"I always thought it was real like pro wrestling, but it's fixed like boxing." (Source)
Re:Anybody else notice its .php files that get ...
on
MSN Censors Your IM
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
Also the php files are in the document_root directory (or whatever you want to call it).
Yeah, on the server - then they could exploit the server hosting them... Why on earth would MS care about that? They're doing the filtering to protect the end-users from exploits of vulnerabilities in the MSN client. It doesn't matter the least bit if it's PHP, Perl, Ruby, ASP or whatever that runs on the server-side - it's what is returned from the server-side that matters. I'll have to agree with the guy guessing that PHP is usually the first choice of scripting language for script kiddies.
And as the first poster noted, TinyURLs get through just fine, plus it'd be the least of problems to make a HTTP redirect, so http://example.com/harmless.script points to http://example.com/malicious.script?that=pwns&MSN= users. This way of "fixing" bugs is nothing but retarded - it fixes nothing and it hassles end-users a great deal - some of those substrings that are getting blocked are VERY common.
This reminds me - one missionary already kinda (involuntarily) tried this tactic on some of the Native Americans.
One missionary was preaching to them (in their language), and said stuff like "We are all sinners and we're all going to hell unless we change our ways and live by the teachings of the Bible." - You know, all sorts of dramatic stuff... When he was done, one native came up to him and asked him, "if you're such bad people, why do you want us to be like you?" Turned out the missionary had been totally ignorant of the fact that they had more than one "we" and had using the exclusive 1st person plural (meaning "we, not including you to whom I'm talking") all the time.
I'm pretty sure the natives got a good laugh out of it, but for riot control... I'm not sure a comedian is the way to go - even though the Laughing Bullet sounds like a... well... hoot!:-p
From the linked blog post: For most Linux users, looking for files, documents, or emails usually involves some combination of 'find' and 'locate,' but sometimes these tools don't quite do what you're looking for, like finding that single PDF containing the specific topic you're looking for. Or you just wish there was a much easier way to find something than 'find/home/username -name '*.pdf' and 'pdftotext pdf_file_name.pdf output.txt...'
Or we use Beagle... Besides, using find, locate and stuff like pdftotext and detex is quite powerful, because you can't do stuff like 'locate libpng | grep ^/usr > libpng-list.txt' in neither Google Desktop, Beagle, Spotlight or whatever MS calls their search-thingy.
Well, the server doesn't appear to complain about it, but you're right, in HTTP 1.0 the Host header isn't required as it is in HTTP 1.1. Re the "127.0.0.1 crap", I was merely filling it out in a more generic way than, say, putting my own IP address there. Besides, it was all in good fun, but you seem to have either missed that or been more interested in bickering.
Hmm, my human parser tells me there's something remotely recursive about that response. Better stop trying to figure it out. Can't let that brain explode. I need it for wrecking with linguistic categorization and violent computer games.:-p
That's kinda interesting, because I've been through a LOT of apps on various OS'es and I always end up recording in ecasound (command line) and mixing/cutting/adding effects in Ardour. If I'm in need of electronic drums, LMMS does everything I need - and I can import the other tracks there, so i won't be bothered by the tiresome exporting/importing routine that naturally comes with Hydrogen when your computer is to slow to really utilize the awesome power of JACK. Just make a simple beat in LMMS, use it as base when recording the real instruments in ecasound and then return to LMMS, import the real instruments and start punching in those drums. But that's just my way... I've made everything from simple folk-music and delta-blues, over obscure cut-up electronica/breakbeat, noise-rock, balls-blues (JSBX-style) to banging hiphop and mellow trip-hop that way. With JACK and JACK-Rack - and only those two apps - I even managed to do live electronica with a little help from various LADSPA-plugins (eg. SooperLooper) and a microphone.
Nothing, but that setup, works right for me - and I've tried FL Studio (also back when it was called Fruity Loops), Cubase, Samplitude, CoolEdit, Logic Pro, Garage Band and LOTS of others that I've forgotten again over the last 10 years. Now I've got a MacBook, with Ubuntu and OS X dual-booting - and Ubuntu's primarilly there so I can do music the way I like it. Occasionally I return to FL Studio to do some pure electronica (actually, more often MilkyTracker is my prefered app in that particular situation), but when real instruments are involved, I prefer the ecasound/LMMS/Ardour setup. Granted, ecasound isn't exactly for those afraid of command lines, but I don't mind it and that is definitely stable and reliable. Haven't ever had a single problem with it.
I guess it all boils down to what kind of music you want to make and how you want to make it. If you despise using different apps for different tasks, then the F/OSS apps probably have a long way to go still. And maybe it'd be wise to mention that I don't use MIDI and never have, so I've never really encountered any of the problems related to that. On the other hand, if you prefer total control, then perhaps it's time to ditch Garage Band (and definitely FL Studio too, even though I still use it every once in a while) and start looking at the F/OSS apps.
That's so true, that I'm going to reply instead of modding you up.
I actually bought CDs back in the mid to late 90's, but then switched back to vinyl around 2000, because it's so much more real to me (please note the "to me", don't start flaming me). Here in Denmark, vinyl is actually a bit more expensive than CDs and you can easilly end up paying $40 for a double-LP, that would only cost $27 on CD. But when I buy a CD I only get that small cover and some blank plastic disc which can be converted into music magically in a CD-player. But when I buy an LP, I get a 12" cover (provided that it's pressed on 12" vinyl) and this slice of vinyl where you can actually see the tracks and pauses. It probably sounds stupid - maybe even simple - to most people, but it never ceases to amaze me.
I like my music accompanied by the cover-art the artist intended (and I'm not talking Britney Spears and other mainstream-money-maker-pop music), that's why burning CDs was never really my thing - it just doesn't work without the real cover. And downloading an mp3 is fine for a preview, but if I like the music, then I'm gonna have to have the cover too and I go out and buy it. I've bought a LOT of music that way.
And since my CD-player died a couple of years back, I'm left with my amp and my record player - which doesn't bother me a bit. (Yeah, I could play CDs on my laptop, but I prefer not to and keep the CDs stashed away in a box until I get a new CD-player some day.) A lot of my friends run the same setup and neither of us have ever thought about DRM (afaik), but let me tell you - without a USB turntable - it's a mess converting a record into mp3's - at least compared to the CD. That has been a problem at times... But vinyl just has charm and - in my opinion - more soul than a CD.
From their point of view, they need to have the software in a known state so that they can troubleshoot the hardware.
That's not entirely true... At least not for IBM. When I had my Thinkpad in for service, they just jammed another hard drive in it with everything they needed to troubleshoot the hardware... I figure this is how most major manufacturers do, since it practically eliminates the possibility for messing up peoples hard drives and having them complaining about that afterwards --- also, it's a lot faster. It wasn't a problem that I had erased their hidden WinXP install/recovery partition and installed Linux instead. I think it's totally retarded that HP refuses to honor the warranty if you've installed Linux. Sure, some software can mess up hardware, but it's not usually the case --- should it be, then I guess the chances for some Win-based software screwing something up are just the same as for some Linux-based software.
True and true. Hehe...
I still think copyrighting a dance is far out - but maybe that's just me... Perhaps it's really not that far from copyrighting a series of notes and/or a series of words...
Not the tune, just the lyrics. That's why Futurama sang a different variant in the episode with Nibbler's Birthday.
Actually, they changed the tune as well. The episode is called I Second That Emotion and is the first episode of season 2 (the DVD-seasons at least - probably not the production seasons). Listen carefully, it's not exactly the same tune. I don't recall if it was the lyrics or the tune (or both) that was changed because of copyright problems, but I do recall them talking about it in a commentary to an episode (can't remember which, though) - they reasoned that it would be plausible that the song would change a bit in a thousand years, hence no need to use the actual song and pay for it.
Back on topic again... A dance is basically just a series of moves, so I think I'll try to patent nose-picking - or maybe masturbation or something like that. I'm afraid, though, that my application will be turned down because of prior art.
It's funny... Alien lifeforms are always thought of as highly advanced compared to us. I think it's worth considering just how complex this world is (just think of how we --- apparently without too much effort --- get from an idea to communicating that idea to others. Then try to describe exactly what an idea is, that is, a generic idea --- nothing specific (and a headache with pictures doesn't count.)
I think it's pretty darn impressive that we ever managed to invent any higher means of communication! (If you're going to start arguing that "animals have language too", take a look at Hockett's Design Features of Language and think about it.)
Probably the most hilarious scenario would be, if it turned out that there was actually life somewhere else in the Milky Way, but it hadn't even advanced to the state of making fire yet. I mean, seriously, that'd be a kick in the nuts of every sci-fi fan out there (not that I particularly dislike them or anything, I quite like some sci-fi myself).
No, but I had some lovely gravioli for dinner yesterday.
Seriously though, stuff like this really pisses me off. If they have a counter-theory, I'm sure they're more than welcome to present it! (From what I've heard, freedom of speech still exists in the US.) The problem is, that they don't --- at least not a scientific one --- so instead of being presented arguments both for and/or against, the kids will hear nothing, which is probably even worse than only hearing one side of a story.
Yeah, I wasn't trying to pin this specifically on Microsoft. That's why I said "someone down the line". The whole situation is rather unfortunate, since (apparently) no one (neither MS nor the Chilean government) has paid any attention to the Mapuches. Of course, it's most reasonable to assume that the Chilean government is more likely than MS to be aware of the Mapuches' feelings re their language, but that doesn't necessarily mean that MS haven't had the chance to find out themselves. Someone must have translated the software for MS, the same person could maybe have guessed how the Mapuche would react and made MS aware.
I think the problem here is that Microsoft should have spoken to some representatives of the tribe before doing the translation.
I'm studying linguistics and one professor told us about some instances where it's been really hard for him to do fieldwork on a language, because no one is willing to be recognized as a speaker of the language. This is not because they're embarrassed about the language or something like that, but because they believe the language and the land goes together, so whoever owns the land, owns the language - and only owners are allowed to speak it. My professor was in the unfortunate situation that the owners of the land did not speak the language and the tribes who inhabited the land actually spoke the language fluently, but didn't dare to admit it. The only option he had, was to wait for the owners of the land to die, so the tribes-folk would speak the language again.
In other (multi-/bi-lingual) cases it's disrespectful to the elders of the tribe, if you speak their language before you're deemed "old enough". So the children learn another language (e.g. English or some pidgin or creole language) and use that until they're old enough to speak the "native" language of the tribe.
These examples are all from Australia/Papua New Guinea, but it wouldn't surprise me the least, if it was the case in some South American tribes as well, hence it's possible that Microsoft has insulted the Mapuches simply by using their language without their consent - and in an attempt to fight fire with fire, the Mapuches asked themselves, "what do those big US-corporations do?" and came up with the answer, "they sue!" (Ok, I know, I'm freestyle-over-hypothesizing now... I'll stop.)
Bottom-line, this is unfortunate and perhaps someone down the line should have been aware of the Mapuches' feelings about their language and perhaps suggested a consultation with them. On the other hand (and despite the fact that I usually let the chance of a good MS-bashing pass by) - if the Mapuche are really interested in their language living on as a viable language (as TFA indicates), then perhaps they should embrace this initiative from Microsoft and start using Windows in Mapuzugun - it's always a start!
Take it from a dane (and even in the words of a marginally Danish influenced band, whose name I fear to mention as their Danish member might sue the crap out of me)... It's "Sad But True"...
I know it's wildly off-topic, so feel free to mod me so, but there's still a lot of this going on here - it didn't stop with the cartoons last year. Within the past few months a radical right-wing party realeased a drawing of Mohammad as a drooling pedophile in their members' magazine and the same party's youth fraction had a "draw Mohammad in the most humiliating way possible" contest on the agenda for their annual meeting.
I'm surprised the muslims are taking it all so well...
Back on-topic though... This sounds interesting, but I'm pretty sure people actually do this stuff automagically, it's just not common that it's so apparent to the "subject". Interesting read, though...
Slashdot Mirror
"I always thought it was real like pro wrestling, but it's fixed like boxing." (Source)
Also the php files are in the document_root directory (or whatever you want to call it).
Yeah, on the server - then they could exploit the server hosting them... Why on earth would MS care about that? They're doing the filtering to protect the end-users from exploits of vulnerabilities in the MSN client. It doesn't matter the least bit if it's PHP, Perl, Ruby, ASP or whatever that runs on the server-side - it's what is returned from the server-side that matters. I'll have to agree with the guy guessing that PHP is usually the first choice of scripting language for script kiddies.
And as the first poster noted, TinyURLs get through just fine, plus it'd be the least of problems to make a HTTP redirect, so http://example.com/harmless.script points to http://example.com/malicious.script?that=pwns&MSN= users. This way of "fixing" bugs is nothing but retarded - it fixes nothing and it hassles end-users a great deal - some of those substrings that are getting blocked are VERY common.
Heh... I'm pretty sure that ending up with 72 slashdotters as your sex slaves is more like the ultimate penalty than it's any sort of reward. :-p
This reminds me - one missionary already kinda (involuntarily) tried this tactic on some of the Native Americans.
One missionary was preaching to them (in their language), and said stuff like "We are all sinners and we're all going to hell unless we change our ways and live by the teachings of the Bible." - You know, all sorts of dramatic stuff... When he was done, one native came up to him and asked him, "if you're such bad people, why do you want us to be like you?" Turned out the missionary had been totally ignorant of the fact that they had more than one "we" and had using the exclusive 1st person plural (meaning "we, not including you to whom I'm talking") all the time.
I'm pretty sure the natives got a good laugh out of it, but for riot control... I'm not sure a comedian is the way to go - even though the Laughing Bullet sounds like a ... well ... hoot! :-p
From the linked blog post: For most Linux users, looking for files, documents, or emails usually involves some combination of 'find' and 'locate,' but sometimes these tools don't quite do what you're looking for, like finding that single PDF containing the specific topic you're looking for. Or you just wish there was a much easier way to find something than 'find /home/username -name '*.pdf' and 'pdftotext pdf_file_name.pdf output.txt...'
Or we use Beagle... Besides, using find, locate and stuff like pdftotext and detex is quite powerful, because you can't do stuff like 'locate libpng | grep ^/usr > libpng-list.txt' in neither Google Desktop, Beagle, Spotlight or whatever MS calls their search-thingy.
Well, the server doesn't appear to complain about it, but you're right, in HTTP 1.0 the Host header isn't required as it is in HTTP 1.1. Re the "127.0.0.1 crap", I was merely filling it out in a more generic way than, say, putting my own IP address there. Besides, it was all in good fun, but you seem to have either missed that or been more interested in bickering.
Hmm, my human parser tells me there's something remotely recursive about that response. Better stop trying to figure it out. Can't let that brain explode. I need it for wrecking with linguistic categorization and violent computer games. :-p
$ telnet slashdot.org 80
...
GET / HTTP/1.0
Host: 127.0.0.1
Human parsing FTW! :-p
That's kinda interesting, because I've been through a LOT of apps on various OS'es and I always end up recording in ecasound (command line) and mixing/cutting/adding effects in Ardour. If I'm in need of electronic drums, LMMS does everything I need - and I can import the other tracks there, so i won't be bothered by the tiresome exporting/importing routine that naturally comes with Hydrogen when your computer is to slow to really utilize the awesome power of JACK. Just make a simple beat in LMMS, use it as base when recording the real instruments in ecasound and then return to LMMS, import the real instruments and start punching in those drums. But that's just my way... I've made everything from simple folk-music and delta-blues, over obscure cut-up electronica/breakbeat, noise-rock, balls-blues (JSBX-style) to banging hiphop and mellow trip-hop that way. With JACK and JACK-Rack - and only those two apps - I even managed to do live electronica with a little help from various LADSPA-plugins (eg. SooperLooper) and a microphone.
Nothing, but that setup, works right for me - and I've tried FL Studio (also back when it was called Fruity Loops), Cubase, Samplitude, CoolEdit, Logic Pro, Garage Band and LOTS of others that I've forgotten again over the last 10 years. Now I've got a MacBook, with Ubuntu and OS X dual-booting - and Ubuntu's primarilly there so I can do music the way I like it. Occasionally I return to FL Studio to do some pure electronica (actually, more often MilkyTracker is my prefered app in that particular situation), but when real instruments are involved, I prefer the ecasound/LMMS/Ardour setup. Granted, ecasound isn't exactly for those afraid of command lines, but I don't mind it and that is definitely stable and reliable. Haven't ever had a single problem with it.
I guess it all boils down to what kind of music you want to make and how you want to make it. If you despise using different apps for different tasks, then the F/OSS apps probably have a long way to go still. And maybe it'd be wise to mention that I don't use MIDI and never have, so I've never really encountered any of the problems related to that. On the other hand, if you prefer total control, then perhaps it's time to ditch Garage Band (and definitely FL Studio too, even though I still use it every once in a while) and start looking at the F/OSS apps.
Just my 2 cents...
That's so true, that I'm going to reply instead of modding you up.
I actually bought CDs back in the mid to late 90's, but then switched back to vinyl around 2000, because it's so much more real to me (please note the "to me", don't start flaming me). Here in Denmark, vinyl is actually a bit more expensive than CDs and you can easilly end up paying $40 for a double-LP, that would only cost $27 on CD. But when I buy a CD I only get that small cover and some blank plastic disc which can be converted into music magically in a CD-player. But when I buy an LP, I get a 12" cover (provided that it's pressed on 12" vinyl) and this slice of vinyl where you can actually see the tracks and pauses. It probably sounds stupid - maybe even simple - to most people, but it never ceases to amaze me.
I like my music accompanied by the cover-art the artist intended (and I'm not talking Britney Spears and other mainstream-money-maker-pop music), that's why burning CDs was never really my thing - it just doesn't work without the real cover. And downloading an mp3 is fine for a preview, but if I like the music, then I'm gonna have to have the cover too and I go out and buy it. I've bought a LOT of music that way.
And since my CD-player died a couple of years back, I'm left with my amp and my record player - which doesn't bother me a bit. (Yeah, I could play CDs on my laptop, but I prefer not to and keep the CDs stashed away in a box until I get a new CD-player some day.) A lot of my friends run the same setup and neither of us have ever thought about DRM (afaik), but let me tell you - without a USB turntable - it's a mess converting a record into mp3's - at least compared to the CD. That has been a problem at times... But vinyl just has charm and - in my opinion - more soul than a CD.
Ok, thanks! I guess I should've just looked it up on Wikipedia before asking. But thanks for taking the time to answer.
Wasn't it named "Where in time is Carmen Sandiego"? Or are we talking about two different games?
From their point of view, they need to have the software in a known state so that they can troubleshoot the hardware.
That's not entirely true... At least not for IBM. When I had my Thinkpad in for service, they just jammed another hard drive in it with everything they needed to troubleshoot the hardware... I figure this is how most major manufacturers do, since it practically eliminates the possibility for messing up peoples hard drives and having them complaining about that afterwards --- also, it's a lot faster. It wasn't a problem that I had erased their hidden WinXP install/recovery partition and installed Linux instead. I think it's totally retarded that HP refuses to honor the warranty if you've installed Linux. Sure, some software can mess up hardware, but it's not usually the case --- should it be, then I guess the chances for some Win-based software screwing something up are just the same as for some Linux-based software.
Yeah, that's what I tried to tell the RIAA last time they stopped by.
True and true. Hehe...
I still think copyrighting a dance is far out - but maybe that's just me... Perhaps it's really not that far from copyrighting a series of notes and/or a series of words...
Straying somewhat off-topic...
Not the tune, just the lyrics. That's why Futurama sang a different variant in the episode with Nibbler's Birthday.
Actually, they changed the tune as well. The episode is called I Second That Emotion and is the first episode of season 2 (the DVD-seasons at least - probably not the production seasons). Listen carefully, it's not exactly the same tune. I don't recall if it was the lyrics or the tune (or both) that was changed because of copyright problems, but I do recall them talking about it in a commentary to an episode (can't remember which, though) - they reasoned that it would be plausible that the song would change a bit in a thousand years, hence no need to use the actual song and pay for it.
Back on topic again... A dance is basically just a series of moves, so I think I'll try to patent nose-picking - or maybe masturbation or something like that. I'm afraid, though, that my application will be turned down because of prior art.
It's funny... Alien lifeforms are always thought of as highly advanced compared to us. I think it's worth considering just how complex this world is (just think of how we --- apparently without too much effort --- get from an idea to communicating that idea to others. Then try to describe exactly what an idea is, that is, a generic idea --- nothing specific (and a headache with pictures doesn't count.)
I think it's pretty darn impressive that we ever managed to invent any higher means of communication! (If you're going to start arguing that "animals have language too", take a look at Hockett's Design Features of Language and think about it.)
Probably the most hilarious scenario would be, if it turned out that there was actually life somewhere else in the Milky Way, but it hadn't even advanced to the state of making fire yet. I mean, seriously, that'd be a kick in the nuts of every sci-fi fan out there (not that I particularly dislike them or anything, I quite like some sci-fi myself).
Oh, sorry. My bad. I haven't checked up on it for a long time.
No, but I had some lovely gravioli for dinner yesterday.
Seriously though, stuff like this really pisses me off. If they have a counter-theory, I'm sure they're more than welcome to present it! (From what I've heard, freedom of speech still exists in the US.) The problem is, that they don't --- at least not a scientific one --- so instead of being presented arguments both for and/or against, the kids will hear nothing, which is probably even worse than only hearing one side of a story.
Anyways, just my 2 cents...
... or those measly 95% of the earth's population not living in the US.
Yeah, I wasn't trying to pin this specifically on Microsoft. That's why I said "someone down the line". The whole situation is rather unfortunate, since (apparently) no one (neither MS nor the Chilean government) has paid any attention to the Mapuches. Of course, it's most reasonable to assume that the Chilean government is more likely than MS to be aware of the Mapuches' feelings re their language, but that doesn't necessarily mean that MS haven't had the chance to find out themselves. Someone must have translated the software for MS, the same person could maybe have guessed how the Mapuche would react and made MS aware.
I think the problem here is that Microsoft should have spoken to some representatives of the tribe before doing the translation.
I'm studying linguistics and one professor told us about some instances where it's been really hard for him to do fieldwork on a language, because no one is willing to be recognized as a speaker of the language. This is not because they're embarrassed about the language or something like that, but because they believe the language and the land goes together, so whoever owns the land, owns the language - and only owners are allowed to speak it. My professor was in the unfortunate situation that the owners of the land did not speak the language and the tribes who inhabited the land actually spoke the language fluently, but didn't dare to admit it. The only option he had, was to wait for the owners of the land to die, so the tribes-folk would speak the language again.
In other (multi-/bi-lingual) cases it's disrespectful to the elders of the tribe, if you speak their language before you're deemed "old enough". So the children learn another language (e.g. English or some pidgin or creole language) and use that until they're old enough to speak the "native" language of the tribe.
These examples are all from Australia/Papua New Guinea, but it wouldn't surprise me the least, if it was the case in some South American tribes as well, hence it's possible that Microsoft has insulted the Mapuches simply by using their language without their consent - and in an attempt to fight fire with fire, the Mapuches asked themselves, "what do those big US-corporations do?" and came up with the answer, "they sue!" (Ok, I know, I'm freestyle-over-hypothesizing now... I'll stop.)
Bottom-line, this is unfortunate and perhaps someone down the line should have been aware of the Mapuches' feelings about their language and perhaps suggested a consultation with them. On the other hand (and despite the fact that I usually let the chance of a good MS-bashing pass by) - if the Mapuche are really interested in their language living on as a viable language (as TFA indicates), then perhaps they should embrace this initiative from Microsoft and start using Windows in Mapuzugun - it's always a start!
Take it from a dane (and even in the words of a marginally Danish influenced band, whose name I fear to mention as their Danish member might sue the crap out of me)... It's "Sad But True"...
I know it's wildly off-topic, so feel free to mod me so, but there's still a lot of this going on here - it didn't stop with the cartoons last year. Within the past few months a radical right-wing party realeased a drawing of Mohammad as a drooling pedophile in their members' magazine and the same party's youth fraction had a "draw Mohammad in the most humiliating way possible" contest on the agenda for their annual meeting.
I'm surprised the muslims are taking it all so well...
Back on-topic though... This sounds interesting, but I'm pretty sure people actually do this stuff automagically, it's just not common that it's so apparent to the "subject". Interesting read, though...
No, 100,000 youtubes would not be worth 1 google.
But 10^100 would equal one googol. :-p
I guess you can sniff up that Pepsi again. The video is hosted on another domain, namely phptr.com...