Slashdot Mirror


User: gkAndy

gkAndy's activity in the archive.

Stories
0
Comments
49
First seen
Last seen
Profile
(view on slashdot.org)

Comments · 49

  1. It's not Edimburgh on Maxwell's Demon Soon A Reality? · · Score: 1

    It's Edinburgh.

  2. Re:I was afraid for a moment. on The UK's Total Surveillance · · Score: 1

    Completely agree. Being British, I have absolutely no fears that a system like this will be implemented. Government is simply too incompetent to carry this out with any degree of success.

  3. Re:XP on Extreme Programming Refactored, Take 2 · · Score: 1

    Funnily enough, we are in exactly that situation you have described. We have an existing application, which we are re-implementing with a new architecture and in a different language. Our project sponsor is an XP evangelist, and has been making us use XP throughout.

    So far, I have found pair programming takes the 'fun' out of it for me, making me irritable, bored, and frustrated. Test-first is marvellous, and I really like that bit. The XP lack-of-design stuff is really what's killing us though, as we do not know what is required of us - simply 'duplicate what is there already' is not feasilbe when the requirements are unknown - duplicate which bits? When? How? What exactly do they do?? And so on.

  4. Re:Under Heathrow on Most Powerful Amateur Rocket in Canada · · Score: 2, Informative

    I somehow doubt the FAA have jurisdiction for the airspace around, and above Heathrow. That would be the CAA that does, as Heathrow is in the UK, which is not a federal country.

  5. Re:Coincidence on Working Hard? · · Score: 1

    I would hate to work for your friends.

    I think less than 4 weeks a year is barbaric, and so do the other Brits I know. Your job does not make you who you are! Here, I'd much rather trade less money, and a slightly poorer economy, than have my people driven like slaves to pay their rent and buy food. Mankind has slaved for thousands of years, and two weeks off a year is your reward?

    It's a fundamental difference between the US and the UK. Here, we work because we need the money, not for some greater sense of purpose. It's not about the economy, it's simply about living in a modern Western country and not being a slave.

  6. Re:Where can you get that type of paper? on Counterfeiting With High Resolution Inkjets · · Score: 1

    The UK uses a paper (well, cloth actually) that is very similar to the stuff used in US notes, and not at all like the plasticy stuff used in the Euro notes (amongst others).

  7. Re:Nitpick on Spam, Milord · · Score: 1

    If you mean m'lord, it's just short for 'my lord'.

  8. Re:Important Question on Java Data Objects · · Score: 1
    In American English, that is. Using British pronounciation, that would be pronounced like 'JAY DEU'.


    A better way to describe that pronounciation would be 'JAY DOO'. But I think 'JAY DOH' is better :)

  9. Re:Facing the issues of Visual BASIC on Where Do You Go After Visual Basic? · · Score: 1

    It isn't the best for GUI development. Ever tried doing a "coolbar" in it? Using a component to split panes? Transparent forms? Docking child windows? No?

    That's because VB doesn't do them very well. Delphi does. Delphi kicks the crap out of VB in *any* aspect you can think of

    It's not easier. It's not got a faster compiler. It's not more powerful. It's not as well supported on other platforms. It can't even do callbacks properly.

    Now, I "suppose" you could use VB, but it's a silly choice next to Delphi...


    --

  10. Re:cameras are your friend on Surveillance Society · · Score: 1

    I am very happy to see cameras in Glasgow. My gran lives there, and she enjoys going out walking/dancing/to church even though she is 80 years old. Since the CCTV camera's were placed in the vincinity of her home, what was once a violent area has now become quite peaceful and serene.


    --

  11. Re:NASA internships on UNIX Internship Programs? · · Score: 1

    Interesting, I work in QA at Inprise... :)


    --

  12. Borland on UNIX Internship Programs? · · Score: 1

    Borland are always on the lookout for linux people, and it's a good place to get experience in database servers, many different distributions etc.


    --

  13. Re: "hand-held guns" on Slashback: Decisions, Recognizance, Canadianisms · · Score: 1

    These games do not promote handgun culture. I live in the UK (where there really aren't that many handguns), and we have these games. I *serverly* doubt that someone would play the game and then think 'Damn, I really want a gun now!' or anything remotely similar. They're just fun games, so why ban them?


    --

  14. Re:Well Said on Slashback: Decisions, Recognizance, Canadianisms · · Score: 1
    Bring the troops home from overseas where they breed anti-American resentment -- and quit relying on our overwhelming national offense, create a secure national defense, withdraw from all international organizations and mutual-defense treaties, and allow other countries to manage their own affairs.
    Whats the point of withdrawing from international organisations? How are you supposed to globally trade freely and fairly without your say on a global level?


    --
  15. Re:what about www.bbc.co.uk on CNET Buys Ziff-Davis · · Score: 1

    Yes you can, dont use a TV. You can still access news.bbc.co.uk for free.

    I really dont mind paying a TV license, the BBC is the best news source I've ever seen (although admittedly the web site is quite short of detailed information), with it's impartial, quality professional style. The fact that there's no adverts is very good IMO too.


    --

  16. Re:same case in Switzerland... on 'Texting' Takes Over The Philippines · · Score: 1

    Crumbs, I recieve 10 or so a day, thats 300/m :)


    --

  17. Re:Email is asynchonous on 'Texting' Takes Over The Philippines · · Score: 1

    SMS is asynchronous. A message can sometimes take hours to reach you, for no apparent reason. Most of tie time it will be within a minute or two, but it most certainly isnt synchronous.

    This has been a point of contention between me and a friend a few times, too. I've arranged to meet her somewhere, but I tell her to phone to let me know when to turn up. She sends me an SMS message hoping to save 10p or so, and I dont get the message for 2 hours. Typical :)


    --

  18. Re:The Finns also use cell phones in interesting w on 'Texting' Takes Over The Philippines · · Score: 1

    If this is BT Cellnet you mean, they don't seem to be able to make up their minds how fast it is.

    Seriously though, this article on the BBC site shows how you can SMS a barcode of a book or CD to a certain number belonging to a company, and it will SMS you back informing you how much it will cost online (from Amazon; there maybe others as well), and give you the option of buying the item online. Havent used it yet, but very very cool :)


    --

  19. Re:Echelon... on 'Texting' Takes Over The Philippines · · Score: 1

    AFAIK, over a GSM network the only encrypted parts of the signal exchange are between the handset and the base station. From there on it uses the same telco system as landline calls.

    Saying that though, I have no idea how SMS (short messaging service, text messaging over GSM) works, although I doubt it would differ as far as encryption goes too much between normal calls.


    --

  20. Re:GB/European relation is the real problem on French Prosecutor Opens Echelon Probe · · Score: 1

    I wouldnt say anti-Europe, more anti-Federalism.

    I agree that most of the heat for this will fall on the UK, as we're the ones hosting the base(s) that are used for the majority of the EU espionage. This worries me quite a bit, as I'm one of the people who believes in further EU integration.

    Ultimately, this could be used by nations like France and Germany to keep the UK at arms distance in Europe, and by that weaken our economy (which would probably be strengthened by further integration) and strengthen theirs.


    --

  21. Re:Not uncommon for Euro Countries... on French Prosecutor Opens Echelon Probe · · Score: 1

    It seems more likely that the UK would spy on Ireland for hisorical reasons than share spy data with it :)

    I agree with your point about nicking secrets. Whatever we (meaning the UK) do as far as espionage goes, it should be for the interests of this country. Seems a bit funny to me.


    --

  22. Re:Not uncommon for Euro Countries... on French Prosecutor Opens Echelon Probe · · Score: 1

    Ok, it just doesnt seem likely to me.


    --

  23. Re:why is france the country to do this? on French Prosecutor Opens Echelon Probe · · Score: 1

    Because countires depend on each other too much to trust each other :)


    --

  24. Re:Echelon and the People of the U.S. on French Prosecutor Opens Echelon Probe · · Score: 1

    Not really IMO, it's a mutual agreement to put the base there and call it RAF . Theres no sovereignty breach I think as the MoD buys the land and then leases it to whichever US organisation wants it. I dont care for it much, but it's legal.


    --

  25. Re:Echelon and the People of the U.S. on French Prosecutor Opens Echelon Probe · · Score: 1

    AFAIK (a relation of mine used to work with the NSA on such things, he was RAF), the American listening bases in the UK are run by Americans only.

    The only non-Americans that are allowed into the bases are very high authorised personnel, and even then there are not allowed into some areas of the bases.


    --