Don't forget that in a parrallel rendundant system, if the fail-over switch or mechanism is any less reliable than the individual components themselves, you might as well not use a fail-over system! Of course this is all theoretical, but any failover system IMHO that uses a software mechanism *built-in* to the devices that can fail is just plain stupid. It's akin to the 'software firewall' vs hardware firewall debate -- hardware firewalls are better because they isolate the hacker from your computer and increase security! If you truly want to build a foolproof redundant failover, it should be a seperate hardware box, like a network switch that senses a fail and brings the other system online. Just from browsing this post and casual knowledge is seems there are very few systems for computers like this, or they use a software method for failover. Does anybody know of any network hardware devices that do just this? Are they efficient? Are the swtiches more reliable (have greater uptime) than the computer servers behind them?
It dosen't take a genius to take out an airliner. Most terrorists are stupid anyway, and keep thinking they'll get out alive. If one got onboard and was successful, well let's just say that's the end. All this big brother stuff just invades ordinary private citizens their right to talk about whatever they want. Actions of course are different. But here's my guide to take out an airline in 1 easy step:
1) Take a book of matches onboard (apparently so i've heard, only lighters are banned) and set yourself on fire.
or, if in your evil country, they ban you from taking anything onboard including your shirt:
1) put the matches in a ziplock and swallow them. calmly wait till they come out the other end and do same as 1) above.
Damn, governments are k-rad, huh?
I really don't think sending millions of letters to your elected representative(s) will make any change at all. Since when was the last time a petition on any issue seriouly made a large impact? I'm being pessimistic here, but you know what I mean. Even 10,000 signatures would be laughable in most ridings. What do you think has more influence: large money campaign financing by large corporations and lobby groups like the BSA, or an individual citizen who dosen't create or buy this software in large volumes?
I strongly dissagree with you view that "breaking the law is not an acceptable way of changing law". It is completely acceptable. Usually what happens is you break the law, and then you defend yourself in court. You may be found guilty, but if you're found not guilty you set a precedent or overturn prior rulings and laws that can change the law itself or its interpretation in the future. This is how our court system works in Canada, and I'm sure that's how it works in the US.
And weasels and ferrets are all part of the same family of mammals: the rodent family. So I think the BSA has really shot themselves in the foot. Weasels and ferrets are both mammals considered to have very sly and shady demeanors. They live in holes in the ground and are both quite vicious little creatures. Ferrets are very vicious, and don't let go when they bite. I would say this idea won't be lost on most kids. Remember Wind in the Willows? All the crooks and bad guys in the show were Weasels. Ferrets - Weasels - whatever. They look very similar anyway.
And the worst part about this whole thing is that the BSA is the weasel. I really don't think they're interested in teaching kids the letter of the law -- it's too complex for kids understand anyway. I really think their aim is to brainwash kids into *their* interpretation of the law. I think the biggest problem is brainwashing kids on the myth that copying is equivalent to stealing. It really isn't. Slashdotters should be savvy enough to know this by now. What is really happening is the BSA is practically advertising software to kids at a very young age. Their imprinting teenagers that will most likely grow up surrounded by computers and softare, and these imprints they leave will last much longer than those made on adults. This reminds me a lot of the cigarette industry before it was regulated or found out. Since BSA is bankrolled by major software developpers, including Microsoft, I wouldn't be suprised if this is done on purpose to discourage kids from buying alternative products or downloading illegal software off p2p networks to 'try them out'. I wouldn't even be suprised if the BSA pushes a program designed to teach kids about IP and tell them that open source and free software programs are evil because they contain, in the BSAs opinion, tons of 'stolen' IP. This would discourage many kids from getting free, world class software and programming tools.
To counter this I say the FSF and the open source movement should have a mascot to teach kids about the evils of large corporations and intellectual property abuse (like patent and trademark mis-filings and controversies). We could call the mascot something like Peter the gluttonous pig.
If hardware was free, I would never want it. It would mean that computers would have evolved into the ultimate form of big-brotherness. They would have become the ultimate platform for large companies and the government to make lots of money on content and at the same time controlling your creative and technical freedom on the computer. Bill and Sun's idea here is to turn the PC into the ultimate 'entertainment' machine where the user can pay for everything, but not for something that they really need. It's the sickest form of materialistic control - We all know Bill has been trying to push shitty software and content down our throats for years. I see this as his ultimate last step at controlling mankind through a terminal devices. Slave on!
I'm really not that sure about that. If you want to make sure your iTunes, or other DRMed music downloads still work, granted, it might be a problem. But open formats are open and always will be. Swapping the OS or BIOS to a non drmed one will still let you transfer files in an open and free way. JPGs for instance, should still transfer between DRMed and non-DRMed PCs through FTP for example. I just don't see how a DRM bios could affect this functionality. TCP/IP itself is designed to be platform independant connections and transfers. I believed the MS/DRMed BIOS strategy is to encrypt the files at the filesystem layer. So if you can log on and get the unencrypted version of the file, you can transfer it to someone without a DRM machine and the DRM info will be stripped. If new file formats are created in the future with built in DRM, this might be an issue. But as readers know, even iTunes was crackable. Ever since commercial software came out, publishers have tried to prevent copying. It's never worked in 30 years and I predict it never will. Every commercial game ever realeased has been cracked. I'm willing to bet on it. Copying will continue forever, and if big co's implement the scary DRM schemes that everyone is talking about, I'm going to hand design my own PCs without DRM and become a billionare. I'm sure many./ers and other would pay good money to have a properly designed system with modern components that is DRM free. Heck, I would rather use my current computers for 10 years than to succumb to newer, faster machines that are completely locked down.
I really hope Intel gets it right this time when they update the BIOS. I hope they implement what sun machines and other workstations have had for years, like serial consoles, better universal, standard booting support from any device etc. Also, I really hope they dump the old crappy VGA text mode once and for all and make the computer boot in SVGA framebuffer by default.
shoot all you want, but i guarantee you you won't live 24 hours. even in the states, where you are legally allowed to possess firearms, you have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. think about it, do you have:
-manpower (thousands of men/women)
-helicopters
-gunships
-fighter aircraft
-ammo/weapons stockpiles
-an easy way to escape the states if you were a wanted individual
-somewhere to hide if you fled the country
-enough food/supplies to hide for a significant amount of time, even a month?
-the world is completely mapped, and even in a small town you will be recognized very fast and your new arrival will spread.
you're royally f***ed. you have no hope. i myself have though of this scenario. you can't be robin hood anymore, there are no sherwood forests that you can hide in. and democracy? haha, the government you've elected is in power for as long as their term. you can't get rid of them until the vote comes round. rebellion is not much fun anymore in the 21st century, is it? i only wish, because i'd be doing it. now.
this article is interesting because it reminds me of something i read in an old history book on mayan temples. apparently, some of them have rock cut so exactly and perfectly, a knife blade will not fit between the seams. i remember reading (or watching on tv once) about how some scientists/archeologists theorized that the maya used focused sunlight to cut the rock (specifically, big gold encrusted sun discs), and how preposterous others thought of the idea. i even remember that some scientists tried it out once with gold polished mirrors, and it failed utterly. now that we know a giant fresnel lens can burn ashphalt and make concrete crack and pop, i wonder if the maya came up with a similar technique based on a more primitive (or more advanced) fresnel-like lens. anybody want to carve up some rock to test the theory? it would make for some fun mad science to prove an old theory.
Exactly. That means better funding and more peoplepower/techpower. Besides, if you buy the idea that patents are good for the economy (not me) then to protect your investment in patents and the economy you should ensure all your patents are filed properly and correctly. That way, it won't cost you tons of time, effort and $$$ reviewing them. Reviewing patents wastes the USPO's and corporate time and $$$ as well. So get it right, you idiots, or don't do it at all!
Slashdot Mirror
Don't forget that in a parrallel rendundant system, if the fail-over switch or mechanism is any less reliable than the individual components themselves, you might as well not use a fail-over system! Of course this is all theoretical, but any failover system IMHO that uses a software mechanism *built-in* to the devices that can fail is just plain stupid. It's akin to the 'software firewall' vs hardware firewall debate -- hardware firewalls are better because they isolate the hacker from your computer and increase security! If you truly want to build a foolproof redundant failover, it should be a seperate hardware box, like a network switch that senses a fail and brings the other system online. Just from browsing this post and casual knowledge is seems there are very few systems for computers like this, or they use a software method for failover. Does anybody know of any network hardware devices that do just this? Are they efficient? Are the swtiches more reliable (have greater uptime) than the computer servers behind them?
It dosen't take a genius to take out an airliner. Most terrorists are stupid anyway, and keep thinking they'll get out alive. If one got onboard and was successful, well let's just say that's the end. All this big brother stuff just invades ordinary private citizens their right to talk about whatever they want. Actions of course are different. But here's my guide to take out an airline in 1 easy step: 1) Take a book of matches onboard (apparently so i've heard, only lighters are banned) and set yourself on fire. or, if in your evil country, they ban you from taking anything onboard including your shirt: 1) put the matches in a ziplock and swallow them. calmly wait till they come out the other end and do same as 1) above. Damn, governments are k-rad, huh?
I really don't think sending millions of letters to your elected representative(s) will make any change at all. Since when was the last time a petition on any issue seriouly made a large impact? I'm being pessimistic here, but you know what I mean. Even 10,000 signatures would be laughable in most ridings. What do you think has more influence: large money campaign financing by large corporations and lobby groups like the BSA, or an individual citizen who dosen't create or buy this software in large volumes?
I strongly dissagree with you view that "breaking the law is not an acceptable way of changing law". It is completely acceptable. Usually what happens is you break the law, and then you defend yourself in court. You may be found guilty, but if you're found not guilty you set a precedent or overturn prior rulings and laws that can change the law itself or its interpretation in the future. This is how our court system works in Canada, and I'm sure that's how it works in the US. And weasels and ferrets are all part of the same family of mammals: the rodent family. So I think the BSA has really shot themselves in the foot. Weasels and ferrets are both mammals considered to have very sly and shady demeanors. They live in holes in the ground and are both quite vicious little creatures. Ferrets are very vicious, and don't let go when they bite. I would say this idea won't be lost on most kids. Remember Wind in the Willows? All the crooks and bad guys in the show were Weasels. Ferrets - Weasels - whatever. They look very similar anyway.
And the worst part about this whole thing is that the BSA is the weasel. I really don't think they're interested in teaching kids the letter of the law -- it's too complex for kids understand anyway. I really think their aim is to brainwash kids into *their* interpretation of the law. I think the biggest problem is brainwashing kids on the myth that copying is equivalent to stealing. It really isn't. Slashdotters should be savvy enough to know this by now. What is really happening is the BSA is practically advertising software to kids at a very young age. Their imprinting teenagers that will most likely grow up surrounded by computers and softare, and these imprints they leave will last much longer than those made on adults. This reminds me a lot of the cigarette industry before it was regulated or found out. Since BSA is bankrolled by major software developpers, including Microsoft, I wouldn't be suprised if this is done on purpose to discourage kids from buying alternative products or downloading illegal software off p2p networks to 'try them out'. I wouldn't even be suprised if the BSA pushes a program designed to teach kids about IP and tell them that open source and free software programs are evil because they contain, in the BSAs opinion, tons of 'stolen' IP. This would discourage many kids from getting free, world class software and programming tools.
To counter this I say the FSF and the open source movement should have a mascot to teach kids about the evils of large corporations and intellectual property abuse (like patent and trademark mis-filings and controversies). We could call the mascot something like Peter the gluttonous pig.
If hardware was free, I would never want it. It would mean that computers would have evolved into the ultimate form of big-brotherness. They would have become the ultimate platform for large companies and the government to make lots of money on content and at the same time controlling your creative and technical freedom on the computer. Bill and Sun's idea here is to turn the PC into the ultimate 'entertainment' machine where the user can pay for everything, but not for something that they really need. It's the sickest form of materialistic control - We all know Bill has been trying to push shitty software and content down our throats for years. I see this as his ultimate last step at controlling mankind through a terminal devices. Slave on!
I'm really not that sure about that. If you want to make sure your iTunes, or other DRMed music downloads still work, granted, it might be a problem. But open formats are open and always will be. Swapping the OS or BIOS to a non drmed one will still let you transfer files in an open and free way. JPGs for instance, should still transfer between DRMed and non-DRMed PCs through FTP for example. I just don't see how a DRM bios could affect this functionality. TCP/IP itself is designed to be platform independant connections and transfers. I believed the MS/DRMed BIOS strategy is to encrypt the files at the filesystem layer. So if you can log on and get the unencrypted version of the file, you can transfer it to someone without a DRM machine and the DRM info will be stripped. If new file formats are created in the future with built in DRM, this might be an issue. But as readers know, even iTunes was crackable. Ever since commercial software came out, publishers have tried to prevent copying. It's never worked in 30 years and I predict it never will. Every commercial game ever realeased has been cracked. I'm willing to bet on it. Copying will continue forever, and if big co's implement the scary DRM schemes that everyone is talking about, I'm going to hand design my own PCs without DRM and become a billionare. I'm sure many ./ers and other would pay good money to have a properly designed system with modern components that is DRM free. Heck, I would rather use my current computers for 10 years than to succumb to newer, faster machines that are completely locked down.
I really hope Intel gets it right this time when they update the BIOS. I hope they implement what sun machines and other workstations have had for years, like serial consoles, better universal, standard booting support from any device etc. Also, I really hope they dump the old crappy VGA text mode once and for all and make the computer boot in SVGA framebuffer by default.
shoot all you want, but i guarantee you you won't live 24 hours. even in the states, where you are legally allowed to possess firearms, you have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. think about it, do you have: -manpower (thousands of men/women) -helicopters -gunships -fighter aircraft -ammo/weapons stockpiles -an easy way to escape the states if you were a wanted individual -somewhere to hide if you fled the country -enough food/supplies to hide for a significant amount of time, even a month? -the world is completely mapped, and even in a small town you will be recognized very fast and your new arrival will spread. you're royally f***ed. you have no hope. i myself have though of this scenario. you can't be robin hood anymore, there are no sherwood forests that you can hide in. and democracy? haha, the government you've elected is in power for as long as their term. you can't get rid of them until the vote comes round. rebellion is not much fun anymore in the 21st century, is it? i only wish, because i'd be doing it. now.
of course, who needs a law anyway if you're the US government?
this article is interesting because it reminds me of something i read in an old history book on mayan temples. apparently, some of them have rock cut so exactly and perfectly, a knife blade will not fit between the seams. i remember reading (or watching on tv once) about how some scientists/archeologists theorized that the maya used focused sunlight to cut the rock (specifically, big gold encrusted sun discs), and how preposterous others thought of the idea. i even remember that some scientists tried it out once with gold polished mirrors, and it failed utterly. now that we know a giant fresnel lens can burn ashphalt and make concrete crack and pop, i wonder if the maya came up with a similar technique based on a more primitive (or more advanced) fresnel-like lens. anybody want to carve up some rock to test the theory? it would make for some fun mad science to prove an old theory.
Exactly. That means better funding and more peoplepower/techpower. Besides, if you buy the idea that patents are good for the economy (not me) then to protect your investment in patents and the economy you should ensure all your patents are filed properly and correctly. That way, it won't cost you tons of time, effort and $$$ reviewing them. Reviewing patents wastes the USPO's and corporate time and $$$ as well. So get it right, you idiots, or don't do it at all!