"OK, so obviously this could be used as "better-than-diamonds" for industrial purposes - grinding and such. But it seems to me that the improvement is only modest"
Uhm, don't underestimate the profit-increasing abilities of new materials.
Borazon, for example, is a synthetic material that is used in abrasives and cutting tools. The value isn't in the material itself, but in what one can do with it.
If it's about as expensive as synthetic diamond (an oxymoron - synthetic diamond is just as real as "real" diamonds) or borazon, expect this to wind up in concrete saws, grinding wheels, end mills, drills (masonry, metal, oil industry) and a whole zoo of tools.
It's not a "modest improvement". It's a technological leap comparable to synthesizing diamonds and superabrasives, which revolutionized a lot of industries.
"Instead of whining about it being a dupe. Just don't read the article. What a concept"
But you don't know it's a dupe until you RTFA, and by then it's far too late. It's like when Laurie Anderson says about what you do in the morning when you eat your cereal, and you're just staring at the box reading...reading and eating, and then you discover that what you've been eating what you're reading.
And then it really _is_ too late.
Here's a concept: stop wasting my time with your concepts.
"The server's on fire! It's more than I can handle"
Jeez...there's what.. (looks at file size) a 6.7MB video of this?
And it's a dupe!
Bravo! I genuflect in the direction of Slashdot, honoring its unlimited power to bring fear and loathing into the hearts of system administrators everywhere!
The taping of the password to the backs of the machines is what I call an "Attractive Nuisance", in my not so humble opinion. Here's a sample definition:
attractive nuisance doctrine
There is normally no particular care required of property owners to safeguard trespassers from harm, but an attractive nuisance is an exception. An attractive nuisance is any inherently hazardous object or condition of property that can be expected to attract children to investigate or play (for example, construction sites and discarded large appliances). The doctrine imposes upon the property owner either the duty to take precautions that are reasonable in light of the normal behavior of young children--a much higher degree of care than required toward adults--or the same care as that owed to "invitees"--a higher standard than required toward uninvited, casual visitors (licensees).
By taping the passwords to the backs of the machines, the school system had created an attractive nuisance, especially considering the "behaviour of normal children". This was like installing a pool, placing a sign saying "Don't Swim", REFUSING to put up a fence, and then disclaiming all responsibility when someone drowns (violates policy).
The school administration in this case is a fucking waste of oxygen.
Yeah, you can run remote code on a *nix box. You have to be running Windows processes in Wine or actually run Windows in a virtual machine like Win4Lin.
In other words, totally remove the advantages of running a secure system by running Windows.
"but Linux and Unix service exploits are certainly automatable and common. Apache, Sendmail, BIND, inetd, and the list goes on and on."
Mein gott. Fine, whatever. Dude, on end user/client machines, NONE of that belongs.
"You're complaining about obsfucated URL's, for God's sake."
WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH ARE YOU ALLOWED TO RUN REMOTE CODE FROM A URL AT ALL? EH?
This is an engineering flaw specific to windows! I can't do it from within a *nix system NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY.
"http://www.spirit.com/Network/net0401.html"
The Lion worm uses a bug in BIND
Woop De Do. That's a nameserver exploit. How many end user systems you know of that run BIND?
The thing is, I can take this Linux machine I am using, throw out the router and connect bare-assed to the 'net. If I'm not offering any services like BIND, FTP, or any other service, good luck getting in.
"Because the exploit is fully contained in the message it is possible for a not vulnerable mail tranport agent to forward the infected message to other systems."
Sounds like an email virus to me. It doesn't even require you to save a file and set a bit. Thanks for playing the game, but it's clear that you don't fully understand the rules.
You don't know the difference between an MTA and MUA. Nutjob. I'll give you a clue: an MTA sits on the server, which in my case happens to be mail.east.cox.net, which ain't my fucking worry. An MUA is Thunderbird or Outlook Express or something similar, like elm. This is where mail viruses propagate, not at the MTA level.
That's because I was arguing a totally different point that Windows bigots argue, that since Windows is more popular, that it gets a proportional amount of viruses.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Sure, you can use Metcalf's law. But then, where are the 186 viruses even using your formula?
We're talking about code that replicates itself, not rootkits.
No, rootkits don't count as they require hand-crafted attacks at single machines; not automated attacks, as in viruses and worms. There are only so many hours in the day for the black-hat hacker/script kiddie, and that's the biggest limiting factor right there.
The fact is that automatic replication of code (viruses, trojans, and worms) requires more than a little bit of work from the user recieving such code. Indeed, email viruses are nonexistent on *nix (OS/X included) because propagation requires that the user save the file, chmod the execute bit to 1, and then run the file.
On top of that, the little bundle of evil must also be binary compatible with the system that it discovers - in the *nix world, that's definitely not a given.
That's a pretty big hurdle for automatic propagation.
Compare and contrast that to what happens in the Windows world, where automatic execution of code is _built into the OS_ and rather than depend on the user to set an execute bit, executability is dependent on the three letter "file extension", as in my example of the "e-card" obfuscated URL plainly showed.
Click - *boom*
I think it's reasonable to use Metcalf's law to demonstrate virus propagation across a network populated with Windows machines as the machines really do have random connections between each other and that the barriers to propagation within the machines themselves are pretty low to begin with.
The other thing about SP2 is that it overwrites a bunch of virus-contaminated junk. That's the first thing to do if you've got someone's SP1 machine after you've reduced the infection to a low roar.
That's my experience, anyway.
SP2 has the firewall turned on by default. That is a Good Thing.
Another thing I do for the people I fix for is write a "Letter To The Victim", a prescription of sorts, describing dos and don'ts. It's mostly common sense stuff, like keeping virus software up to date (NAV from 1998?! Eh?!) and how to surf the net and read mail without getting socially engineered.
No, I don't make a bunch of money doing this, nor do I get many sexual favors.
I'm also an "intellectual whore". It could be worse. I could be a "cuddle bitch". Google if you don't get it.:-P
You know, I've been running Linux for so long, I forgot about the registry keys when I made my post.
One of the major reasons to do a clean-up instead of a format is all those user-installed programs, some of which the user doesn't have or can't find the original media.
That brings me to my other gripe. The Registry is the biggest POS single-point-of-failure going on a Windows system.
Meh.
Here's my question to you, though:
"I fully agree with you on breaking out data to it's own parition. I do that...well, did that myself back when I ran Windows."
But not anymore? Why? It's _so_ much easier to blow away the OS and upgrade if it resides in its own partition. Upgrading over an old Linux install works only half the time. I know, I've tried.
I am _not_ a professional admin who has a network of machines to maintain or easy access to the machines I fix or the authority to command people to do as I want. I'm "the guy that fixes stuff" for his friends/enemies.
Go 'round every couple of months requesting that everyone send me their machines for updating the OS? Are you out of your mind? Ghost? Are you out of your mind? These are all individual machines, not something cookie-cutter that I could administer in a sane way.
Yes, I would love to standardize all these machines with the same Windows distribution. I would love to partition the drives so that the OS resides on a separate partition from the user data, and yet another partition for the extra installed programs. That would be sane. But that would mean I would have to furnish boxed copies of XP at the retail price myself, to be sold to the "customers" so I can do it up right.
"But I have Windows! Why do I have to buy another?"
Things were so much simpler when PCs came with full OS licenses and a full set of disks. Now, the only choice is to either manually disinfect for HOURS without disturbing too much of the installation, or format and use the "recovery" cd, and the user is fucked for whatever was on the machine if it was never backed up.
It's fucking maddening is what it is.
The day that Microsoft stopped the likes of Dell and HP from furnishing OEM CDs spelled doom for the customer who wanted to have a multiple partition setup. Now if you want that, you need a purchase a full Windows kit that costs 200 bux for XP Home.
Windows bigots are fond of pointing at Linux and Apple as each having 5 percent of the market, and therefore are "loser OSes that can't do anything".
So ok, let's use that number, just for shits and giggles. If popularity of OS == abundance of malware, let's do some math.
Depending on who you ask, there are between 60 and 70 THOUSAND Windows viruses, trojans, etc.
I'll use the low number, just so nobody can accuse me of bias.
5 percent of 60,000 is 3,000.
Where are the THREE THOUSAND viruses that should be out there for Linux or Macintosh? Last I looked, there were 7 for Linux, and NONE of them were active.
So it's more complicated than just popularity. There are other factors, and I'll let you guess as to what they are.
Well, it's deathly ill, mostly. The average Windows end user is in a never ending battle against the baddies. They buy their systems at the Best Buy, bring them home, run for a couple of months, and then complain that they can't login.
Then they call me, or someone like me. With disdain, I inform them that I'm wicked busy but I'll do it "this time".
When I get my grubby hands on their machines, they're fubar. It's not for lack of trying either, because there are multiple Virus, Trojan, and Firewall apps, all fighting over the same machine, including the odd fake anti-trojanwares. You know the one's I'm talking about. We've all seen them. "Click here for a FREE security scan!" and then the machine gets YET another bit of evil.
I simply don't know what to do anymore. I clean them up, set up security, knowing - just KNOWING that it's all in vain. Just yesterday, I got an "e-postcard" in the mail, and it was just an overt attempt at infection. There wasn't anything that would trip an AV or firewall in the mail, just an obfuscated link that actually pointed at a crypically named.exe. I know far too many people who are e-card addicts, and I am SURE they would have clicked.
Toast. Totally goddamn toast. The fact that Windows programs have their execute bit as part of the filename is probably the worst thing ever to happen to an OS. One click, and yet another "svchost.exe" process. No lube, no kiss, no reach-around, just total PC anal rape.
And without a total redesign of Windows or dumping the platform for Apple or Linux, Joe and Josephine User are SOL. Vista is going to be more of the same, as it's going to be simply XP SP3 with more chrome.
Ah well.
If anyone knows anything about a0190313376667.gif.exe, mail me at my alias AT Entropy dawt TMOK dawt com. There's hardly anything on the 'net about it except some German blogs.
That's actually informative. As long as you've got a way to point it in the right direction, it really doesn't matter what it's mounted on. It would certainly keep it from being stolen. Before you go to work, wheel it in, and when you come back, wheel it out, possibly on some pins set in the ground or registration marks done with magic marker on the porch.
There are fiberglass boulders that are used to disguise ground or balcony/porch mounted dishes.
It's not like I'm going to do that any time soon, though. I don't even pay for basic cable - no justification for the expense.
"National security, and "Critical infrastructure" trumps all, no matter what. The FCC better make sure the door is tight. "
If I was the FCC adjudicator, I'd ask Massport why they're using a wide-open 802.11 network in the first place, if they're _so_ concerned about security. If 802.11 is being used for security, why didn't they apply for a license that would put them out of the anarchic spectrum that they're currently in?
Like someone said up there: Do not use Part 15 devices for critical systems! Mein gott, if life and limb depends on this, then someone needs to be fired.
Wasn't there a story not that long ago about South Station's problem with wireless security? The real problem is that Massport is damn incompetent. It won't take much by the airline to show that they're FOS up to their eyeballs.
"Now, someone please let BPL providers know about this too. I already heard musings about putting critical control systems on BPL, and I imagine in a few years HAM's will be getting nailed for causing interference from a licensed device (amateur radio) to an unlicensed."
Never happen. Licensed takes precedence over unlicensed EVERY TIME. The FCC has used that rule of thumb ever since it was created as an agency. There is _no way_ that the FCC is going to give up that tool, as it is their lifeline to justification.
Take that away, and the FCC's reason to exist vanishes. POOF!
BPL providers will do well to learn the lessons of the Cable System Providers. The FCC comes down hard on signal leakers. If you've got a shitty cable signal, say that you've detected leakage with your equipment and the cable tech will be there within the hour.
Regardless of Massport's assertions of safety or interference and whatnot, the FCC will tell Massport to stuff it. If what is being used is FCC approved wireless, there's not a damn thing that Massport can do about it.
That's _especially_ if they complain about interference, because all Part 15 devices _must_ accept any interference. 802.11 is smack in the Part 15 rules, so Massport can go pound sand.
"Piracy costs the entertainment software industry billions of dollars each year, harming businesses and their employees who work on the development and distribution of game products, "
Oh cry me a river.
That's only the case if you assume that every copy=one real customer lost. Back when I was into the warez scene, I had intalled and deleted hundreds of games/utils/applications. Some within minutes after muttering "this is bogus".
If someone had totalled up the number of applications, utils, and games, there is no way I could have even afforded 10 percent of that. (I actually did buy what I liked, but to put me on the figurative hook for half-hour glances at packages, well, that's dumb).
I assume that my experience is not unique.
All that is totally ignoring the _fact_ that various companies who shall remain nameless depended on warez to gain marketshare *cough* autocad *cough* Windows.
Thank Gh0d for Open Source. Everything is legit now, and kicking back some cash gives a warm fuzzy feeling, rather than the feeling of being ripped off. It's been that way for almost a decade now, and I like it.
Reposted from SCOX Yahoo! board, for entertainment purposes only. Do Not Eat. Do not fold, spindle or mutilate. Contents may have settled in shipping. No user servicable parts inside. Contains phenylalanine.
EVIL SPLASDOT teh EVIL FLAG SHIPE of yuor LIE-NUX it is TOTELY DEFETED!!!! MERKIEY prove there ALL TERIST and SHUT THEM DOWN FOR EVER!!!!!! CMRD TACO to SENT ABU GRAB!!! COW BOY NED deproted back to FRENCHIE LAND!!!
NOW all yuo LIE-NUX FREAKOS gona haf to go otsides and get REAL JOB not play with NERDLEY COMPUTAR!!!! STOPID FREAKOS!!! ALL YUO CANT even get in FRATNERETY in COLEGE thats PATHIC!!! TO BUSEY makin stupid progaram THINGES!!! YUOL never get to be WELTHY EXEUTIVE like ESKER and MACBRID if yuor not in FRETNERNTY thats wher you make ALL LIFE BUSNES CONECTONS!!!! YUO = TOTAL REJECTOS!!!! ESKER feeleing so SAD for all YUO!!! HAR!!! HAR!!!
HORAY FOR MEKRKY and SCOX!!!! ITS anothar BUTEFUL DAY FOR SCOX LONGS!!!! STOCK to ALL MOON TOMOROW!!! SCOX TECNICLES look FATNASTIC!!!WAITS AND SEE ITS ALL TRUETH!!!
IT IS JSUT for te STARTERS TOOO!!!! ONE BUY ONE all LIE-NUX site on INTER-WEB gona get CRUSHIED by teh MEIRKEY and all rest of TOAD FORCE 2000!!!!! WE ARE INVITSNIBLE YUO canot STOP OUR POWARFUL FORCIES for SCOX AND JESUS!!!
"At present the cost of this type of manufacturing is prohibitive i.e. material cost is a small portion of the cost."
That was my point. *ALL* machining is expensive compared to the cost of the original block of material.
An entry level "real" vertical machining center goes for around $100K. Add to that labor, heat, electricity, taxes, and the payments for the building, and you're looking at over $120/hr shop time. If it takes *half an hour* (totally reasonable time) to to set up a thin-wall 3D machined part, that's $60 right there, and that doesn't include making fixtures so you don't do something like tear out the sidewall from the inside because it's only.030 thick.
As processes go, machining is the most expensive thing you can do. The process itself requires you to do things in specific ways because of physics. There's only so hard that you can push a cutter before it fails.
So figure that when you go have emachineshop.com make you something.
Also, consider that the boat panels that you have made are actually 2D parts, with no thin walls, and pretty much straightforward geometry.
"If you have anything other than a desktop cnc mill then I'm insanely jealous:-)"
I can go fiddle around with whatever I want with the Proto-Traks in the maintenence machine shop on my own time - the real CNC stuff is taken up doing real work. I actually have to be at work in...uh...5 hours. Bleh.
-- BMO
Re:Wood? It's worse than you already think.
on
Real Wood iPod
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
"Immediately, as a result of this rather provocative article, there will be a rush of people going to go buy rare wood."
"These people and their iPods are killing millions of people and destroying the Earth."
Oh spare me, troll.
And how much wood do you need to make an iPod faceplate? A few cubic inches?
You deserve to be tweaked, but good.
I want one of these. I haven't justified the price for the 92XL...yet.
The following 3 chests are available to order in your choice of exotic woods. 92XL Pro Series I Chest $2560.00
41D Classic Chest $1340.00
212 Treasure Chest $1180.00
Slashdot Mirror
"OK, so obviously this could be used as "better-than-diamonds" for industrial purposes - grinding and such. But it seems to me that the improvement is only modest"
Uhm, don't underestimate the profit-increasing abilities of new materials.
Borazon, for example, is a synthetic material that is used in abrasives and cutting tools. The value isn't in the material itself, but in what one can do with it.
If it's about as expensive as synthetic diamond (an oxymoron - synthetic diamond is just as real as "real" diamonds) or borazon, expect this to wind up in concrete saws, grinding wheels, end mills, drills (masonry, metal, oil industry) and a whole zoo of tools.
It's not a "modest improvement". It's a technological leap comparable to synthesizing diamonds and superabrasives, which revolutionized a lot of industries.
--
BMO
It's not harder than Diamond.
I wish it was. It would make my job a whole lot easier.
However, it *is* better for grinding ferrous materials than diamond.
--
BMO - Toolmaker
So when are we going to see a General Products hull constructed out of this?
--
BMO - Imagine a Beowulf Cluster of Kzinti
"Instead of whining about it being a dupe. Just don't read the article. What a concept"
But you don't know it's a dupe until you RTFA, and by then it's far too late. It's like when Laurie Anderson says about what you do in the morning when you eat your cereal, and you're just staring at the box reading...reading and eating, and then you discover that what you've been eating what you're reading.
And then it really _is_ too late.
Here's a concept: stop wasting my time with your concepts.
--
BMO
"I am so using that to tape my hockey stick..."
The NHL will ban it, in favor of laminated nanotube pucks and more steroids. That is assuming that we actually have a season this year.
--
BMO 'What are you doing?' 'We're putting on the foil' - Slapshot
"The server's on fire!
It's more than I can handle"
Jeez...there's what.. (looks at file size) a 6.7MB video of this?
And it's a dupe!
Bravo! I genuflect in the direction of Slashdot, honoring its unlimited power to bring fear and loathing into the hearts of system administrators everywhere!
--
BMO ++ ATH0 NO CARRIER
I don't care. My Karma Is Bigger Than Yours
The taping of the password to the backs of the machines is what I call an "Attractive Nuisance", in my not so humble opinion. Here's a sample definition:
e -doctrine.htm
attractive nuisance doctrine
There is normally no particular care required of property owners to safeguard trespassers from harm, but an attractive nuisance is an exception. An attractive nuisance is any inherently hazardous object or condition of property that can be expected to attract children to investigate or play (for example, construction sites and discarded large appliances). The doctrine imposes upon the property owner either the duty to take precautions that are reasonable in light of the normal behavior of young children--a much higher degree of care than required toward adults--or the same care as that owed to "invitees"--a higher standard than required toward uninvited, casual visitors (licensees).
http://insurance.cch.com/rupps/attractive-nuisanc
By taping the passwords to the backs of the machines, the school system had created an attractive nuisance, especially considering the "behaviour of normal children". This was like installing a pool, placing a sign saying "Don't Swim", REFUSING to put up a fence, and then disclaiming all responsibility when someone drowns (violates policy).
The school administration in this case is a fucking waste of oxygen.
--
BMO
Oh, I forgot...
Yeah, you can run remote code on a *nix box. You have to be running Windows processes in Wine or actually run Windows in a virtual machine like Win4Lin.
In other words, totally remove the advantages of running a secure system by running Windows.
--
BMO
Mein gott. Fine, whatever. Dude, on end user/client machines, NONE of that belongs.
"You're complaining about obsfucated URL's, for God's sake."
WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH ARE YOU ALLOWED TO RUN REMOTE CODE FROM A URL AT ALL? EH?
This is an engineering flaw specific to windows! I can't do it from within a *nix system NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY.
"http://www.spirit.com/Network/net0401.html" The Lion worm uses a bug in BIND Woop De Do. That's a nameserver exploit. How many end user systems you know of that run BIND?
The thing is, I can take this Linux machine I am using, throw out the router and connect bare-assed to the 'net. If I'm not offering any services like BIND, FTP, or any other service, good luck getting in.
You don't know the difference between an MTA and MUA. Nutjob. I'll give you a clue: an MTA sits on the server, which in my case happens to be mail.east.cox.net, which ain't my fucking worry. An MUA is Thunderbird or Outlook Express or something similar, like elm. This is where mail viruses propagate, not at the MTA level.If anyone is ignorant, it's you.
"Yay! Grandma gets to attempt to COMPILE"
It's not 1994 anymore. Who needs to compile?
Game over. You lost. -- BMO
No, I didn't factor in Metcalf's Law.
That's because I was arguing a totally different point that Windows bigots argue, that since Windows is more popular, that it gets a proportional amount of viruses.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Sure, you can use Metcalf's law. But then, where are the 186 viruses even using your formula?
We're talking about code that replicates itself, not rootkits.
No, rootkits don't count as they require hand-crafted attacks at single machines; not automated attacks, as in viruses and worms. There are only so many hours in the day for the black-hat hacker/script kiddie, and that's the biggest limiting factor right there.
The fact is that automatic replication of code (viruses, trojans, and worms) requires more than a little bit of work from the user recieving such code. Indeed, email viruses are nonexistent on *nix (OS/X included) because propagation requires that the user save the file, chmod the execute bit to 1, and then run the file.
On top of that, the little bundle of evil must also be binary compatible with the system that it discovers - in the *nix world, that's definitely not a given.
That's a pretty big hurdle for automatic propagation.
Compare and contrast that to what happens in the Windows world, where automatic execution of code is _built into the OS_ and rather than depend on the user to set an execute bit, executability is dependent on the three letter "file extension", as in my example of the "e-card" obfuscated URL plainly showed.
Click - *boom*
I think it's reasonable to use Metcalf's law to demonstrate virus propagation across a network populated with Windows machines as the machines really do have random connections between each other and that the barriers to propagation within the machines themselves are pretty low to begin with.
--
BMO
The other thing about SP2 is that it overwrites a bunch of virus-contaminated junk. That's the first thing to do if you've got someone's SP1 machine after you've reduced the infection to a low roar.
:-P
That's my experience, anyway.
SP2 has the firewall turned on by default. That is a Good Thing.
Another thing I do for the people I fix for is write a "Letter To The Victim", a prescription of sorts, describing dos and don'ts. It's mostly common sense stuff, like keeping virus software up to date (NAV from 1998?! Eh?!) and how to surf the net and read mail without getting socially engineered.
No, I don't make a bunch of money doing this, nor do I get many sexual favors.
I'm also an "intellectual whore". It could be worse. I could be a "cuddle bitch". Google if you don't get it.
--
BMO
You know, I've been running Linux for so long, I forgot about the registry keys when I made my post.
One of the major reasons to do a clean-up instead of a format is all those user-installed programs, some of which the user doesn't have or can't find the original media.
That brings me to my other gripe. The Registry is the biggest POS single-point-of-failure going on a Windows system.
Meh.
Here's my question to you, though:
"I fully agree with you on breaking out data to it's own parition. I do that...well, did that myself back when I ran Windows."
But not anymore? Why? It's _so_ much easier to blow away the OS and upgrade if it resides in its own partition. Upgrading over an old Linux install works only half the time. I know, I've tried.
--
BMO
I think you misunderstand....
I am _not_ a professional admin who has a network of machines to maintain or easy access to the machines I fix or the authority to command people to do as I want. I'm "the guy that fixes stuff" for his friends/enemies.
Go 'round every couple of months requesting that everyone send me their machines for updating the OS? Are you out of your mind? Ghost? Are you out of your mind? These are all individual machines, not something cookie-cutter that I could administer in a sane way.
Yes, I would love to standardize all these machines with the same Windows distribution. I would love to partition the drives so that the OS resides on a separate partition from the user data, and yet another partition for the extra installed programs. That would be sane. But that would mean I would have to furnish boxed copies of XP at the retail price myself, to be sold to the "customers" so I can do it up right.
"But I have Windows! Why do I have to buy another?"
Things were so much simpler when PCs came with full OS licenses and a full set of disks. Now, the only choice is to either manually disinfect for HOURS without disturbing too much of the installation, or format and use the "recovery" cd, and the user is fucked for whatever was on the machine if it was never backed up.
It's fucking maddening is what it is.
The day that Microsoft stopped the likes of Dell and HP from furnishing OEM CDs spelled doom for the customer who wanted to have a multiple partition setup. Now if you want that, you need a purchase a full Windows kit that costs 200 bux for XP Home.
--
BMO
Windows bigots are fond of pointing at Linux and Apple as each having 5 percent of the market, and therefore are "loser OSes that can't do anything".
So ok, let's use that number, just for shits and giggles. If popularity of OS == abundance of malware, let's do some math.
Depending on who you ask, there are between 60 and 70 THOUSAND Windows viruses, trojans, etc.
I'll use the low number, just so nobody can accuse me of bias.
5 percent of 60,000 is 3,000.
Where are the THREE THOUSAND viruses that should be out there for Linux or Macintosh? Last I looked, there were 7 for Linux, and NONE of them were active.
So it's more complicated than just popularity. There are other factors, and I'll let you guess as to what they are.
--
BMO
Windows is dying.
.exe. I know far too many people who are e-card addicts, and I am SURE they would have clicked.
Well, it's deathly ill, mostly. The average Windows end user is in a never ending battle against the baddies. They buy their systems at the Best Buy, bring them home, run for a couple of months, and then complain that they can't login.
Then they call me, or someone like me. With disdain, I inform them that I'm wicked busy but I'll do it "this time".
When I get my grubby hands on their machines, they're fubar. It's not for lack of trying either, because there are multiple Virus, Trojan, and Firewall apps, all fighting over the same machine, including the odd fake anti-trojanwares. You know the one's I'm talking about. We've all seen them. "Click here for a FREE security scan!" and then the machine gets YET another bit of evil.
I simply don't know what to do anymore. I clean them up, set up security, knowing - just KNOWING that it's all in vain. Just yesterday, I got an "e-postcard" in the mail, and it was just an overt attempt at infection. There wasn't anything that would trip an AV or firewall in the mail, just an obfuscated link that actually pointed at a crypically named
Toast. Totally goddamn toast. The fact that Windows programs have their execute bit as part of the filename is probably the worst thing ever to happen to an OS. One click, and yet another "svchost.exe" process. No lube, no kiss, no reach-around, just total PC anal rape.
And without a total redesign of Windows or dumping the platform for Apple or Linux, Joe and Josephine User are SOL. Vista is going to be more of the same, as it's going to be simply XP SP3 with more chrome.
Ah well.
If anyone knows anything about a0190313376667.gif.exe, mail me at my alias AT Entropy dawt TMOK dawt com. There's hardly anything on the 'net about it except some German blogs.
--
BMO
That's actually informative. As long as you've got a way to point it in the right direction, it really doesn't matter what it's mounted on. It would certainly keep it from being stolen. Before you go to work, wheel it in, and when you come back, wheel it out, possibly on some pins set in the ground or registration marks done with magic marker on the porch.
There are fiberglass boulders that are used to disguise ground or balcony/porch mounted dishes.
It's not like I'm going to do that any time soon, though. I don't even pay for basic cable - no justification for the expense.
--
BMO
A landlord cannot forbid the use of RF devices that comply with FCC regulations. The FCC has said this numerous times.
That said, my lease forbids sat dishes. It's not the fact that it's a sat dish that's a nono, but screwing it to the side of the house is.
--
BMO
"National security, and "Critical infrastructure" trumps all, no matter what. The FCC better make sure the door is tight. "
If I was the FCC adjudicator, I'd ask Massport why they're using a wide-open 802.11 network in the first place, if they're _so_ concerned about security. If 802.11 is being used for security, why didn't they apply for a license that would put them out of the anarchic spectrum that they're currently in?
Like someone said up there: Do not use Part 15 devices for critical systems! Mein gott, if life and limb depends on this, then someone needs to be fired.
Wasn't there a story not that long ago about South Station's problem with wireless security? The real problem is that Massport is damn incompetent. It won't take much by the airline to show that they're FOS up to their eyeballs.
--
BMO
"Now, someone please let BPL providers know about this too. I already heard musings about putting critical control systems on BPL, and I imagine in a few years HAM's will be getting nailed for causing interference from a licensed device (amateur radio) to an unlicensed."
Never happen. Licensed takes precedence over unlicensed EVERY TIME. The FCC has used that rule of thumb ever since it was created as an agency. There is _no way_ that the FCC is going to give up that tool, as it is their lifeline to justification.
Take that away, and the FCC's reason to exist vanishes. POOF!
BPL providers will do well to learn the lessons of the Cable System Providers. The FCC comes down hard on signal leakers. If you've got a shitty cable signal, say that you've detected leakage with your equipment and the cable tech will be there within the hour.
Heh.
--
BMO
Prediction:
Regardless of Massport's assertions of safety or interference and whatnot, the FCC will tell Massport to stuff it. If what is being used is FCC approved wireless, there's not a damn thing that Massport can do about it.
That's _especially_ if they complain about interference, because all Part 15 devices _must_ accept any interference. 802.11 is smack in the Part 15 rules, so Massport can go pound sand.
--
BMO
"Do you buy your vehicles by test-driving a stolen one first to see if you like it?"
With most proprietary software, you cannot even test-drive it.
--
BMO
"Piracy costs the entertainment software industry billions of dollars each year, harming businesses and their employees who work on the development and distribution of game products, "
Oh cry me a river.
That's only the case if you assume that every copy=one real customer lost. Back when I was into the warez scene, I had intalled and deleted hundreds of games/utils/applications. Some within minutes after muttering "this is bogus".
If someone had totalled up the number of applications, utils, and games, there is no way I could have even afforded 10 percent of that. (I actually did buy what I liked, but to put me on the figurative hook for half-hour glances at packages, well, that's dumb).
I assume that my experience is not unique.
All that is totally ignoring the _fact_ that various companies who shall remain nameless depended on warez to gain marketshare *cough* autocad *cough* Windows.
Thank Gh0d for Open Source. Everything is legit now, and kicking back some cash gives a warm fuzzy feeling, rather than the feeling of being ripped off. It's been that way for almost a decade now, and I like it.
--
BMO
Reposted from SCOX Yahoo! board, for entertainment purposes only. Do Not Eat. Do not fold, spindle or mutilate. Contents may have settled in shipping. No user servicable parts inside. Contains phenylalanine.
----
MR MEKREY CRUSHD YUOR SPLASDOT!!!
by: esker_melchior
Long-Term Sentiment: Strong Buy 07/06/05 07:46 pm
Msg: 279237 of 279295
EVIL SPLASDOT teh EVIL FLAG SHIPE of yuor LIE-NUX it is TOTELY DEFETED!!!! MERKIEY prove there ALL TERIST and SHUT THEM DOWN FOR EVER!!!!!! CMRD TACO to SENT ABU GRAB!!! COW BOY NED deproted back to FRENCHIE LAND!!!
NOW all yuo LIE-NUX FREAKOS gona haf to go otsides and get REAL JOB not play with NERDLEY COMPUTAR!!!! STOPID FREAKOS!!! ALL YUO CANT even get in FRATNERETY in COLEGE thats PATHIC!!! TO BUSEY makin stupid progaram THINGES!!! YUOL never get to be WELTHY EXEUTIVE like ESKER and MACBRID if yuor not in FRETNERNTY thats wher you make ALL LIFE BUSNES CONECTONS!!!! YUO = TOTAL REJECTOS!!!! ESKER feeleing so SAD for all YUO!!! HAR!!! HAR!!!
HORAY FOR MEKRKY and SCOX!!!! ITS anothar BUTEFUL DAY FOR SCOX LONGS!!!! STOCK to ALL MOON TOMOROW!!! SCOX TECNICLES look FATNASTIC!!!WAITS AND SEE ITS ALL TRUETH!!!
IT IS JSUT for te STARTERS TOOO!!!! ONE BUY ONE all LIE-NUX site on INTER-WEB gona get CRUSHIED by teh MEIRKEY and all rest of TOAD FORCE 2000!!!!! WE ARE INVITSNIBLE YUO canot STOP OUR POWARFUL FORCIES for SCOX AND JESUS!!!
-----
"At present the cost of this type of manufacturing is prohibitive i.e. material cost is a small portion of the cost."
.030 thick.
:-)"
That was my point. *ALL* machining is expensive compared to the cost of the original block of material.
An entry level "real" vertical machining center goes for around $100K. Add to that labor, heat, electricity, taxes, and the payments for the building, and you're looking at over $120/hr shop time. If it takes *half an hour* (totally reasonable time) to to set up a thin-wall 3D machined part, that's $60 right there, and that doesn't include making fixtures so you don't do something like tear out the sidewall from the inside because it's only
As processes go, machining is the most expensive thing you can do. The process itself requires you to do things in specific ways because of physics. There's only so hard that you can push a cutter before it fails.
So figure that when you go have emachineshop.com make you something.
Also, consider that the boat panels that you have made are actually 2D parts, with no thin walls, and pretty much straightforward geometry.
"If you have anything other than a desktop cnc mill then I'm insanely jealous
I can go fiddle around with whatever I want with the Proto-Traks in the maintenence machine shop on my own time - the real CNC stuff is taken up doing real work. I actually have to be at work in...uh...5 hours. Bleh.
--
BMO
"Immediately, as a result of this rather provocative article, there will be a rush of people going to go buy rare wood."
"These people and their iPods are killing millions of people and destroying the Earth."
Oh spare me, troll.
And how much wood do you need to make an iPod faceplate? A few cubic inches?
You deserve to be tweaked, but good.
I want one of these. I haven't justified the price for the 92XL...yet.
http://www.gerstnerusa.com/Exotic.htm
But look at the prices!
The following 3 chests are available to order in your choice of exotic woods.
92XL Pro Series I Chest $2560.00
41D Classic Chest $1340.00
212 Treasure Chest $1180.00
Mmm...lovely.
--
BMO