I must say having looked at some of the presentations on Longhorn, it does actually look very impressive *ducks*.
While Linux is still trying to compete to become the desktop of choice, Microsoft don't seem to be resting on their laurels and are making impressive strides in the application space.
Linux while it may be becoming a strong contender for the desktop still appears to be years behind in terms of applications when you look at what Longhorn is doing
http://msdn.microsoft.com/Longhorn/productinfo/c on ceptvid/default.aspx
Doesn't look like Microsoft is going to be going anywhere in the near future.
Out of interest what altitude would you need to reach before you could feasibly perform ballistic intercontinental hops. I would have thought that this is the most practically useful direction for sub-orbital flight to take rather than just being a glorified rollercoaster for the rich ??
Case in point I have a younger brother aged 7 he's been allowed to play Super Mario Sunshine and Pokemon on the GBA. This has actually improved his reading skills. Why? because he's interested in the material. The important point is that he is supervised and I help him with words he doesn't know and stop him just clicking past text he doesn't understand.
The key point is that at his age any activity should be supervised for him to benefit from it. If you just drop your kid in front of a computer with edutainment software loaded, their not going to automatically become smart. Parents need to take responsibility for their own childs education.
Personally I feel that blanket bans on TV, Games, Internet etc. are not so much draconian, but they also smack of the parent not wanting to take the time to get involved with their childs education. Just ban it, nice and quick and I can get back to doing what I want to do. Wrong just because you ban TV and Games you think they're going to turn to a copy of Pride and Prejudice? Not likely chances are they'll go out with some friends skateboarding.
You also foster the impression that learning isn't fun, when learning can be just as much fun as play at times.
I actually wouldn't object to ads so much if they were more targetted. I couldn't care less about the latest grill or set of knives etc. However if your telling me about a new cheap plasma screen, ipod etc. then I don't mind so much.
I still want to be able to skip ads, but you never know if they were more targetted perhaps I wouldn't skip them as much in the first place *shrugs*
First I'd like to say a heartfelt thankyou for helping to pioneer space tourism for the rest of us.
My question is with all the recent SCO debacle and Microsofts increasing concern over Linux are you worried that with Ubuntu you could be stepping into a potential legal minefield ? and is this the reason you chose Debian because of its completely free software roots ?
I'd also be curious to know in what way your looking to support private commercial spaceflight, and when/if you plan to return to space ?
I find it mind boggling at times to think that we are using computers created by natures computer (the human brain) to analyze natures software (dna) and that the research may feedback into our own external software designs.
One example I'm thinking of while reading this is that genes obviously work together to accomplish tasks, and they must have worked out what the best level of coupling is. Think of genes as functions and what number of other genes (functions) it is optimal to link to.
Too few and the code is inefficient too many and if one gene/function fails it causes widespread failure i.e. cancer/system crash. It will be interesting to see what natures answers to these and other problems are and if they perhaps lead us to mathmatically definable rules for our own software designs.
Why don't the people this matters to form a new Open Source copy protection project. Don't be daft an open source project so the cracker can see the source you say. Well I'd have thought any real solution to this problem would have to overcome this hurdle anyway as IMO introducing some method of disabling debuggers etc. is unpalatable.
Off the top of my head would this work
1. Create a database of lot's of slightly different serial number generating algorithms with a valid serial number for the algorithm and a program identifier (hash id).
2. Create a script that pulls a serial number algorithm from the database and inserts it in place for compiling
3. The script then inserts the retrieved program hash id in place for compilation
4. Compiles the program and loops back to 1 for as
many copies as you want
Then release for download, if someone wants to register they come on your site and enter their programs hash id and if they validate you give them the corresponding serial no.
If a cracker cracks the serial no for a copy then he's only done it for his one copy.
If they then try to forge the hash to match the cracked copy you would see multiple requests for a single hash in your database and deny them.
Just my 2 cents and probably not worth much more than that;)
I must say Americas attitude really makes me cringe at the moment, it basically amounts to if a foreigner does something we consider morally wrong then kill them. I'm from the UK and I totally agree that spamming is destructive and unwanted, however try looking a little deeper into why people do it.
If I lived in a poor Eastern Europe or run down soviet area I might find myself doing the same as some of these spammers. Imagine you lived in one of these countries and had tried to get legitimate work only to find that it doesn't make you enough money to buy food or pay for expensive American drugs that would save your dying mother etc., what would you do well chances are you'd probably turn to spamming as an extra source of income. Perhaps justifying it to yourself with, well if the drugs didn't cost so much I wouldn't have to steal etc.
A contrived example granted and I'm not saying that everyone ripping off America is doing it to help their poor sick mother. What I am saying is that people usually have their reasons for doing what they do and until we concern ourselves with what they are and look at dealing with them, rather than trying to solve all problems with greater punishments we will remain in this situation.
Like I say I don't in any way condone this behavior. However I do understand it! The fact of the matter is that you will never succeed in beating the rest of the world into accepting your way of life. We need to help other countries to build up their infrastructures to the point where crime isn't the most profitable business they can lay their hands to; while at the same time closing legal and technical loopholes that allow this abuse in the first place.
At the end of the day we are not isolated islands we are all connected and our actions affect other people and as the saying goes you will reap what you sow. Be very careful about wanting other peoples heads on a stick until you've walked a few miles in their shoes. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
I don't think everyone should be too hasty to knock NASA I'll grant you they're no where near as efficient as they should be. However ask yourself how they got that way, if the government came along and started messing up scaled composites plans saying "Hmm needs to be bigger I want to put a spy satellite in space". And put in their own managers to 'oversee' the project and added committee meetings etc. etc. how long do you think it would take them? And how much do you think it would cost? Its actually amazing NASA ever did anything.
That's why we should never be discouraged from attempting something like this. A Government has its strengths such as
Can open up political doors Revise laws (to allow spaceports etc.) Afford large R&D projects
However a small commercial venture has different advantages
Not hamstrung by red tape and management Much quicker development cycle More efficient with funds (sometimes less money is a blessing makes you think up innovative cheaper solutions). Less hampered by safety restrictions Not having to cater to external parties.
I think Scaled is a brilliant example of what can be achieved by a wealthy benefactor with vision and a very talented engineering team. Long may it continue
I remember reading an article in New Scientist I think that talked about research that had been done on so called junk dna and they found that it worked as a repair mechanism.
Essentially they found that dna can transmit electrons and what was happening was when something tried to damage an area of dna by giving it an extra electron, if it didn't need it it could pass it down the line so to speak till it reached one of these areas where it would cause no real harm.
Likewise areas that were robbed of an electron could pinch one back from its nearest junk dna area. Anyone else care to confirm ?
Why are you all so scared of being monitored ? The usual reason is that your doing something that you know isn't strictly legal i.e. storing pornography, breaking copyrights, driving slightly over the speed limit. We like to be able to bend the law without anyone noticing but lets face it if you asked anyone who has lost a family member to terrorist acts I'm sure they would happily surrender these minor infractions to know that they're neighbour can't gather the ingredients to build a bomb without being noticed.
Why does Big Brother have to have an evil connotation. Many good things can come from being monitored e.g. if your mugged the police can be sent and evidence provided against your attackers. There may be less children abducted, less women raped. I agree the politicians have very self serving interests most of the time however one thing we all have in common is not wanting to be blown up, and if they can crash a plane into the pentagon don't tell me bush isn't just as worried for his family as you are for yours. To truly defeat terrorism we may all have to be willing to allow the government a clearer view of our lives, we just need to be careful to get the balance right. I don't want to be called a terrorist simply because I refuse to hand over the contents of my diary, however if someone knocks on my door after ordering all the parts to make a rocket and asks me what I'm doing and I can justify myself (entering the X-Prize) and sign some forms that give me permission have I really lost any civil liberty ?. IMHO this treaty is a recognition that we need international law we simply need to play our part in helping to shape what form that takes.
Hi guys welcome aboard the ISS, um just asking but did you happen to bring a gyroscope.. nope oh well never mind we should be ok unless another one.. *breaking sound*.. ahh crap
Well as you obviously haven't noticed I thought I'd point out that us brits have a good contender in Steve Bennet who founded starchaser industries they've had lots of succesful launches and I would say they are a lot further along than Carmack though perhaps not quite as far as Rutan. Check it out www.starchaser.co.uk I believe they are scheduled to
make an x-prize attempt this year.
Well as you obviously haven't noticed I thought I'd point out that us brits have a good contender in Steve Bennet who founded starchaser industries they've had lots of succesful launches and I would say they are a lot further along than Carmack though perhaps not quite as far as Rutan check it out www.starchaser.co.uk I believe they are scheduled to
make an x-prize attempt this year.
Slashdot Mirror
I must say having looked at some of the presentations on Longhorn, it does actually look very impressive *ducks*.
c on ceptvid/default.aspx
While Linux is still trying to compete to become the desktop of choice, Microsoft don't seem to be resting on their laurels and are making impressive strides in the application space.
Linux while it may be becoming a strong contender for the desktop still appears to be years behind in terms of applications when you look at what Longhorn is doing
http://msdn.microsoft.com/Longhorn/productinfo/
Doesn't look like Microsoft is going to be going anywhere in the near future.
Out of interest what altitude would you need to reach before you could feasibly perform ballistic intercontinental hops. I would have thought that this is the most practically useful direction for sub-orbital flight to take rather than just being a glorified rollercoaster for the rich ??
I have to disagree with the general statement
Time spent playing computer games is time wasted.
Case in point I have a younger brother aged 7 he's been allowed to play Super Mario Sunshine and Pokemon on the GBA. This has actually improved his reading skills. Why? because he's interested in the material. The important point is that he is supervised and I help him with words he doesn't know and stop him just clicking past text he doesn't understand.
The key point is that at his age any activity should be supervised for him to benefit from it. If you just drop your kid in front of a computer with edutainment software loaded, their not going to automatically become smart. Parents need to take responsibility for their own childs education.
Personally I feel that blanket bans on TV, Games, Internet etc. are not so much draconian, but they also smack of the parent not wanting to take the time to get involved with their childs education. Just ban it, nice and quick and I can get back to doing what I want to do. Wrong just because you ban TV and Games you think they're going to turn to a copy of Pride and Prejudice? Not likely chances are they'll go out with some friends skateboarding.
You also foster the impression that learning isn't fun, when learning can be just as much fun as play at times.
I actually wouldn't object to ads so much if they were more targetted. I couldn't care less about the latest grill or set of knives etc. However if your telling me about a new cheap plasma screen, ipod etc. then I don't mind so much.
I still want to be able to skip ads, but you never know if they were more targetted perhaps I wouldn't skip them as much in the first place *shrugs*
Hi Mark
First I'd like to say a heartfelt thankyou for helping to pioneer space tourism for the rest of us.
My question is with all the recent SCO debacle and Microsofts increasing concern over Linux are you worried that with Ubuntu you could be stepping into a potential legal minefield ? and is this the reason you chose Debian because of its completely free software roots ?
I'd also be curious to know in what way your looking to support private commercial spaceflight, and when/if you plan to return to space ?
Best of luck with Ubuntu
I find it mind boggling at times to think that we are using computers created by natures computer (the human brain) to analyze natures software (dna) and that the research may feedback into our own external software designs.
One example I'm thinking of while reading this is that genes obviously work together to accomplish tasks, and they must have worked out what the best level of coupling is. Think of genes as functions and what number of other genes (functions) it is optimal to link to.
Too few and the code is inefficient too many and if one gene/function fails it causes widespread failure i.e. cancer/system crash. It will be interesting to see what natures answers to these and other problems are and if they perhaps lead us to mathmatically definable rules for our own software designs.
Why don't the people this matters to form a new Open Source copy protection project. Don't be daft an open source project so the cracker can see the source you say. Well I'd have thought any real solution to this problem would have to overcome this hurdle anyway as IMO introducing some method of disabling debuggers etc. is unpalatable. Off the top of my head would this work 1. Create a database of lot's of slightly different serial number generating algorithms with a valid serial number for the algorithm and a program identifier (hash id). 2. Create a script that pulls a serial number algorithm from the database and inserts it in place for compiling 3. The script then inserts the retrieved program hash id in place for compilation 4. Compiles the program and loops back to 1 for as many copies as you want Then release for download, if someone wants to register they come on your site and enter their programs hash id and if they validate you give them the corresponding serial no. If a cracker cracks the serial no for a copy then he's only done it for his one copy. If they then try to forge the hash to match the cracked copy you would see multiple requests for a single hash in your database and deny them. Just my 2 cents and probably not worth much more than that ;)
Kernel Panic Core Dumped... Still Panicking Dumping Second Core...
I must say Americas attitude really makes me cringe at the moment, it basically amounts to if a foreigner does something we consider morally wrong then kill them. I'm from the UK and I totally agree that spamming is destructive and unwanted, however try looking a little deeper into why people do it.
If I lived in a poor Eastern Europe or run down soviet area I might find myself doing the same as some of these spammers. Imagine you lived in one of these countries and had tried to get legitimate work only to find that it doesn't make you enough money to buy food or pay for expensive American drugs that would save your dying mother etc., what would you do well chances are you'd probably turn to spamming as an extra source of income. Perhaps justifying it to yourself with, well if the drugs didn't cost so much I wouldn't have to steal etc.
A contrived example granted and I'm not saying that everyone ripping off America is doing it to help their poor sick mother. What I am saying is that people usually have their reasons for doing what they do and until we concern ourselves with what they are and look at dealing with them, rather than trying to solve all problems with greater punishments we will remain in this situation.
Like I say I don't in any way condone this behavior. However I do understand it! The fact of the matter is that you will never succeed in beating the rest of the world into accepting your way of life. We need to help other countries to build up their infrastructures to the point where crime isn't the most profitable business they can lay their hands to; while at the same time closing legal and technical loopholes that allow this abuse in the first place.
At the end of the day we are not isolated islands we are all connected and our actions affect other people and as the saying goes you will reap what you sow. Be very careful about wanting other peoples heads on a stick until you've walked a few miles in their shoes. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
I don't think everyone should be too hasty to knock NASA I'll grant you they're no where near as efficient as they should be. However ask yourself how they got that way, if the government came along and started messing up scaled composites plans saying "Hmm needs to be bigger I want to put a spy satellite in space". And put in their own managers to 'oversee' the project and added committee meetings etc. etc. how long do you think it would take them? And how much do you think it would cost? Its actually amazing NASA ever did anything.
That's why we should never be discouraged from attempting something like this. A Government has its strengths such as
Can open up political doors
Revise laws (to allow spaceports etc.)
Afford large R&D projects
However a small commercial venture has different advantages
Not hamstrung by red tape and management
Much quicker development cycle
More efficient with funds (sometimes less money is a blessing makes you think up innovative cheaper solutions).
Less hampered by safety restrictions
Not having to cater to external parties.
I think Scaled is a brilliant example of what can be achieved by a wealthy benefactor with vision and a very talented engineering team. Long may it continue
I remember reading an article in New Scientist I think that talked about research that had been done on so called junk dna and they found that it worked as a repair mechanism. Essentially they found that dna can transmit electrons and what was happening was when something tried to damage an area of dna by giving it an extra electron, if it didn't need it it could pass it down the line so to speak till it reached one of these areas where it would cause no real harm. Likewise areas that were robbed of an electron could pinch one back from its nearest junk dna area. Anyone else care to confirm ?
Why are you all so scared of being monitored ? The usual reason is that your doing something that you know isn't strictly legal i.e. storing pornography, breaking copyrights, driving slightly over the speed limit. We like to be able to bend the law without anyone noticing but lets face it if you asked anyone who has lost a family member to terrorist acts I'm sure they would happily surrender these minor infractions to know that they're neighbour can't gather the ingredients to build a bomb without being noticed. Why does Big Brother have to have an evil connotation. Many good things can come from being monitored e.g. if your mugged the police can be sent and evidence provided against your attackers. There may be less children abducted, less women raped. I agree the politicians have very self serving interests most of the time however one thing we all have in common is not wanting to be blown up, and if they can crash a plane into the pentagon don't tell me bush isn't just as worried for his family as you are for yours. To truly defeat terrorism we may all have to be willing to allow the government a clearer view of our lives, we just need to be careful to get the balance right. I don't want to be called a terrorist simply because I refuse to hand over the contents of my diary, however if someone knocks on my door after ordering all the parts to make a rocket and asks me what I'm doing and I can justify myself (entering the X-Prize) and sign some forms that give me permission have I really lost any civil liberty ?. IMHO this treaty is a recognition that we need international law we simply need to play our part in helping to shape what form that takes.
Hi guys welcome aboard the ISS, um just asking but did you happen to bring a gyroscope.. nope oh well never mind we should be ok unless another one.. *breaking sound*.. ahh crap
Well as you obviously haven't noticed I thought I'd point out that us brits have a good contender in Steve Bennet who founded starchaser industries they've had lots of succesful launches and I would say they are a lot further along than Carmack though perhaps not quite as far as Rutan. Check it out www.starchaser.co.uk I believe they are scheduled to make an x-prize attempt this year.
Well as you obviously haven't noticed I thought I'd point out that us brits have a good contender in Steve Bennet who founded starchaser industries they've had lots of succesful launches and I would say they are a lot further along than Carmack though perhaps not quite as far as Rutan check it out www.starchaser.co.uk I believe they are scheduled to make an x-prize attempt this year.