "fixable" within our current structure. Teacher's Unions have too much power, and things are too centralized in a large and inefficient government beaurocracy.
Learning is a highly personal experience. It is something that should be done OUTSIDE a large social atmosphere where peer pressure and concern with social standing can take mental precedence over learning the material at hand. Also, by personalizing the learning experience, one learns self-assurance and the ability to work alone and self-start. These are CRITICAL skills in society today. Those in public schools who learn these skills do not do so BECAUSE of public schools, but DESPITE public schools.
We need to encourage the uptake of more Teleschooling and small, private schools, and get away from large, Socialistic beaurocratically run schools. It's in our kid's best interests.
One might ask though, is this due to thier innate personality, or due to thier experiences growing up?
In my experience I was much like those people you describe. Easily distracted, always daydreaming, and needing much hand-holding to get anything meaningful done. It turned out the problem was TOO MUCH assistance. Basically, I needed to just be shoved out the door and told to go do it. I didn't figure this out until into my late twenties. Once I figured it out, I went back to night-school, and got several technical certifications. Now I'm a Nework Admin at a company that makes safety software for Nuclear Power plants. I'm not wealthy, but I'm doing OK, and have plenty of advancement ahead of me. I just wish someone had properly challenged me earlier in life. If I had been forced to study more independantly earlier, I would likely be much further along than I am today.
The point is, Kids need to be challenged academically more than they need to be socialized at school. Teleschooling can offer that challenge, and kids can get thier socialization from sports, scouting, clubs, etc.
If telecommuting kids have an advantage, Isn't that a GOOD thing? As a society, we don't have any business denying any advantage our children might gain from technological advances. It's not our place to hold people back. Those that can't adapt to telecommuting jobs need to find other employ that doesn't require it. It isn't right to deny others the pay and benefits they deserve just so a few can have fun socializing at an office.
FTFA: The Chicago Teachers Union says children need the classroom.
Seems to me that the Teacher's Union needs the classroom more than the kids. Online learning through accredited schools is proven and effective. Teacher's Unions, on the other hand, have only been proven to look out for the Teacher's best interests, often to the detriment of thier students. I choose to take the Teachers Union's opinion with a grain... make that a truckload of salt.
The reason that Nerdcore is considered rap, is because a rapper COINED the term. That would be MC Frontalot (www.frontalot.com) in case you were wondering. Frankly, I don't know how any self-respecting geek can have a "nerdcore" collection and NOT have any Frontalot in it! (or how Cmdr-taco could completely forget to mention him.)
I'm not entirely certain how we got to the point that artists (and media conglomerates) have a right to earn recurrent income from a single effort, but I think that time should come to an end.
Obviously, if an artist CAN manage to make a recurrant income, they have a right to try. But they are not, and should not be GUARANTEED one simply by virtue of being an artist.
But the simply fact is that businesses will only ever pay workers as little as they can possibly get away with. When the economy is going strongly, they take all the profits - wages do not rise - and they certainly won't rise now with Work Choices ( Business Choices ). But when the economy is going badly, businesses us this as an excuse to decimate wages and sack workers, while they still take profits... just slightly lower profits.
Ok , we have two fallacies here.
One, that businesses do not increase wages in an improving economy. This is patently false, and all you have to do to disprove it is look around at any company that is doing well in a strong economy. Wages go up. Guess what? In a company that is doing well in a poor economy, wages go up. In a company that is doing so-so in a good or poor economy, wages go up. The ONLY situation where wages remain flat or go down is in a company that is in serious financial trouble. Why? Because EMPLOYEES CAN ONLY LIVE SO LONG ON FLAT WAGES before they quit and go to another company with better opportunity.
This isn't the 1800's, where travel is hard and you work for the same coal company all your life because there isn't any better place to go. There is ALWAYS somwhere to go, sometimes better, sometimes not as good, but there is always opportunity available in a capitalistic society. it's YOUR job to take advantage of it.
Two, and I realise that this will be a shocker to the socialists and neo-commies on/., but BUSINESSES EXIST TO MAKE A PROFIT! It's true! Businesses are not social institutions designed to give you a paycheck! They exist to make money for thier owners, and THAT IS NOT A BAD THING! It is this Profit-motive that drives the need for good people to do the work required to make the owners profits. In other words, your job exists because someone else put thier financial future on the line to create a business that would make them money, even make them wealthy.
I recommend spending some time reading up on the subject. Perhaps "Atlas Shrugged" would be a good place to start? You really need to better understand how the real world works, and stop living in your little socialist fantasy land where big Eeeeviiil coporations steal all the food from little babies mouths and it's only BIG Government that can save us all. You just make yourself look like a fool.
One of the main reasons we went to war with Iraq was that Saddam was a dictator that had and wanted more WMD's. For 3 years the anti-Bush crowd has been chanting "Bush lied, there were no WMD's and Saddam wasn't pursuing them."
Now, 3 years later, it comes out that YES, Saddam DID HAVE WMD's, and he WAS pursuing more of them. Bush is vindicated, and all you can come up with is, "But, but, but, they were OLD!". Totally missing the point that they were indeed THERE, and Saddam had lied to the UN security council about destroying them and not pursuing more of them. Thusly violating the Security counsel agreement and triggering the resolution's military option.
Get over yourselves. You were wrong, Bush was right AND he was just following the rules laid down by the UN.
Learn to accept defeat graciously for crying out loud.
Um, you guys do realize that the banner was for the SHIP'S MISSION right? I mean, you're not so naive and ignorant as to not know that each ship has it's own mission, or is part of a larger task force that has it's own mission, right?
I mean, you wouldn't say something like that just to demagogue the issue while entirely missing the point and looking like a complete fool, would you?
Considering that most humans need to consume goods (like FOOD) to live, and consume MORE (and more expensive) goods to live comfortably,
Considering that these goods cost money,
Considering that most humans are not independantly wealthy,
Considering that the simplest method of gaining money is to trade something you have (TIME and skills) for money,
Then that transaction, more commonly known as WORKING, probably has less to do with being corporate serfs than simply wanting to eat and being unwilling or afraid to steal from others to do it.
Did you guys actually read FTA? There is a SEM Photo of one of the nanotube sections. The tubes are aligned VERTICALLY on the Cap surface, much like a carpet. Since the tubes themselves hold the charge, each individual nanotube fiber holds electricity. That's ALOT of power!
Slashdot Mirror
Don't use IM software unless it's part of a closed, managed network. For example: www.omnipod.com is what we use for inter-office IM here. It's a closed network, and all files sent are automatically virus scanned before they can be received. Safe and effective, and keeps our employees from IM-ing with people outside the company.
will the iTunes people and the Media Monopolies in general learn that they will NEVER win the DRM war and all they are doing is costing themselves money and customers?
Yours too, unless you also happen to be a member of the Wahabbist sect. Don't ever think that just because you want to understand them that they care. The Wahabbists hate all who are not like them, and will happily kill anyone who disagrees with them on any point related to thier beliefs. This is why we must continue to fight. To do any less is to surrender our necks to thier swords.
We have these ads in Planetside. Not only are they disruptive and annoying (They have included ads with SOUND! ARGH!) They are non-destructible. I have seen fights in buildings where an entire wall is COATED in bulletholes and blast marks, but the damn advert and it's frame are squeaky clean!
Fortunately, there is a way to block them, at least for now. You can modify your HOSTS file in Windows and blackhole the advert servers. This kills off the ad generating process that normally starts with the game, and the ad panels in-game will display a pre-fab neutral background.
You can find full blocking directions on my blog , http://wearyman.blogspot.com/
I think that we as gamers need to ensure that we block ads for any pay to play game. Freebie games like AO, ads are OK, it's how the company stays profitable. But for Pay2play games, As we are already paying a subscription fee so the company can make thier profits, there is no reason to subject ourselves to this type of insult.
Block the ads, and then MAKE SURE the game company KNOWS you are blocking the ads either via e-mail or the game forums. If enough of us make the small effort to prevent the ads, the companies will drop them as unprofitable, and we can get back to pure ad-free gaming.
Better look out buddy, the Black Helicopters are coming for you. Better put you tinfoil hat back on so they can't track you with the chip the aliens implanted in your head!
I'd go point by point and disprove every single point you made, but frankly, to anyone who is less than crazy you've already made my argument better than I could have. Besides that, I doubt you'd believe me anyway. You'd just say "That's what THEY want you to think!"
Ugh. Seriously, what is it with all the conspiracy theory nuts on Slashdot recently?
You know tftp, I think you need a new hat. Now where did I put that tinfoil....
Actually, that vision disappeared in the mid 1800's due to the civil war.
Remember, the Civil war was not about freeing the slaves.
It was a fundamental construction argument about the rights of states vs the rights of the federal government. Basically, is the United States is a loose confederation of equal states where the Federal Government exists at the behest of those states, or is it an unbreakable compact with a strong central government, whereby no one state has the right to leave the union?
This was the premise of the war. It was an argument that ran very deep into American psyche at the time. In a way, it was the Abortion debate of it's time, only MUCH more intense. This is why we have records of slaves being released by thier masters to go fight for the CONFEDERACY. Not because the masters ordered it, but because the slaves understood the importance of states rights and a weaker central government, and asked permission to go fight for the Confederacy.
When the North won the war, that basically ended the debate. And as much as I abhor slavery, I still think the wrong side won. We would be better off today if the states had more power. Also, with a weaker central government, the states would have more power over with whom and how often we go to war. Those who oppose the war against terror (not me, but I know there are plenty who do) would have a greater say in government as the power would be shifted to a more local battle within the state.
Food for thought.
Of course, it could also be that the Designer's intelligence is so far beyond your own as to be beyond your comprehension. Things which humans cannot comprehend are often labeled as illogical. Until we learn to understand them, at which point they become perfectly logical.
Not that I am neccisarily arguing for intelligent design, it's just that our universe is infinitely complex. Deeming something "insanely designed" only points out your limited knowledge. I prefer to acknowledge that the complexity of DNA is a fascinating mystery which we have yet to fully unravel.
I absolutely disagree.
Teacher's Unions know the most about keeping themselves in power. Home-schooling, Teleschooling, and Education Voucher programs have all been proven time and time again as SUPERIOR methods of schooling or obtaining quality schooling. Yet what have Teacher's Unions opposed time and time again? All of the above. They aren't interested in what is best for our children. They are interested in keeping thier jobs and thier power.
Yes, there are plenty of INDIVIDUAL teachers that are very good. That has NOTHING to do with the Teacher's Unions, and everything to do with a talented individual succeeding DESPITE the system they are in. Please don't try and use standout teachers as examples of why we should continue to deny our children the best opportunities and continue to prop up a failed socialist government beaurocracy. It's an insult to our intelligence and a waste of our time.
I think we need to keep in mind that Western-style schooling is a bit of an anomaly, historically speaking. It's actually MORE normal for children to spend more time at home with family than kids do today. Even throughout America's history, home-schooling and private-schooling were much more the norm than public-schooling.
I would posit that the public school system as it stands today is actually more HARMFUL socially to our kids than helpful. This is mostly due to the large class sizes, the overall lack of discipline and the lack of healthy student-teacher interaction. This is not something that is really "fixable" within our current structure. Teacher's Unions have too much power, and things are too centralized in a large and inefficient government beaurocracy.
Learning is a highly personal experience. It is something that should be done OUTSIDE a large social atmosphere where peer pressure and concern with social standing can take mental precedence over learning the material at hand. Also, by personalizing the learning experience, one learns self-assurance and the ability to work alone and self-start. These are CRITICAL skills in society today. Those in public schools who learn these skills do not do so BECAUSE of public schools, but DESPITE public schools.
We need to encourage the uptake of more Teleschooling and small, private schools, and get away from large, Socialistic beaurocratically run schools. It's in our kid's best interests.
One might ask though, is this due to thier innate personality, or due to thier experiences growing up?
In my experience I was much like those people you describe. Easily distracted, always daydreaming, and needing much hand-holding to get anything meaningful done. It turned out the problem was TOO MUCH assistance. Basically, I needed to just be shoved out the door and told to go do it. I didn't figure this out until into my late twenties. Once I figured it out, I went back to night-school, and got several technical certifications. Now I'm a Nework Admin at a company that makes safety software for Nuclear Power plants. I'm not wealthy, but I'm doing OK, and have plenty of advancement ahead of me. I just wish someone had properly challenged me earlier in life. If I had been forced to study more independantly earlier, I would likely be much further along than I am today.
The point is, Kids need to be challenged academically more than they need to be socialized at school. Teleschooling can offer that challenge, and kids can get thier socialization from sports, scouting, clubs, etc.
If telecommuting kids have an advantage, Isn't that a GOOD thing? As a society, we don't have any business denying any advantage our children might gain from technological advances. It's not our place to hold people back. Those that can't adapt to telecommuting jobs need to find other employ that doesn't require it. It isn't right to deny others the pay and benefits they deserve just so a few can have fun socializing at an office.
FTFA: The Chicago Teachers Union says children need the classroom.
Seems to me that the Teacher's Union needs the classroom more than the kids. Online learning through accredited schools is proven and effective. Teacher's Unions, on the other hand, have only been proven to look out for the Teacher's best interests, often to the detriment of thier students. I choose to take the Teachers Union's opinion with a grain... make that a truckload of salt.
Wait. Wouldn't that be Nuclear Fission? Since you are splitting the atoms, not joining them.
And since the tip of this thing is 1 atom wide, can you split more than 1 atom with this before the tip is worn down?
The reason that Nerdcore is considered rap, is because a rapper COINED the term. That would be MC Frontalot (www.frontalot.com) in case you were wondering. Frankly, I don't know how any self-respecting geek can have a "nerdcore" collection and NOT have any Frontalot in it! (or how Cmdr-taco could completely forget to mention him.)
Well said sir, well said.
I'm not entirely certain how we got to the point that artists (and media conglomerates) have a right to earn recurrent income from a single effort, but I think that time should come to an end.
Obviously, if an artist CAN manage to make a recurrant income, they have a right to try. But they are not, and should not be GUARANTEED one simply by virtue of being an artist.
Aren't all "eyes of newt" organic? You know, being the eyes... of a newt... and stuff...
Behold! Someone who has NO IDEA what "Constructive Criticism" actually means!
:)
Alternately, this could be someone who is attempting to make a joke, and simply failing miserably.
Ok , we have two fallacies here.
One, that businesses do not increase wages in an improving economy. This is patently false, and all you have to do to disprove it is look around at any company that is doing well in a strong economy. Wages go up. Guess what? In a company that is doing well in a poor economy, wages go up. In a company that is doing so-so in a good or poor economy, wages go up. The ONLY situation where wages remain flat or go down is in a company that is in serious financial trouble. Why? Because EMPLOYEES CAN ONLY LIVE SO LONG ON FLAT WAGES before they quit and go to another company with better opportunity.
This isn't the 1800's, where travel is hard and you work for the same coal company all your life because there isn't any better place to go. There is ALWAYS somwhere to go, sometimes better, sometimes not as good, but there is always opportunity available in a capitalistic society. it's YOUR job to take advantage of it.
Two, and I realise that this will be a shocker to the socialists and neo-commies on
I recommend spending some time reading up on the subject. Perhaps "Atlas Shrugged" would be a good place to start? You really need to better understand how the real world works, and stop living in your little socialist fantasy land where big Eeeeviiil coporations steal all the food from little babies mouths and it's only BIG Government that can save us all. You just make yourself look like a fool.
Both of the links on the story are dead. Either they are incorrect, or slashdotted.
Once again, you miss the point.
One of the main reasons we went to war with Iraq was that Saddam was a dictator that had and wanted more WMD's. For 3 years the anti-Bush crowd has been chanting "Bush lied, there were no WMD's and Saddam wasn't pursuing them."
Now, 3 years later, it comes out that YES, Saddam DID HAVE WMD's, and he WAS pursuing more of them. Bush is vindicated, and all you can come up with is, "But, but, but, they were OLD!". Totally missing the point that they were indeed THERE, and Saddam had lied to the UN security council about destroying them and not pursuing more of them. Thusly violating the Security counsel agreement and triggering the resolution's military option.
Get over yourselves. You were wrong, Bush was right AND he was just following the rules laid down by the UN.
Learn to accept defeat graciously for crying out loud.
Um, you guys do realize that the banner was for the SHIP'S MISSION right? I mean, you're not so naive and ignorant as to not know that each ship has it's own mission, or is part of a larger task force that has it's own mission, right?
I mean, you wouldn't say something like that just to demagogue the issue while entirely missing the point and looking like a complete fool, would you?
Nah, This is Slashdot, after all.
Don't mess with us, or we'll Whip you and THEN Screw you! :)
Well,
Considering that most humans need to consume goods (like FOOD) to live, and consume MORE (and more expensive) goods to live comfortably,
Considering that these goods cost money,
Considering that most humans are not independantly wealthy,
Considering that the simplest method of gaining money is to trade something you have (TIME and skills) for money,
Then that transaction, more commonly known as WORKING, probably has less to do with being corporate serfs than simply wanting to eat and being unwilling or afraid to steal from others to do it.
Did you guys actually read FTA? There is a SEM Photo of one of the nanotube sections. The tubes are aligned VERTICALLY on the Cap surface, much like a carpet. Since the tubes themselves hold the charge, each individual nanotube fiber holds electricity. That's ALOT of power!
And Godwin's Law is in effect.
Nice job, you nit. Not only did you make an inaccurate and absurd comparison, you also killed the discussion.
Ugh.