I haven't heard much about the success of the Firefly movie (Serenity)...but I liked it completely... They didn't need to kill **** and the ******, but what the hell..it was still good.... They left it wide open for continuation.
(Above names censored for those who haven't seen Serenity yet...by the way, it's out on DVD TODAY....Someone is giving it to me for Christmas, so I have to wait 'til Sunday)
When I post something about users being uneducated (ok, so I called the morons) I get modded down to troll.....
Anyway, I've been saying that for years. I have a solution though, and have mentioned it before. Licensing. Want to own a computer? Fine, buy one. When you want to go online, you'll need a license. Like to send and receive email? That requires an endorsement. Same goes for running a server of any type. Messages cannot be sent without license identification and abusing users can cause their operators license to be revoked. No valid license, no connectivity.
Some of my customers get frustrated and snappy with me when I explain that something CAN be done, but that I won't explain how to do it...as if I'm obligated to tell them how to do something that I'm in business to make money doing. Knowledge is underrated and undervalued. Most users are incapable of obtaining or retaining such knowledge.
Read my post again, two of the sections effect me directly (210,211) as an admin of an ISP. I would rather not have any of those laws apply to me (as I am a patriot, not a terrorist), whether I find them ethically wrong or not. The gov't passed these laws (seemingly) to remove the due process effectively removing the process all together.
As for the other 1998+ laws, I don't have the inclination to explain how each and every law could effect me. The purpose of my post was to show that there are clearly two sides to the debate, and the government (the other side) isn't interested in a debate with the people. It's refreshing to see the senate take action that's in the best interest of the people. Perhaps they are on our side after all.
Welcome to Brazil (the movie), where the gov't spies on everyone, tortures anyone they choose (to death) for being a terrorist (i.e. plumber) and the person responsible for it isn't a person at all, it's a fly...a dead one. To avoid being identified as a terrorist plumber, please fill out form 27b/6 after reading this post.
Oddly enough, the "Patriot Act" is aptly named, as it targets patriots quite effectively.
An example: 210, 211 allow the government to retrieve non-content information from ISP's including IP address assignments, billing and payment information (including bank account and credit card numbers)
Inform me if I'm wrong, but this applies to everyone reading this post. The gov't can get the account numbers from the credit companies, so why are they obtaining it from ISP's? (of course, this is to identify accomplices who pay for the internet service...but, I'll continue) As a network administrator, I protect my users by limiting the duration network logs are stored. Unfortunately, I cannot do the same with billing and payment information. When the government comes knocking, I have to cough up anything they wish for and they're not required to provide a court order to get it.
217 - provides the ability for the gov't to spy on anyone suspected of computer trespassing. Ever visited a questionable site that redirected to another site that was unavailable? How easy would it be to redirect an unsuspecting user to an access controlled gov't page - thereby implicating them as a computer trespasser. It's easier than you might think.
Have you been spied on by a foreign gov't yet? You'll probably never know because 218 defines that secret searches can now be authorized by a secret court without public knowledge or Department of Justice accountability, so long as the government can allege there is any foreign intelligence basis for the search.
Ooh, I totally skipped 215 that private records aren't private to the gov't. Oh yeah, they can seize them without warrant.
I would hope that these sections don't apply to me. 210 and 211 apply to me, but I resist them as much as possible. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to talk about any gov't entities that requested that information from me. The rest, I would never really know if they apply to me or not, as they gov't isn't required to tell me, or anyone that they've utilized the provisions.
IMHO, the gov't has way overstepped it's boundaries, and has been doing so for decades. If the People don't take control of the gov't, one day, the sheep...er...people will wake up to find they are no longer free. On that day, you'll find me (if you can) living deep in the sticks with my kitty-cat, tinfoil hat and guns.
So, you've got Google Desktop, Google Maps, Froogle, Google Adwords, Google Earth, Google Moon....why not GoOpera (heh)
How much integration could be made between browser and website if Google had control of both? Sure, their stuff would operate in other browsers, but there might be custom extensions that render only in their browser. On the other hand, they might use the browser to obtain usage statistics and word patterns from the browsers users...
This is an opportunity for Google to show the world now not-evil they are. I hope they do, I like Google, their colors are all pretty and stuff.
Yes, I agree. I hadn't read about the play-doh hack, but last week (perhaps two weeks ago) there was someone that used gelatin and a printed circuit board (printed with a fingerprint to give 3D raised print) to bypass fingerprint sensors something like 90% of the time.
My Co-Lo facility uses a full hand biometric scanner. I haven't been that interested in (or allowed access to play with it) finding a work-around for the handprint. My point remains, anyone who wants to bypass the security of this new chip will do so.
Ever seen GATTACA (movie)? The main character must contend with several biometric tests daily in order to maintain his assumed identity (all DNA related). It's a crazy world, and it's only going to get crazier.
Thanks for the clarification. Noted! Certainly, my posts aren't as badly mispelled as some I've read. Although, I would need to come up with a new action for 'hare'.....perhaps something along the lines of 'stew'...
Well put. A previous poster wrote his "identity" as being "test user". Personally, mine are "Corporate User" and "Preferred Customer", but that's neither here nor there.
The only way to tie an identity with a person is with biometrics (these exist in mouse,pcmcia, and are built-in in some laptops in the form of fingerprint readers) Otherwise, anyone can say "It wasn't me" and it'll be up to the courts/authorities to prove that it was. How do they plan on validating this information in every system?
Things that "they" hope you'll never consider: Is it encoded upon purchase? What happens if the system is sold? Does the new owner enjoy anonymity or is he charged with identity theft? Will these chips be installed on all high-end servers? Who's name is associated in that circumstance? When the machine gets a worm that allows a remote operator control, does the TPM transmit information from the remote operator, or does it continue to transmit its own code? What about content filtering firewalls? Can I block my own code by writing a clever iptables rule?
Who cares about a "TPM" chip in the system. I believe that 45 minutes after the first hardware hacker purchases a system with one of these chips, there will be a way to bypass or remove it. If not, no problem. It wasn't me, it was "Corporate User." I hope they catch him (snicker....) If all else fails, I'll use older hardware without the chip (as "Richard Cranium" suggested the C= 64,) or as I would just use the previous generation without the chip, and if I need more power I can just add several more older machines to the cluster.
For every hair-brained idea that 'the man' comes up with, there will be a dozen tinfoil hats (myself included) with scissors to trim that hair to an appropriate length.
Hey, I've already got an iPod, so I have a slight hint of coolness already. Of course, when everyone looks and finds that I'm listening to "A Flock of Seagulls" and "Wham", that hint of coolness will probably fade.
I'm ALL FOR keeping incapable users from getting online. If it takes an 'Ebola type' virus which actually causes physical damage to the machine and a lot of it, so be it. It's the next logical step of evolution to the current viruses, physical interaction.
Those who habitually leave their systems unprotected will find themselves buying complete new systems because the majority of components are fried. Damage cost assessments of virus infections would skyrocket as "Survival Time" would become a literal.
Perhaps this carefully constructed virus would only infect zombies...that's an interesting thought.
This would ease the load on tech support as well. The first question would be "Do you see any smoke? Yes? Buy a new computer."
Hackers, some of us.......managers and bosses, definitely not.
I've had this conversation with my boss several times. The bad thing is that my boss is not technically inclined. For a short period of time I would correct him, but as time passed I realized that he didn't care if he was wrong or giving inaccurate information so I stopped caring enough to correct him.
Bad pronunciation, grammar or spelling will cause me to lose respect faster than learning that you are a Baywatch fan. I'm not talking about minor mispronunciation, but blatant misuse of words, or misrepresentation of documentable facts.
Example Customer Interaction: Boss: "This service is 256 Megabytes per second" Me: "Don't say Megabytes, it's megabits" Customer: "256 Megabytes? That's unbelieveable" Me: "No, that's not your speed" Boss: "Yes, it's that fast"
Example AIM session: Me: "Hey, can you add such-and-such user to the database?" Boss: "Considerate done"
Example Verbal communication: Boss: "Hey, I had this great ideal" Me: "An ideal? What are you talking about? Oh, you mean 'IDEA'" Boss: "Yeah, an ideal."
we see these patents causing havoc at our local stores. "Amazon patents methods of shopping cart navigation." Everyone will have to walk around with those little blue hand-baskets.
Cable providers also sell digital phone services over the same cable. Why then is this not a 'telecommunication service?' Phone companies investigated providing television style programming over the phone lines but the service proved too slow to carry the programming (DSL was born.)
Personally, I say hooray for the cable companies. They get to keep control of their equipment and the users who are utilizing it. Broadband and dial-up wholesale outfits generally provide poor service and limited capability (no Static IP or PPP Multilink.) Some of the outfits that have recently come (and gone) in this area went so far as to charge for tech support ($2/minute.) How tempting do you think it is for them to 'generate revenue' by causing issues on their own network.
"Numbers are down this month Bob, run that script that resets random passwords again."
I have a speedpad also, but I'm more interested in the ability to place keys in custom locations. I can't see how to do this without 2 of them, but this would be handy to learn another keyboard layout (such as dvorak) and end up with a custom ergonomic keyboard replacement... Of course, you'd run the risk of forgetting how to type on regular keyboards...
No matter, they don't (yet) support linux, so I've no use for it.
The HyperCube custom kit....now that was classy! The guy went to the trouble to remove all stickers and polish all exposed metal surfaces before installing. Beautiful work on the lighting effects. If I were to get slashdotted over a piece of artwork, I would hope that it could compare to the HyperCube instead of an oversized undercapacity USB drive.
I agree, "does not make an art piece" it's ugly. It took him two weeks? That kind of quality should only take a couple of hours. Art is a case that hides the fact that it contains a computer or computer parts constructed into an object (like airplane framework mods). I personally think that the RS/6000 rack is a work of art (reminds me of the monolith from 2001.) I keep all of my personal servers in one.
Maybe it's time I revisited the wooden Buddha statue case idea... I wonder how much it would cost to make it from jade...
Sad little man. The previous poster wasn't calling you a sheep, but I will. Sure, you can run Windows because it 'Just sucks...err....works out of the box' and be constantly on your guard against the mentioned spyware, malware, trojans, viruses, etc. The plain fact is that OSS bugs and security flaws are generally less damaging, less frequent and resolved faster than the flaws in MS products.
You completely failed to mention Gentoo when trying to rip Linux. My updates can be several hundred MB in size, but I don't mind. It is the price I gladly pay for software that 'just works, and works the same every time.' For 20+ Linux systems and servers, I download a new source package once. Centralized NFS distfiles directory prevents me from wasting valuable time downloading the same update on every machine. Do I need to mention how Windows handles this situation? There are obvious advantages to using Linux (as well as other FOSS) that many MS evangalists REFUSE to see.
"I beg you to come unto me, brothers and sisters. I have seen the light and I can lead you to your salvation or possibly your doom...."
Weren't we talking about PNG on IE before? Someone mentioned the transparency issue in a different thread, which can be resolved with this code: <img src="blank.gif" style="width: 100px; height: 100px; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaIm ageLoader (src='image.png', sizingMethod='scale')"/>
You may want to implement browser specific insertion of that code...it totally doesn't work in anything but IE
my problem with the picture is that everything is strapped to the guys torso/arms/legs.....and the leg/arm assistant components only reach to his ankles/wrists.
show me the loading dock exo-skeleton from 'aliens' and I'll be impressed. This guy is going to break his ankles if he dates larger women... maybe if they put some feet on it, he'll be able to carry his woman across the threshold with more than stumpy nubs left at the ends of his legs.
And who would dare fight the alien queen in any color other than caution-tape yellow?
I've been running Linux on my thinkpads for years. Aside from the recently corrected ACPI issues, I have full control of the hardware (can even initiate dock/undock.) My one stint with a non-IBM laptop (sager type) ran linux like a champ also (until the motherboard got warm and several circuit traces leading from the processor fried)
I have to agree with a previous poster though, Linux isn't for the general public yet.
Re:i have such a keyboard
on
Blank Keyboard
·
· Score: 1
I have such a keyboard also, however, the keys are not blank by design. Extensive use of my thinkpad keyboard has worn the letters completely from quite a few keys.
L, M, N, C, I, E, S, D, F, are worn clean and shiny. I've considered hastening the process for the rest of the keys because I think it's sexy (no, I don't have a girlfriend.....shaddup....you don't either.)
I can't say that I type any faster (always been around 65wpm since learning to touch type), but I can say that I only look at they keyboard to hit the volume-up/down and special thinkpad buttons (email, home, search, etc...).
Oh, I see what you're saying now. I still think you're wrong. I still remember losing some of my baby teeth. I remember when my hair was long and I looked like Ronald McDonald with my fro. Hell, I even remember having a middle toenail on my left foot (before the garage door incident.) I imagine that if I lost that toe entirely, I would still remember having it.
We're not talking about evolution of ability here. Just because you lose your vocal cords does not mean that you lose memory of the ability to speak.
Slashdot Mirror
I haven't heard much about the success of the Firefly movie (Serenity)...but I liked it completely... They didn't need to kill **** and the ******, but what the hell..it was still good.... They left it wide open for continuation.
(Above names censored for those who haven't seen Serenity yet...by the way, it's out on DVD TODAY....Someone is giving it to me for Christmas, so I have to wait 'til Sunday)
We can hope.
"If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate."
When I post something about users being uneducated (ok, so I called the morons) I get modded down to troll.....
Anyway, I've been saying that for years. I have a solution though, and have mentioned it before. Licensing. Want to own a computer? Fine, buy one. When you want to go online, you'll need a license. Like to send and receive email? That requires an endorsement. Same goes for running a server of any type. Messages cannot be sent without license identification and abusing users can cause their operators license to be revoked. No valid license, no connectivity.
Some of my customers get frustrated and snappy with me when I explain that something CAN be done, but that I won't explain how to do it...as if I'm obligated to tell them how to do something that I'm in business to make money doing. Knowledge is underrated and undervalued. Most users are incapable of obtaining or retaining such knowledge.
Read my post again, two of the sections effect me directly (210,211) as an admin of an ISP. I would rather not have any of those laws apply to me (as I am a patriot, not a terrorist), whether I find them ethically wrong or not. The gov't passed these laws (seemingly) to remove the due process effectively removing the process all together.
As for the other 1998+ laws, I don't have the inclination to explain how each and every law could effect me. The purpose of my post was to show that there are clearly two sides to the debate, and the government (the other side) isn't interested in a debate with the people. It's refreshing to see the senate take action that's in the best interest of the people. Perhaps they are on our side after all.
Welcome to Brazil (the movie), where the gov't spies on everyone, tortures anyone they choose (to death) for being a terrorist (i.e. plumber) and the person responsible for it isn't a person at all, it's a fly...a dead one. To avoid being identified as a terrorist plumber, please fill out form 27b/6 after reading this post.
Oddly enough, the "Patriot Act" is aptly named, as it targets patriots quite effectively.
An example:
210, 211 allow the government to retrieve non-content information from ISP's including IP address assignments, billing and payment information (including bank account and credit card numbers)
Inform me if I'm wrong, but this applies to everyone reading this post. The gov't can get the account numbers from the credit companies, so why are they obtaining it from ISP's? (of course, this is to identify accomplices who pay for the internet service...but, I'll continue) As a network administrator, I protect my users by limiting the duration network logs are stored. Unfortunately, I cannot do the same with billing and payment information. When the government comes knocking, I have to cough up anything they wish for and they're not required to provide a court order to get it.
217 - provides the ability for the gov't to spy on anyone suspected of computer trespassing. Ever visited a questionable site that redirected to another site that was unavailable? How easy would it be to redirect an unsuspecting user to an access controlled gov't page - thereby implicating them as a computer trespasser. It's easier than you might think.
Have you been spied on by a foreign gov't yet? You'll probably never know because 218 defines that secret searches can now be authorized by a secret court without public knowledge or Department of Justice accountability, so long as the government can allege there is any foreign intelligence basis for the search.
Ooh, I totally skipped 215 that private records aren't private to the gov't. Oh yeah, they can seize them without warrant.
I would hope that these sections don't apply to me. 210 and 211 apply to me, but I resist them as much as possible. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to talk about any gov't entities that requested that information from me. The rest, I would never really know if they apply to me or not, as they gov't isn't required to tell me, or anyone that they've utilized the provisions.
IMHO, the gov't has way overstepped it's boundaries, and has been doing so for decades. If the People don't take control of the gov't, one day, the sheep...er...people will wake up to find they are no longer free. On that day, you'll find me (if you can) living deep in the sticks with my kitty-cat, tinfoil hat and guns.
So, you've got Google Desktop, Google Maps, Froogle, Google Adwords, Google Earth, Google Moon....why not GoOpera (heh)
How much integration could be made between browser and website if Google had control of both? Sure, their stuff would operate in other browsers, but there might be custom extensions that render only in their browser. On the other hand, they might use the browser to obtain usage statistics and word patterns from the browsers users...
This is an opportunity for Google to show the world now not-evil they are. I hope they do, I like Google, their colors are all pretty and stuff.
Yes, I agree. I hadn't read about the play-doh hack, but last week (perhaps two weeks ago) there was someone that used gelatin and a printed circuit board (printed with a fingerprint to give 3D raised print) to bypass fingerprint sensors something like 90% of the time.
My Co-Lo facility uses a full hand biometric scanner. I haven't been that interested in (or allowed access to play with it) finding a work-around for the handprint. My point remains, anyone who wants to bypass the security of this new chip will do so.
Ever seen GATTACA (movie)? The main character must contend with several biometric tests daily in order to maintain his assumed identity (all DNA related). It's a crazy world, and it's only going to get crazier.
Thanks for the clarification. Noted! Certainly, my posts aren't as badly mispelled as some I've read. Although, I would need to come up with a new action for 'hare'.....perhaps something along the lines of 'stew'...
Well put. A previous poster wrote his "identity" as being "test user". Personally, mine are "Corporate User" and "Preferred Customer", but that's neither here nor there.
The only way to tie an identity with a person is with biometrics (these exist in mouse,pcmcia, and are built-in in some laptops in the form of fingerprint readers) Otherwise, anyone can say "It wasn't me" and it'll be up to the courts/authorities to prove that it was. How do they plan on validating this information in every system?
Things that "they" hope you'll never consider: Is it encoded upon purchase? What happens if the system is sold? Does the new owner enjoy anonymity or is he charged with identity theft? Will these chips be installed on all high-end servers? Who's name is associated in that circumstance? When the machine gets a worm that allows a remote operator control, does the TPM transmit information from the remote operator, or does it continue to transmit its own code? What about content filtering firewalls? Can I block my own code by writing a clever iptables rule?
Who cares about a "TPM" chip in the system. I believe that 45 minutes after the first hardware hacker purchases a system with one of these chips, there will be a way to bypass or remove it. If not, no problem. It wasn't me, it was "Corporate User." I hope they catch him (snicker....) If all else fails, I'll use older hardware without the chip (as "Richard Cranium" suggested the C= 64,) or as I would just use the previous generation without the chip, and if I need more power I can just add several more older machines to the cluster.
For every hair-brained idea that 'the man' comes up with, there will be a dozen tinfoil hats (myself included) with scissors to trim that hair to an appropriate length.
Seriously, it's an old /. joke....There's a description somewhere around here.....ah Wikipedia.
I was just trying to make a funny post anyway. I don't really care what my boss catches me reading... he can't do my job.
How does the old saying go...
Those who can, do.
Those who can't, manage.
Wasting time on the Internet at work...what...like reading Slashdot? The powers that be will never catch me doing such a thing...
Oh shit, here comes the boss....
+++ATH
NO CARRIER
Hey, I've already got an iPod, so I have a slight hint of coolness already. Of course, when everyone looks and finds that I'm listening to "A Flock of Seagulls" and "Wham", that hint of coolness will probably fade.
10 iPods make you 10 times as cool.......which is, of course, why I need so desperately to win.
I HAVEN'T HAD A DATE IN 6 MONTHS!
Really... that's not such a bad idea.
I'm ALL FOR keeping incapable users from getting online. If it takes an 'Ebola type' virus which actually causes physical damage to the machine and a lot of it, so be it. It's the next logical step of evolution to the current viruses, physical interaction.
Those who habitually leave their systems unprotected will find themselves buying complete new systems because the majority of components are fried. Damage cost assessments of virus infections would skyrocket as "Survival Time" would become a literal.
Perhaps this carefully constructed virus would only infect zombies...that's an interesting thought.
This would ease the load on tech support as well. The first question would be "Do you see any smoke? Yes? Buy a new computer."
It's beautiful....
Hackers, some of us.......managers and bosses, definitely not.
I've had this conversation with my boss several times. The bad thing is that my boss is not technically inclined. For a short period of time I would correct him, but as time passed I realized that he didn't care if he was wrong or giving inaccurate information so I stopped caring enough to correct him.
Bad pronunciation, grammar or spelling will cause me to lose respect faster than learning that you are a Baywatch fan. I'm not talking about minor mispronunciation, but blatant misuse of words, or misrepresentation of documentable facts.
Example Customer Interaction:
Boss: "This service is 256 Megabytes per second"
Me: "Don't say Megabytes, it's megabits"
Customer: "256 Megabytes? That's unbelieveable"
Me: "No, that's not your speed"
Boss: "Yes, it's that fast"
Example AIM session:
Me: "Hey, can you add such-and-such user to the database?"
Boss: "Considerate done"
Example Verbal communication:
Boss: "Hey, I had this great ideal"
Me: "An ideal? What are you talking about? Oh, you mean 'IDEA'"
Boss: "Yeah, an ideal."
we see these patents causing havoc at our local stores. "Amazon patents methods of shopping cart navigation." Everyone will have to walk around with those little blue hand-baskets.
Cable providers also sell digital phone services over the same cable. Why then is this not a 'telecommunication service?' Phone companies investigated providing television style programming over the phone lines but the service proved too slow to carry the programming (DSL was born.)
Personally, I say hooray for the cable companies. They get to keep control of their equipment and the users who are utilizing it. Broadband and dial-up wholesale outfits generally provide poor service and limited capability (no Static IP or PPP Multilink.) Some of the outfits that have recently come (and gone) in this area went so far as to charge for tech support ($2/minute.) How tempting do you think it is for them to 'generate revenue' by causing issues on their own network.
"Numbers are down this month Bob, run that script that resets random passwords again."
I have a speedpad also, but I'm more interested in the ability to place keys in custom locations. I can't see how to do this without 2 of them, but this would be handy to learn another keyboard layout (such as dvorak) and end up with a custom ergonomic keyboard replacement... Of course, you'd run the risk of forgetting how to type on regular keyboards...
No matter, they don't (yet) support linux, so I've no use for it.
The HyperCube custom kit....now that was classy! The guy went to the trouble to remove all stickers and polish all exposed metal surfaces before installing. Beautiful work on the lighting effects. If I were to get slashdotted over a piece of artwork, I would hope that it could compare to the HyperCube instead of an oversized undercapacity USB drive.
I agree, "does not make an art piece" it's ugly. It took him two weeks? That kind of quality should only take a couple of hours. Art is a case that hides the fact that it contains a computer or computer parts constructed into an object (like airplane framework mods). I personally think that the RS/6000 rack is a work of art (reminds me of the monolith from 2001.) I keep all of my personal servers in one.
Maybe it's time I revisited the wooden Buddha statue case idea... I wonder how much it would cost to make it from jade...
"...putrid arrogance and condescension..."
m ageLoader (src='image.png', sizingMethod='scale')" />
Sad little man. The previous poster wasn't calling you a sheep, but I will. Sure, you can run Windows because it 'Just sucks...err....works out of the box' and be constantly on your guard against the mentioned spyware, malware, trojans, viruses, etc. The plain fact is that OSS bugs and security flaws are generally less damaging, less frequent and resolved faster than the flaws in MS products.
You completely failed to mention Gentoo when trying to rip Linux. My updates can be several hundred MB in size, but I don't mind. It is the price I gladly pay for software that 'just works, and works the same every time.' For 20+ Linux systems and servers, I download a new source package once. Centralized NFS distfiles directory prevents me from wasting valuable time downloading the same update on every machine. Do I need to mention how Windows handles this situation? There are obvious advantages to using Linux (as well as other FOSS) that many MS evangalists REFUSE to see.
"I beg you to come unto me, brothers and sisters. I have seen the light and I can lead you to your salvation or possibly your doom...."
Weren't we talking about PNG on IE before? Someone mentioned the transparency issue in a different thread, which can be resolved with this code:
<img src="blank.gif" style="width: 100px; height: 100px; filter:
progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaI
You may want to implement browser specific insertion of that code...it totally doesn't work in anything but IE
Word!
thought you knew?
my problem with the picture is that everything is strapped to the guys torso/arms/legs.....and the leg/arm assistant components only reach to his ankles/wrists.
show me the loading dock exo-skeleton from 'aliens' and I'll be impressed. This guy is going to break his ankles if he dates larger women... maybe if they put some feet on it, he'll be able to carry his woman across the threshold with more than stumpy nubs left at the ends of his legs.
And who would dare fight the alien queen in any color other than caution-tape yellow?
I've been running Linux on my thinkpads for years. Aside from the recently corrected ACPI issues, I have full control of the hardware (can even initiate dock/undock.) My one stint with a non-IBM laptop (sager type) ran linux like a champ also (until the motherboard got warm and several circuit traces leading from the processor fried)
I have to agree with a previous poster though, Linux isn't for the general public yet.
I have such a keyboard also, however, the keys are not blank by design. Extensive use of my thinkpad keyboard has worn the letters completely from quite a few keys.
L, M, N, C, I, E, S, D, F, are worn clean and shiny. I've considered hastening the process for the rest of the keys because I think it's sexy (no, I don't have a girlfriend.....shaddup....you don't either.)
I can't say that I type any faster (always been around 65wpm since learning to touch type), but I can say that I only look at they keyboard to hit the volume-up/down and special thinkpad buttons (email, home, search, etc...).
Oh, I see what you're saying now. I still think you're wrong. I still remember losing some of my baby teeth. I remember when my hair was long and I looked like Ronald McDonald with my fro. Hell, I even remember having a middle toenail on my left foot (before the garage door incident.) I imagine that if I lost that toe entirely, I would still remember having it.
We're not talking about evolution of ability here. Just because you lose your vocal cords does not mean that you lose memory of the ability to speak.