Anyone tried concentrating on the road with two sqabbling under-10's in the back? It's far worse than any phone conversation.
What does this have to do with the issue of cell phone use?
Ever try to drive while getting a BJ? Yeah, that's pretty distracting too. So what?
The fact that kids fighting in the back seat is distracting only adds to the argument for restricting cell phone use while driving. There are already enough (legal?) distractions without adding any more.
What's so important about your phone call that you have the right to endanger -my- family's life by making/taking that call while driving?
Did you -pay- for all of that software, or did you just load a copy? I know of very few people who have actually paid for every single instance of their applications, most people I know simply run illegal copies of commercial software, or rationalize loopholes that don't legally exist, so they can avoid paying the true cost of applications.
To me, free application software is the killer app.
You can complain about GIMP or Blender or whatever all day long, but if you haven't paid for every single instance of Photoshop that you are using, your complaint is not valid.
It isn't about the kernel (although that is nice), it isn't about the desktop (although KDE is certainly better than XP), it is the huge repository of free applications.
Commercial software companies know this, otherwise Adobe, for example, would go after crack sites as hard as they went after Skylarov.
The reason the Linux desktop isn't ready is because neither KDE nor Gnome do the stuff end-users want out of the box -- not all 500, just the commonest everyday things, like
play music and movies properly (they gag on DVDs and won't play OGGs);
open all common file formats (pretty good on MS-Office formats, not so good on others);
pop up and autoconfigure wifi, bluetooth, or even IR;
send/receive faxes (assuming you have a modem);
handle webcams and configure audio properly;
Hmm, XP doesn't do any of that "out of the box" either. There is no DVD player. It can't play OGGs. It cannot open any Office documents (without Office). Chances are it won't do your wifi/bluetooth/IR, unless you add drivers. Can't send receive faxes without buying another program. Ditto for webcams.
You should try doing something useful with an "out of the box" XP install sometime, XP itself doesn't do squat.
I don't think you have the real reason, but thanks for playing!
"Better" isn't really better if you can't hear it. Humans cannot hear frequencies above 20kHz. So if your "perfect" analog signal contains components above 20kHz, it is like a tree falling in the forest, it doesn't matter because no one can hear it.
Google took a hit because they stood up to demands from the US government for records of searches by Americans. IOW, they took a stand for individual privacy and against erosion of civil liberties.
Now Google takes a hit because they didn't stand up against the Chinese government. IOW they didn't stand up against erosion of civil liberties.
So tell me, as a company doing business world-wide, how can they win in this little political game, and how different are the two demands? (Bonus points if you don't invoke the specter of "terrorism".)
Keeping your OS (at least Windows or Linux) up to date and patched pretty much *requires* broadband. I think that's the reason there are a lot of vulnerable machines out there.
I have asked several people who are still on dial-up how they keep their systems up to date, and every one of them has said that they "turned that damn update thing off!" because it was so annoying and made it impossible to do anything useful.
Unless you are geeky enough to care about patching and manage your limited dial-up bandwidth, you are not going to update over a dial-up.
When I was still on dial-up, I compared the cost of keeping a Debian system up to date over the dial-up to the cost of DSL, and it was a wash. That's what motivated me to get broadband, it cost the same as far as keeping my system updated, and I could use it for the rest of the month at no extra cost.
But most folks don't care about staying updated, so they see no need for broadband.
Is it all their fault? I mean shouldn't a company using a file format do a check to make sure it's not covered in a patent?
No, the monopoly is granted to the patent holder, so the onus should be on them to defend their patent, since they are the party getting the benefit of the patent.
They should be required to give notice (ie., a C&D), and only if the infringing party continues to infringe should there be damages.
No C&D within a reasonable time frame, no chance for damages down the road.
Patent litigation should not be a corporate profit center.
I think the thing that stinks is that they sit there, knowing full well that they hold the patent, and let the tech go into wide-spread use before informing anyone that they hold the patent.
With trademarks, the rule is enforce it or lose it. Too bad the same doesn't apply to patents...
The moral basis is that the media companies are notorious for "creative" (read: immoral) accounting practices.
Artists get an advance on the projected sales of their music. Kind of a "loan" up-front, that they have to pay off with sales. But, they don't get to start paying off the loan until they have paid the promotional costs.
That's where the media companies' accounting starts to get -very- creative. The "promotional costs" are massively inflated by the companies, and they have to sell an extraordinary (inflated) number of units before the artists can break even, much less make money.
It's a huge scam, and if it isn't downright illegal, it certainly is immoral.
Most artists are pretty much fucked by the record companies anyway, I guess a lot of people figure it's ok to fuck the record companies.
It all comes back to the content. That is, the writing.
If the writing is bad, it doesn't make any difference if there is video or not. All too often the temptation is to do video because you can. I have been involved in distance learning, and the -first- thing that most professors want to do is video. And yes, talking heads (mostly) make for boring video.
No matter what, it comes back to the fact that it is all about the message and not at all about the medium. Putting lipstick on a pig doesn't make it any prettier...
How many modern garages know how to service a steam engine?
I would think that BMW dealerships would be able to service BMW autos, no? Yes, I understand the rush to FP, but do you think maybe they'll have this covered by the time they go into production?
I am glad to see some innovation to the standard IC engine.
But I guess it's just easier to sit in your armchair and criticize real engineering...
Slashdot Mirror
You wouldn't believe how many whiny-assed excuses you hear, but if you really want to make a difference, you have to make a change.
Nuthin' but Debian at my house!
Bandwidth costs money, money comes from users or ads.
And why do they need all of that bandwidth? To serve ads!
Anyone tried concentrating on the road with two sqabbling under-10's in the back? It's far worse than any phone conversation.
What does this have to do with the issue of cell phone use?
Ever try to drive while getting a BJ? Yeah, that's pretty distracting too. So what?
The fact that kids fighting in the back seat is distracting only adds to the argument for restricting cell phone use while driving. There are already enough (legal?) distractions without adding any more.
What's so important about your phone call that you have the right to endanger -my- family's life by making/taking that call while driving?
How strong is this glue under tension and shear?
This is an important question. Take "super glue", for example. Great under tension, -terrible- under shear.
It's all fun and games till someone is plotting to simultaneously nuke NY, LA, and DC.
The Russians and Chinese have had plans like this (-and- the capability) for years.
Nothing new under the sun....
Only buy used CDs. Works for me...
But then I realized it, some people just like linux. There is a certain allure to it.
Maybe because it is free?
Did you -pay- for all of that software, or did you just load a copy? I know of very few people who have actually paid for every single instance of their applications, most people I know simply run illegal copies of commercial software, or rationalize loopholes that don't legally exist, so they can avoid paying the true cost of applications.
To me, free application software is the killer app.
You can complain about GIMP or Blender or whatever all day long, but if you haven't paid for every single instance of Photoshop that you are using, your complaint is not valid.
It isn't about the kernel (although that is nice), it isn't about the desktop (although KDE is certainly better than XP), it is the huge repository of free applications.
Commercial software companies know this, otherwise Adobe, for example, would go after crack sites as hard as they went after Skylarov.
The reason the Linux desktop isn't ready is because neither KDE nor Gnome do the stuff end-users want out of the box -- not all 500, just the commonest everyday things, like
play music and movies properly (they gag on DVDs and won't play OGGs);
open all common file formats (pretty good on MS-Office formats, not so good on others);
pop up and autoconfigure wifi, bluetooth, or even IR;
send/receive faxes (assuming you have a modem);
handle webcams and configure audio properly;
Hmm, XP doesn't do any of that "out of the box" either. There is no DVD player. It can't play OGGs. It cannot open any Office documents (without Office). Chances are it won't do your wifi/bluetooth/IR, unless you add drivers. Can't send receive faxes without buying another program. Ditto for webcams.
You should try doing something useful with an "out of the box" XP install sometime, XP itself doesn't do squat.
I don't think you have the real reason, but thanks for playing!
-NT-
"Better" isn't really better if you can't hear it. Humans cannot hear frequencies above 20kHz. So if your "perfect" analog signal contains components above 20kHz, it is like a tree falling in the forest, it doesn't matter because no one can hear it.
That's why 44kHz is good enough...
Google took a hit because they stood up to demands from the US government for records of searches by Americans. IOW, they took a stand for individual privacy and against erosion of civil liberties.
Now Google takes a hit because they didn't stand up against the Chinese government. IOW they didn't stand up against erosion of civil liberties.
So tell me, as a company doing business world-wide, how can they win in this little political game, and how different are the two demands? (Bonus points if you don't invoke the specter of "terrorism".)
Keeping your OS (at least Windows or Linux) up to date and patched pretty much *requires* broadband. I think that's the reason there are a lot of vulnerable machines out there.
I have asked several people who are still on dial-up how they keep their systems up to date, and every one of them has said that they "turned that damn update thing off!" because it was so annoying and made it impossible to do anything useful.
Unless you are geeky enough to care about patching and manage your limited dial-up bandwidth, you are not going to update over a dial-up.
When I was still on dial-up, I compared the cost of keeping a Debian system up to date over the dial-up to the cost of DSL, and it was a wash. That's what motivated me to get broadband, it cost the same as far as keeping my system updated, and I could use it for the rest of the month at no extra cost.
But most folks don't care about staying updated, so they see no need for broadband.
If its not at least 128kbps (i.e. CD quality), then don't bother.
128kbps is nowhere near CD quality. I think you've had your earbuds in too long, cranked up too loud!
Is it all their fault? I mean shouldn't a company using a file format do a check to make sure it's not covered in a patent?
No, the monopoly is granted to the patent holder, so the onus should be on them to defend their patent, since they are the party getting the benefit of the patent.
They should be required to give notice (ie., a C&D), and only if the infringing party continues to infringe should there be damages.
No C&D within a reasonable time frame, no chance for damages down the road.
Patent litigation should not be a corporate profit center.
I think the thing that stinks is that they sit there, knowing full well that they hold the patent, and let the tech go into wide-spread use before informing anyone that they hold the patent.
With trademarks, the rule is enforce it or lose it. Too bad the same doesn't apply to patents...
Current CACs have biometrics. Remember pressing your thumbs on the reader when you got it?
What's the moral basis for that line of thinking?
The moral basis is that the media companies are notorious for "creative" (read: immoral) accounting practices.
Artists get an advance on the projected sales of their music. Kind of a "loan" up-front, that they have to pay off with sales. But, they don't get to start paying off the loan until they have paid the promotional costs.
That's where the media companies' accounting starts to get -very- creative. The "promotional costs" are massively inflated by the companies, and they have to sell an extraordinary (inflated) number of units before the artists can break even, much less make money.
It's a huge scam, and if it isn't downright illegal, it certainly is immoral.
Most artists are pretty much fucked by the record companies anyway, I guess a lot of people figure it's ok to fuck the record companies.
Do it in assembly language- that would certainly be unique.
But not very portable #:-(
OK, get the newest version of Real Player to run without write access to System32.
Oh, wait, you can't!
Current versions of REAL player require user write access to the System32 directory.
WTF?
Yes, Windows application developers force users to run their systems insecurely.
It all comes back to the content. That is, the writing.
If the writing is bad, it doesn't make any difference if there is video or not. All too often the temptation is to do video because you can. I have been involved in distance learning, and the -first- thing that most professors want to do is video. And yes, talking heads (mostly) make for boring video.
No matter what, it comes back to the fact that it is all about the message and not at all about the medium. Putting lipstick on a pig doesn't make it any prettier...
Can you imagine the nightmare of trying to install a standard operating system on 1,000,000 random previously-junked laptops?
See sig:
How many modern garages know how to service a steam engine?
I would think that BMW dealerships would be able to service BMW autos, no? Yes, I understand the rush to FP, but do you think maybe they'll have this covered by the time they go into production?
I am glad to see some innovation to the standard IC engine.
But I guess it's just easier to sit in your armchair and criticize real engineering...
According to the .PDF copy of the user manual on the site, the software that runs it is GPL'ed and fully user-compilable/modifiable.
Go for it!