"The hope is that we will contaminate Mars and not the other way around."
Human nature indeed.
I think it's funny that so many people view it as such a low risk. There either will be something bad brought back - or there won't. Sounds pretty 50/50 to me. Hell, they could bring something harmless back - that becomes or somehow contributes to some sort of plague in 10,000,000 years. Sure, seems mute now - but 10,000,000 years from now it wouldn't.
Not that I care, why bother myself with concerns I have no control over. It is food for thought, though, just goes to show how little people consider the ramifications of their actions.
Everyone is bent on the idea of exploring Mars, but you never hear any mention of what the reprocussions of that could be. Though, I'm all for it - regardless of the reprocussions. If we stop exploring and discovering - where would that leave us.
But hey, these people I'm referring to are the idiots who think SCO can not tell a lie - and they print everything as though it came directly from the Bible! All praise SCO and Darl McBride for blessing our planet - we wouldn't know what to put after bullshit in the dictionary if they weren't here!
We know that comets frequently consist of massive amounts of water. Water is typically associated with life (little closed minded, IMO) - and thus micro organisms should be able to survive in comets and other space debree....
It's logical to assume there is a great possibility that many viruses and bacteria found on Earth were deposited here from another planet. Or rather, that it's very provable.
Likewise, much as 'humans can contaminate' Mars, it's naive to think that Mars couldn't contaminate Earth. We have no means or comprehension of what life possibly existed (or still exists) on Mars - nor what threat that life could pose to life on Earth.
They may very well bring back an unstoppable plague in those soil samples. Who knows.
Damnit, stupid beer. It seems to enhance the conspiracy sector of my brain. Thank God there isn't another lame SCO press release out - I'd go crazy on one of those right now!
Every product has security vulnerabilities that are exposed to the public from time to time....
However, Microsoft seems to be the King of insecure. This is yet another example. And old news at that.
The problem with Microsoft is the length of time they take to fix such horrid flaws in their software.
They've had many months to produce a patch for this, and countless Microsoft users have suffered as a result.
Good job, Microsoft, for proving you are a proud supporter of capitalism. You've managed to make a select few extremely wealthy by ripping off your users, using a slew of vulnerabilities that are continually left unchecked for extended periods of time.
It's sad, really, Microsoft doesn't even care about the bad press anymore. They're immune to it, everyone knows their products are insecure and feel they have no alternative choice.
That's going to change someday, and Microsoft is going to have to actually earn their customers by providing good [secure] products and services then. Though, I doubt it will ever matter - really. Microsoft is simply too large and too wealthy - even if no one ever bought another Microsoft product again - the company could survive forever just on it's current assets.
Talk about a load of smelly poo...
Right, start charging to send an email when it's the ISP and end user who actual brunt the cost of transport.
I think not. US Postage is accepted because a real service is provided and required on behalf of the US Postal service to deliver mail.
On eMail, there is in fact no interaction on behalf of the US Postal service or any other government agency required to deliver the electronic message.
As well, this will hardly stop spam - in fact it will give spam the foundation it needs to legitimize itself as a corporate business model. Granted, spam will become slightly more tolerable with regards to the 'amount' of spam - however spam messages will begin to contain massive amounts of information rather then quick and small advertisements.
Regardless, the internet will not tolerate such useless regulation - and email would quickly be replaced by alternate forms of [free] communication(s).
We don't need taxation, we need representation. We pay enough taxes already. It's time for the government to step up and pass legislation that recognizes the need to prevent illegal and unwanted communication(s) on the internet.
Sure, we all want a free internet - but directing [unwanted] communication to specific users repeatedly should be a crime. Once a user declares they do not wish to receive [spam] messages from the sender - that should be the end of it. To continue further [spam] communication(s) should in fact be a criminal offense.
These same practices take a roll in physical solicitations and telephony solicitations. If a person wishes to not have physical solititations - they simply post a [no soliciting] sign at their residence or place of business. Likewise, we have the national 'do not call' registry to prevent unwanted telephony solicitations. As well, there are very strict laws to prevent the unwanted transmission of [soliciting] fax documents.
All forms of solicitation are [proposedly] banned at the users request under the idea that such communications present a legitimate cost to the user.
Email solicitation is in fact no different. The burdon of cost is in fact extended to the user in the form of time, bandwith, and hardware/software resources required to receive and dispose of such [unwanted] communication(s).
I, personally, receive over 40,000 [unwanted] messages per month.
This is after years of preventative measures. There is simply nothing a user can do to stop [unwanted] email, aside from relocating their email address. In which case, it is sitll only a matter of time before their address(es) are aquired and distributed among spam groups.
We have a constitutional right to protect ourselves and our family. Spam is in fact a real threat to many of us. It imposes real costs and has real reprocussions. Future legislation must recognize that threat, and allow [victimized] end users to seek judgement for damages caused to them.
It's a pitty, really, that politicians are so uneducated about technology. Had they the slightest incling, this problem would have been delt with along with the national do not call registry.
One day, though, we will in fact prevail -- and spammers will be spending their time behind bars - far from the likes of any technology. They are criminals, 80 year old woman or not. They are taking from others to benefit themselves. Many of them perform hanus criminal acts to further improve their [spam] operation(s).
So to all spammers, I would say; Our time will come, and so will yours. Be ready, we are.
Slashdot Mirror
"The hope is that we will contaminate Mars and not the other way around."
Human nature indeed.
I think it's funny that so many people view it as such a low risk. There either will be something bad brought back - or there won't. Sounds pretty 50/50 to me. Hell, they could bring something harmless back - that becomes or somehow contributes to some sort of plague in 10,000,000 years. Sure, seems mute now - but 10,000,000 years from now it wouldn't.
Not that I care, why bother myself with concerns I have no control over. It is food for thought, though, just goes to show how little people consider the ramifications of their actions.
Everyone is bent on the idea of exploring Mars, but you never hear any mention of what the reprocussions of that could be. Though, I'm all for it - regardless of the reprocussions. If we stop exploring and discovering - where would that leave us.
But hey, these people I'm referring to are the idiots who think SCO can not tell a lie - and they print everything as though it came directly from the Bible! All praise SCO and Darl McBride for blessing our planet - we wouldn't know what to put after bullshit in the dictionary if they weren't here!
We know that comets frequently consist of massive amounts of water. Water is typically associated with life (little closed minded, IMO) - and thus micro organisms should be able to survive in comets and other space debree....
It's logical to assume there is a great possibility that many viruses and bacteria found on Earth were deposited here from another planet. Or rather, that it's very provable.
Likewise, much as 'humans can contaminate' Mars, it's naive to think that Mars couldn't contaminate Earth. We have no means or comprehension of what life possibly existed (or still exists) on Mars - nor what threat that life could pose to life on Earth.
They may very well bring back an unstoppable plague in those soil samples. Who knows.
Damnit, stupid beer. It seems to enhance the conspiracy sector of my brain. Thank God there isn't another lame SCO press release out - I'd go crazy on one of those right now!
Lame...
/. you gotta pay for it.
Looks to me like the hosting company is trying to benefit from some nice free advertising...
That link should be removed - want advertising from
Don't you know, the more screws left over is simply a show of how much more efficient you can make a computer?
I may well have one of the most efficient computers in the world!
Every product has security vulnerabilities that are exposed to the public from time to time.... However, Microsoft seems to be the King of insecure. This is yet another example. And old news at that. The problem with Microsoft is the length of time they take to fix such horrid flaws in their software. They've had many months to produce a patch for this, and countless Microsoft users have suffered as a result. Good job, Microsoft, for proving you are a proud supporter of capitalism. You've managed to make a select few extremely wealthy by ripping off your users, using a slew of vulnerabilities that are continually left unchecked for extended periods of time. It's sad, really, Microsoft doesn't even care about the bad press anymore. They're immune to it, everyone knows their products are insecure and feel they have no alternative choice. That's going to change someday, and Microsoft is going to have to actually earn their customers by providing good [secure] products and services then. Though, I doubt it will ever matter - really. Microsoft is simply too large and too wealthy - even if no one ever bought another Microsoft product again - the company could survive forever just on it's current assets. Talk about a load of smelly poo...
Right, start charging to send an email when it's the ISP and end user who actual brunt the cost of transport.
I think not. US Postage is accepted because a real service is provided and required on behalf of the US Postal service to deliver mail.
On eMail, there is in fact no interaction on behalf of the US Postal service or any other government agency required to deliver the electronic message.
As well, this will hardly stop spam - in fact it will give spam the foundation it needs to legitimize itself as a corporate business model. Granted, spam will become slightly more tolerable with regards to the 'amount' of spam - however spam messages will begin to contain massive amounts of information rather then quick and small advertisements.
Regardless, the internet will not tolerate such useless regulation - and email would quickly be replaced by alternate forms of [free] communication(s).
We don't need taxation, we need representation. We pay enough taxes already. It's time for the government to step up and pass legislation that recognizes the need to prevent illegal and unwanted communication(s) on the internet.
Sure, we all want a free internet - but directing [unwanted] communication to specific users repeatedly should be a crime. Once a user declares they do not wish to receive [spam] messages from the sender - that should be the end of it. To continue further [spam] communication(s) should in fact be a criminal offense.
These same practices take a roll in physical solicitations and telephony solicitations. If a person wishes to not have physical solititations - they simply post a [no soliciting] sign at their residence or place of business. Likewise, we have the national 'do not call' registry to prevent unwanted telephony solicitations. As well, there are very strict laws to prevent the unwanted transmission of [soliciting] fax documents.
All forms of solicitation are [proposedly] banned at the users request under the idea that such communications present a legitimate cost to the user.
Email solicitation is in fact no different. The burdon of cost is in fact extended to the user in the form of time, bandwith, and hardware/software resources required to receive and dispose of such [unwanted] communication(s).
I, personally, receive over 40,000 [unwanted] messages per month.
This is after years of preventative measures. There is simply nothing a user can do to stop [unwanted] email, aside from relocating their email address. In which case, it is sitll only a matter of time before their address(es) are aquired and distributed among spam groups.
We have a constitutional right to protect ourselves and our family. Spam is in fact a real threat to many of us. It imposes real costs and has real reprocussions. Future legislation must recognize that threat, and allow [victimized] end users to seek judgement for damages caused to them.
It's a pitty, really, that politicians are so uneducated about technology. Had they the slightest incling, this problem would have been delt with along with the national do not call registry.
One day, though, we will in fact prevail -- and spammers will be spending their time behind bars - far from the likes of any technology. They are criminals, 80 year old woman or not. They are taking from others to benefit themselves. Many of them perform hanus criminal acts to further improve their [spam] operation(s).
So to all spammers, I would say; Our time will come, and so will yours. Be ready, we are.