If I'm remembering correctly, I think Capone's problem was that he wasn't paying his income taxes for his cover operations, not his illegal activities.
I stand corrected.
Illegal activities are certainly taxable where I am (New Zealand) but I'll take your word for the USA.
Considering the items are illegal, I wonder how the government plans to actually tax them.
They won't. But they will tax the spending of the proceeds of an illegal activity.
If I sell half a kilo of cocaine on the street, the government gets nothing. When I go to spend my ill gotten gains on a 72" Plasma TV set and an enormous diamond for my girl, then they get all the tax on those.
Besides, aren't illegal activities already theoretically taxable anyway? Wasn't that Al Capone's problem?
Sound familiar? It's the same argument against any kind of Open Source, only this time it's UI design that's somehow impossible to do without a big corporation (or "cathedral" if you will).
He's not saying you need a big corporation, only that at present those are the only ones doing it right.
Which is of course true. For all their various benefits there is currently no Linux WM or distro that has a "well-designed, intuitive interface".
Someone better tell the KDE people.
The KDE people mean well and are doing reasonably well, but comparing the usability of KDE to OS X is a bit like comparing the performance of a tricycle to a Ducati Supersport bike.
60Hz with no borders options on most of their games but to my knowledge Sony, Nintendo and MS have not followed suit with their machines.
You'll be pleased to know that nearly every Nintendo Gamecube game either offers a 60hz PAL option or is a properly coded 50hz version (thus have no black borders or slow down).
I can't speak for the PS2 or XBox though since I don't use either one.
There is still the delay issue in getting games across the pond, as it were, and of course the large number of games released in Japan that simply never make it out, but at least it's a start.
Regardless of your feelings for Microsoft and Gates, you have to respect his philanthropy.
If he donated a worthwhile proportion of his money to worthwhile causes like some of us do then he might be worth some respect.
Spending (the equivalent of) petty cash in an effort to somehow buy good karma is not something we should respect him for. If you've seen interviews with Bill Gates discussing his "charity work" then you'll realise that this is all it is - simply a way for him to buy a profile he hopes will offset his lack of conscience.
As loathe as I am to say it now, Microsoft has actually show us the benefit of "standards".
That's true, but in the absence of a behemoth like Microsoft dictating what a "standard" is we would probably be working with true (ie open) standards rather than simply what Bill declares is Good For You(tm).
I'd like to think that absent a Microsoft-like controlling entity, the continuing mayhem of opposing formats and standards for data and documents would have become so untenable that developers would have been forced towards working together to come up with standards that actually worked. And that were actually supported and were actually standard. This would be simply to ensure that the multitude of word processors (for example) could reliably utilise each other's documents since none would have the market leverage to ignore the others.
This assumes, of course, that not only is there no Microsoft, but that there is no company in a similar position of power.
There is also an Easter Bunny, and I saw Santa yesterday at his summer job at the beach...
There was one game recently that was outsourced to a firm in Russia. I remember it well.
One example does not make a particularly compelling argument.
There have been copious amounts of utter crap produced by American, Japanese, UK, French, German, and probably Italian and Malaysian game companies over the years. God knows I've played some of it.
I doubt the crap to competent ratio is any different for Russian programmers than it is to anywhere else's.
As for the outsourcing "problem" - well it's free trade isn't it? Isn't that what the US is always preaching to the rest of the planet? (And then screwing them over - the recent Australian "free trade" deal being a prime example).
Someone is targeting broadband (perhaps University) connections.
Could be. I'm working at a University in New Zealand and got one.
It was pretty obviously faked. There was the fact that it had a password protected zip file and the appalling grammar in the message itself. Our IT staff aren't that bad.
But the funniest and most obvious part was where it told me to visit www.ac.nz for more information.
Clearly whoever wrote the virus didn't intend for it to escape into the rest of the world, as it just assumes the right most two parts of the url are in fact the full domain.
Second, to the anti-Garth Jennings camp, could it possibly be any worse than a low budget 1980's BBC TV production?
Yes, it could easily be much, much, worse. I'm taking bets it will be an unwatchable disaster but hope to be amazed to the contrary. Jenning's moron value aside, most of the casting announced is already extremely dodgy. Add to that the film is being made in Hollywood and you've got an almost sure fire loser.
Not that I have anything against Hollywood per se, but they just don't seem to get British culture (witness the absolute travesty that is the upcoming Thunderbirds movie - did they even watch any of the TV series?).
I actually sorta liked the BBC TV series, believe it or not.
One of the reasons the BBC TV series really worked was because of the limited effects, though some of them were really complicated for the TV of the time. All the "computer" parts for the Guide were (apparently) done by hand...
Anyway, with the (comparative) lack of budget they had to rely more on (shock!) acting and (horror!) humour to make it work. And it did (Trillian perhaps excepted).
Putting an MTV director in charge of Guide style humour and class is like having Bill Clinton teach Japanese schoolgirls - you know damn well someone is going to get screwed, and there's going to be a hell of a mess!
Re:See a doctor
on
Cyberchondria
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
Doctors vists are a great way to get [peace] of mind, which IMO is well worth the cost/hassle.
Whilst that's undoubtedly true, a lot of (mostly male) people are reluctant to visit their doctor, for a number of reasons. For men it usually comes down to macho "I'm fine, really" attitudes, whereas for women it's often due to them being uncomfortable discussing certain issues with (perhaps) their male doctor.
Personally I did research a minor health issue I had before visiting my doctor and was gratified to find I was right with my own amateur diagnosis. That doesn't mean I sit in my darkened plastic bubble breathing filtered air and spend all day on the internet finding exotic and fascinating diseases I can convince myself I have.
I believe this "cyberchondria" is like all other internet-afflicted problems. Those who are already prone to certain mental attitudes will simply use the internet to go overboard. Whether that's researching health matters, looking at porn, or surfing Slashdot all day is largely irrelevant. There will always be a small percentage of people who have an addictive personality. The rest of us will continue to find the [health information/porn/Slashdot] useful without getting psychotic about it.
Deciphering all the typos in that post was an interesting experience...
Regardless, the main point - that a corporation is a dictatorship - is factually correct. However, if you treat your employees as if they have no valuable opinions on the tools they will be using to do their jobs, then you will lose buy in, and have a revolt.
The employees aren't exactly going to be turning up at their manager's door with pitch-forks and flaming torches, but they are going to be grumbling, moaning, bitching, whining, and likely looking for another job. Successful companies retain staff by ensuring they feel valued.
Basically, treating your employees like shit gets you nothing but shit employees. Acting in a dictatorial manner simply because you can simply creates more problems than it solves. It is vital in large scale change projects to ensure that people at least feel like they've been consulted, even if you end up ignoring everything they've said.
The productivity lost in replacing numbers of employees would be far more costly than simply throwing some toy penguins and a blonde bimbo into the equation.
I am, of course, assuming that once the buy in was created by the "weaker sex" and toy penguin strategy there is sufficient training and backup in place - without which the entire project is doomed to failure anyway.
This is slashdot...don't we all already think opensource is right for handhelds?
You're right - this is Slashdot, where we think open source is right for everything from servers through to electric can openers, from cellular phones to shoes.
Slashdot Mirror
The man couldn't keep control of an orc herd in rural New Zealand
I thought we only had herds of cows in rural New Zealand. The correct collective term for orcs is surely "a nerd of orcs".
I can't remember what they were called, was it gnomes?
Gargoyles, I believe.
Nintendo needs to kiss ass at S-E badly and get them back into the fold. That alone would shift the console wars in their favor.
Well there is FF: Crystal Chronicles for the GameCube, though some purists are debating whether it's really a Final Fantasy game.
Regardless it is at least a start towards getting FF games on Nintendo boxes for those who feel the need.
why is it do you suppose, that they haven't started sticking advertising in bathrooms
Coming soon to a bathroom near you?
Of course there's been advertising in bathrooms ever since there was a bathroom if you count the "Call 0900-HOTSEX for a really good time!" type.
A pair of Arizona attorneys sent the spam 10 years ago each, for a total of 20 years ago.
Ah so it's not new math, it's RIAA math...
If by "commnuication" you mean throwing your own poo to show disgust, then I would say "yes!".
Oh it's much worse than that. Bored chimps in the zoo masturbate to relieve the, er, boredom.
Imagine all the bored /. nerds at work unable to read (it's not chimp communication), and instead taking up the chimp's ways....
Actually, that's not something to imagine. (shudder).
If I'm remembering correctly, I think Capone's problem was that he wasn't paying his income taxes for his cover operations, not his illegal activities.
I stand corrected.
Illegal activities are certainly taxable where I am (New Zealand) but I'll take your word for the USA.
... I'm glad I'm an accountant.
And that I live in another country!
Considering the items are illegal, I wonder how the government plans to actually tax them.
They won't. But they will tax the spending of the proceeds of an illegal activity.
If I sell half a kilo of cocaine on the street, the government gets nothing. When I go to spend my ill gotten gains on a 72" Plasma TV set and an enormous diamond for my girl, then they get all the tax on those.
Besides, aren't illegal activities already theoretically taxable anyway? Wasn't that Al Capone's problem?
Sound familiar? It's the same argument against any kind of Open Source, only this time it's UI design that's somehow impossible to do without a big corporation (or "cathedral" if you will).
He's not saying you need a big corporation, only that at present those are the only ones doing it right.
Which is of course true. For all their various benefits there is currently no Linux WM or distro that has a "well-designed, intuitive interface".
Someone better tell the KDE people.
The KDE people mean well and are doing reasonably well, but comparing the usability of KDE to OS X is a bit like comparing the performance of a tricycle to a Ducati Supersport bike.
60Hz with no borders options on most of their games but to my knowledge Sony, Nintendo and MS have not followed suit with their machines.
You'll be pleased to know that nearly every Nintendo Gamecube game either offers a 60hz PAL option or is a properly coded 50hz version (thus have no black borders or slow down).
I can't speak for the PS2 or XBox though since I don't use either one.
There is still the delay issue in getting games across the pond, as it were, and of course the large number of games released in Japan that simply never make it out, but at least it's a start.
Regardless of your feelings for Microsoft and Gates, you have to respect his philanthropy.
If he donated a worthwhile proportion of his money to worthwhile causes like some of us do then he might be worth some respect.
Spending (the equivalent of) petty cash in an effort to somehow buy good karma is not something we should respect him for. If you've seen interviews with Bill Gates discussing his "charity work" then you'll realise that this is all it is - simply a way for him to buy a profile he hopes will offset his lack of conscience.
Cue Led Zepplin here...
As loathe as I am to say it now, Microsoft has actually show us the benefit of "standards".
That's true, but in the absence of a behemoth like Microsoft dictating what a "standard" is we would probably be working with true (ie open) standards rather than simply what Bill declares is Good For You(tm).
I'd like to think that absent a Microsoft-like controlling entity, the continuing mayhem of opposing formats and standards for data and documents would have become so untenable that developers would have been forced towards working together to come up with standards that actually worked. And that were actually supported and were actually standard. This would be simply to ensure that the multitude of word processors (for example) could reliably utilise each other's documents since none would have the market leverage to ignore the others.
This assumes, of course, that not only is there no Microsoft, but that there is no company in a similar position of power.
There is also an Easter Bunny, and I saw Santa yesterday at his summer job at the beach...
because it would cost $thousands for companies to switch?
As compared to the $thousands it's costing them already to deal with this kind of crap?
It would be short term pain for long term gain.
There was one game recently that was outsourced to a firm in Russia. I remember it well.
One example does not make a particularly compelling argument.
There have been copious amounts of utter crap produced by American, Japanese, UK, French, German, and probably Italian and Malaysian game companies over the years. God knows I've played some of it.
I doubt the crap to competent ratio is any different for Russian programmers than it is to anywhere else's.
As for the outsourcing "problem" - well it's free trade isn't it? Isn't that what the US is always preaching to the rest of the planet? (And then screwing them over - the recent Australian "free trade" deal being a prime example).
It is not going to be easy to find Hobbits, Elves, Wizards and Dwarves these day[s].
Orcs and goblins, of course, being just a dime a dozen these days.
Someone is targeting broadband (perhaps University) connections.
Could be. I'm working at a University in New Zealand and got one.
It was pretty obviously faked. There was the fact that it had a password protected zip file and the appalling grammar in the message itself. Our IT staff aren't that bad.
But the funniest and most obvious part was where it told me to visit www.ac.nz for more information.
Clearly whoever wrote the virus didn't intend for it to escape into the rest of the world, as it just assumes the right most two parts of the url are in fact the full domain.
It's a constant game of king of the hill.
And sometimes you get snowballed off...
Second, to the anti-Garth Jennings camp, could it possibly be any worse than a low budget 1980's BBC TV production?
Yes, it could easily be much, much, worse. I'm taking bets it will be an unwatchable disaster but hope to be amazed to the contrary. Jenning's moron value aside, most of the casting announced is already extremely dodgy. Add to that the film is being made in Hollywood and you've got an almost sure fire loser.
Not that I have anything against Hollywood per se, but they just don't seem to get British culture (witness the absolute travesty that is the upcoming Thunderbirds movie - did they even watch any of the TV series?).
I actually sorta liked the BBC TV series, believe it or not.
One of the reasons the BBC TV series really worked was because of the limited effects, though some of them were really complicated for the TV of the time. All the "computer" parts for the Guide were (apparently) done by hand...
Anyway, with the (comparative) lack of budget they had to rely more on (shock!) acting and (horror!) humour to make it work. And it did (Trillian perhaps excepted).
Putting an MTV director in charge of Guide style humour and class is like having Bill Clinton teach Japanese schoolgirls - you know damn well someone is going to get screwed, and there's going to be a hell of a mess!
and red dwarf?
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!
Doctors vists are a great way to get [peace] of mind, which IMO is well worth the cost/hassle.
Whilst that's undoubtedly true, a lot of (mostly male) people are reluctant to visit their doctor, for a number of reasons. For men it usually comes down to macho "I'm fine, really" attitudes, whereas for women it's often due to them being uncomfortable discussing certain issues with (perhaps) their male doctor.
Personally I did research a minor health issue I had before visiting my doctor and was gratified to find I was right with my own amateur diagnosis. That doesn't mean I sit in my darkened plastic bubble breathing filtered air and spend all day on the internet finding exotic and fascinating diseases I can convince myself I have.
I believe this "cyberchondria" is like all other internet-afflicted problems. Those who are already prone to certain mental attitudes will simply use the internet to go overboard. Whether that's researching health matters, looking at porn, or surfing Slashdot all day is largely irrelevant. There will always be a small percentage of people who have an addictive personality. The rest of us will continue to find the [health information/porn/Slashdot] useful without getting psychotic about it.
Deciphering all the typos in that post was an interesting experience...
Regardless, the main point - that a corporation is a dictatorship - is factually correct. However, if you treat your employees as if they have no valuable opinions on the tools they will be using to do their jobs, then you will lose buy in, and have a revolt.
The employees aren't exactly going to be turning up at their manager's door with pitch-forks and flaming torches, but they are going to be grumbling, moaning, bitching, whining, and likely looking for another job. Successful companies retain staff by ensuring they feel valued.
Basically, treating your employees like shit gets you nothing but shit employees. Acting in a dictatorial manner simply because you can simply creates more problems than it solves. It is vital in large scale change projects to ensure that people at least feel like they've been consulted, even if you end up ignoring everything they've said.
The productivity lost in replacing numbers of employees would be far more costly than simply throwing some toy penguins and a blonde bimbo into the equation.
I am, of course, assuming that once the buy in was created by the "weaker sex" and toy penguin strategy there is sufficient training and backup in place - without which the entire project is doomed to failure anyway.
It's the technical term for searching the web for the name of an extra in the big fight scenes in The Lord of the Rings movies.
This is a very popular pass time in New Zealand, where 95% of the country's population was used in the Minas Tirith scene.
Those African ones we planted are sure a mite bigger than the European variety...
The common belief that the African penis is bigger is merely a phallusy.
Ahem, I'm here all week. Try the veal...
This is slashdot...don't we all already think opensource is right for handhelds?
You're right - this is Slashdot, where we think open source is right for everything from servers through to electric can openers, from cellular phones to shoes.
Coming soon to Slashdot - the open source cravat.
I can hardly wait!