The laws are fine and even reasonable. Well, some of them. I don't know about your neck of the woods, but here in Florida they do "checkpoints". They effectively pull over everyone and supposedly can legally detain everyone and force Breathalyzer tests (or blood work if you choose). They do it on any and every road, including Interstates.
My point was more that the analyzers have never been openly examined and that we have a full right to examine things that can condemn us, even if we are guilty. I'd rather know for sure that they work or don't work and address the problem.
It's a device intended to nab as many people as possible. The more people it "saves" from being killed by drunk driving the better. Accuracy doesn't matter, legal limits don't matter. ZOMG ALCOHOL!!! = Jail. Fines. Moral superiority. If police departments actually intended to serve the public, they'd come up with a more reliable system subject to completely public scrutiny and be glad to instill public trust in their methods by doing so.
Flip it to another tool used for criminal convictions: if DNA were a public, proprietary process through only two or three companies nationwide and they refused to show anyone how it worked, would you trust them? Absolutely not.
In the US we rarely run into any multi-lingual teams. I'm curious: do you write all of your code in English? I can't think of any languages that are designed to be written in a foreign language other than English ('pour i dans [1,2,3]:' instead of 'for i in [1,2,3]:'), so I guess it would always feel natural to me to write code in English. I've seen comments written in other languages and it seems very strange to read French comments and then go on to English keywords/constructs. Do the keywords of a language become natural when writing code in another language, e.g., does your brain adapt to writing 'for' instead of 'pour'? Curious indeed.
It isn't just tiny errors in the spec, there are sweeping and fundamental problems with it. It's as if the spec is designed such that, surprise of surprise, the only certifiably complete tool that supports OOXML is the latest, most expensive version of Microsoft Word (Windows Vista only). Once approved, it could easily force many governments into purchasing upgrades they do not need simply because their laws (which are in the overall best interest of its citizens) state they have to follow industry specs.
It's all a huge tool to get governments purchasing upgrades again.
But you don't know. Almost every torrent site is automated. Most of them have take-down procedures, some even offer automated takedowns. Like it or not, that is enough to comply with the law.
Foxit is great for generic PDFs, but don't count on it for massive press-type PDFs. It chokes and doesn't get some of the elements right. I generally install Foxit on office computers and save Adobe Reader for those of us that frequently view larger, more complex files. Reader 8.1 isn't very annoying, you can finally disable the ridiculous updater featuer. Supposedly you can customized the 8.1 installer to not install the updater program at all.
Currently my only gripe about Reader is that their website tries to insist you download a downloader/installer program. Just give me the damn EXE!
Just curious: what the hell do you have as a 14GB PDF? I've never worked with one that large, I've always seen them split into smaller pieces and rejoined at press-time (assuiming you're working with press info). Not related to the article, just curious.
What? No, that switch I hit by the door as you were dragging me out in cuffs didn't turn off the power. I have no idea what that switch does. Oh, it did kill the power? They must have installed a kill-switch by accident! What kind of dumbass builders put in a kill switch in residential buildings?
On the contrary, network and media playback have a lot to do with each other. Don't forget Microsoft has a home media server coming out soon. What good is great media playback if you can't play it over the network?
Down here in Florida, your 10 year old Honda is more likely to get pulled over than my new 350Z, verified by numerous police buddies. Why? I'm not likely to be carrying drugs in my Z, while a run-down Honda is much more likely. They get the same ticket (speeding) but get a chance of more tickets for other infractions with a crappy car (missing headlight, crap danging on rear view mirror..).
Of course, this doesn't carry over in every state or every city. Drug runners are just very popular down here.
Not to mention that the public has paid for much of the infrastructure in the form of tax breaks and public infrastructure allotments. They use our public easements, too. You build on the easements you serve the people. Period. Want to fuck the people? Go find your own easements.
Not only are there too many international exports, we rely too far on them. Industry should be scattered over the globe to protect against natural and political disasters. Imagine, for instance, that India and China somehow get entangled in a war. They enact trade barriers against each other to hurt the other economically (both are huge exporters). Both countries suffer, but so do other countries. Less trade gaps and a more even distribution of wealth (and thus production capability) should decrease the number of major conflicts, both armed and not.
I live relatively close to the Scientologist's headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. From what I've understood from various people, ranging from the media to former members is that the very upper echelons of leadership didn't buy their way into it entirely. The pyramid is a very delicate balance and it is unlikely someone that doesn't realize it is a scam could manage it correctly.
Realize, too, that simply because someone is on the same level as someone else does not mean they have the same authority or knowledge. It's similar to how managers work in other businesses. Someone who manages the toilet cleaning crew obviously doesn't have the same powers and authority as, say, an accounting manager, despite them both being called managers.
I never said you would be prosecuted for it. Under the DMCA, any modification of rights restriction is a violation, willful or not. Watermarking is a great step forward, and revisions to the DMCA would be a second great step forward. Right now there are no provisions in the DMCA protecting consumers from their property being used unknowingly for criminal activity. That's all I was trying to say, in hindsight with poor wording.
They are progress, I can't disagree with that! However, the files would still fall under the DMCA, so tampering with them would be illegal. I wasn't trying to say anything would come of you if a virus DID alter your files, but it still falls under current laws. Virus was poor wording, it would be some sort of malware or botnet.
Now, update the DMCA and begin water marking? Now we're talking!
Actually, some forms of water marking can survive some reprocessing. However, I am not aware of any watermarking techniques that can survive multiple passes. Even more dangerous yet to watermarking is combining two or more files. For instance, if your friend bought the same track as you did, new software could digitally combine the two files, filtering out any differences. Some bits would probably remain from the watermark, for example, if time 0:01 through 0:02 had the recording artist's name embedded, it would be identical between both tracks. The software could even take a more aggressive approach and simply drop frames or drop partial seconds of audio to remove suspicious data altogether.
Watermarking isn't good in my view, even compared to DRM. There will still be legal restrictions on what you can do. You won't be legally allowed to do ANYTHING to the file except play it. You could even be legally responsible if a virus happened to alter the file.
This won't affect pirates. It won't affect file sharers. It only hurts the consumer and hurts everyone in the long run.
From my friends who have it, it's decent. Their connection honestly isn't much better than my cable connection (Tampa, Florida). The upload speed is a bit better, but not by much. Their phone techs are all but useless. At least with Bright House (local cable monopoly) their phone reps are fairly knowledgeable and their field techs are good. Verizon trucks never seem to carry any spares, whilst the Bright House trucks have spares of EVERYTHING. I called them a few months ago thinking my cable connection was on the fritz -- they came out, turns out it was my personal router. He replaced it with a better router, replaced my modem with a newer model, verified all of my cable outlet connections, and gave me a new remote control -- all free. Meanwhile, a buddy has had terrible luck with his FIOS connection. Almost all calls to Verizon give him a standard "Connection is fine, your computer must not meet the minimum specs".
I'm also convinced Verizon will be jacking the prices after a year or two. They baited local communities into switching by promising low prices. They also yank standard phone wiring while connecting your FIOS, which is downright awful for Florida. Power out? Bye Bye FIOS. Supposedly you can request them leave the lines, but no one I've talked to even knew that their lines had been yanked until I told them to look, they were never asked.
Sorry, you are correct. The tests test for the presence (and level) of ketones. Higher on the scale, the higher the presence of ketones, and in most people, that indicates more fat converted into energy. There are other causes for elevated ketones, some of which are related to diabetes, thus my insistence that any major diet or exercise plan that is a drastic change from normal routine to at least see a general practitioner.
And in re: to the smelling bad... just glad I don't have to deal with many patients face to face--I'll take your word for it.;)
If any of you are attempting a similar diet on your own (with a doctor or similar overseer), make sure you drink PLENTY of water. Half gallon a day at least. When you go to a low calorie diet, your body should go into ketosis. Ketosis (buring fat stores for energy) is an effective weight loss mechanism but is very water intensive. You can purchase test kits to test your urine for ketosis. Your diet should consist of almost entirely protein (lean sources only, fish, etc), around 5-800 calories a day for normal/moderately overweight. Don't forget a quality daily multi-vitamin or you'll do long term harm (just take note of the contents of th vitamin, some cheap vitamins use very unhealthy binders -- you want something under 5 calories ideally). Small amounts of calcium may also be needed, but most people only stay on such a diet for a few weeks at a time. You may also find laxatives helpful, as all-protein diets can be, uh, hard on your digestive system at first.
(Disclaimer: I'm in the weight loss industry, but you should at least consult your general practitioner prior to pursuing a diet on your own like this. It isn't for everyone, and some health conditions can make such a diet very risky.)
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The laws are fine and even reasonable. Well, some of them. I don't know about your neck of the woods, but here in Florida they do "checkpoints". They effectively pull over everyone and supposedly can legally detain everyone and force Breathalyzer tests (or blood work if you choose). They do it on any and every road, including Interstates.
My point was more that the analyzers have never been openly examined and that we have a full right to examine things that can condemn us, even if we are guilty. I'd rather know for sure that they work or don't work and address the problem.
It's a device intended to nab as many people as possible. The more people it "saves" from being killed by drunk driving the better. Accuracy doesn't matter, legal limits don't matter. ZOMG ALCOHOL!!! = Jail. Fines. Moral superiority. If police departments actually intended to serve the public, they'd come up with a more reliable system subject to completely public scrutiny and be glad to instill public trust in their methods by doing so.
Flip it to another tool used for criminal convictions: if DNA were a public, proprietary process through only two or three companies nationwide and they refused to show anyone how it worked, would you trust them? Absolutely not.
In the US we rarely run into any multi-lingual teams. I'm curious: do you write all of your code in English? I can't think of any languages that are designed to be written in a foreign language other than English ('pour i dans [1,2,3]:' instead of 'for i in [1,2,3]:'), so I guess it would always feel natural to me to write code in English. I've seen comments written in other languages and it seems very strange to read French comments and then go on to English keywords/constructs. Do the keywords of a language become natural when writing code in another language, e.g., does your brain adapt to writing 'for' instead of 'pour'? Curious indeed.
It isn't just tiny errors in the spec, there are sweeping and fundamental problems with it. It's as if the spec is designed such that, surprise of surprise, the only certifiably complete tool that supports OOXML is the latest, most expensive version of Microsoft Word (Windows Vista only). Once approved, it could easily force many governments into purchasing upgrades they do not need simply because their laws (which are in the overall best interest of its citizens) state they have to follow industry specs.
It's all a huge tool to get governments purchasing upgrades again.
The longer it is delayed the better. If future generations want to fuck it up, that is their prerogative.
Why would we want a Windows kernel in Linux...?
But you don't know. Almost every torrent site is automated. Most of them have take-down procedures, some even offer automated takedowns. Like it or not, that is enough to comply with the law.
Foxit is great for generic PDFs, but don't count on it for massive press-type PDFs. It chokes and doesn't get some of the elements right. I generally install Foxit on office computers and save Adobe Reader for those of us that frequently view larger, more complex files. Reader 8.1 isn't very annoying, you can finally disable the ridiculous updater featuer. Supposedly you can customized the 8.1 installer to not install the updater program at all.
Currently my only gripe about Reader is that their website tries to insist you download a downloader/installer program. Just give me the damn EXE!
It's often better to lead someone confidently off a cliff than meandering and starving through a jungle.
At least with a cliff, the pain is short-lived and they can replace you quickly.
Just curious: what the hell do you have as a 14GB PDF? I've never worked with one that large, I've always seen them split into smaller pieces and rejoined at press-time (assuiming you're working with press info). Not related to the article, just curious.
What? No, that switch I hit by the door as you were dragging me out in cuffs didn't turn off the power. I have no idea what that switch does. Oh, it did kill the power? They must have installed a kill-switch by accident! What kind of dumbass builders put in a kill switch in residential buildings?
On the contrary, network and media playback have a lot to do with each other. Don't forget Microsoft has a home media server coming out soon. What good is great media playback if you can't play it over the network?
Just refuse to follow their retarded naming conventions. Call it an Ipod. An Imac. An Iphone. Call it Vpro.
What's wrong with hating the player? There is no game if there are no players.
Don't forget the flame decals!
Down here in Florida, your 10 year old Honda is more likely to get pulled over than my new 350Z, verified by numerous police buddies. Why? I'm not likely to be carrying drugs in my Z, while a run-down Honda is much more likely. They get the same ticket (speeding) but get a chance of more tickets for other infractions with a crappy car (missing headlight, crap danging on rear view mirror..).
Of course, this doesn't carry over in every state or every city. Drug runners are just very popular down here.
Not to mention that the public has paid for much of the infrastructure in the form of tax breaks and public infrastructure allotments. They use our public easements, too. You build on the easements you serve the people. Period. Want to fuck the people? Go find your own easements.
Not only are there too many international exports, we rely too far on them. Industry should be scattered over the globe to protect against natural and political disasters. Imagine, for instance, that India and China somehow get entangled in a war. They enact trade barriers against each other to hurt the other economically (both are huge exporters). Both countries suffer, but so do other countries. Less trade gaps and a more even distribution of wealth (and thus production capability) should decrease the number of major conflicts, both armed and not.
I live relatively close to the Scientologist's headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. From what I've understood from various people, ranging from the media to former members is that the very upper echelons of leadership didn't buy their way into it entirely. The pyramid is a very delicate balance and it is unlikely someone that doesn't realize it is a scam could manage it correctly.
Realize, too, that simply because someone is on the same level as someone else does not mean they have the same authority or knowledge. It's similar to how managers work in other businesses. Someone who manages the toilet cleaning crew obviously doesn't have the same powers and authority as, say, an accounting manager, despite them both being called managers.
I never said you would be prosecuted for it. Under the DMCA, any modification of rights restriction is a violation, willful or not. Watermarking is a great step forward, and revisions to the DMCA would be a second great step forward. Right now there are no provisions in the DMCA protecting consumers from their property being used unknowingly for criminal activity. That's all I was trying to say, in hindsight with poor wording.
They are progress, I can't disagree with that! However, the files would still fall under the DMCA, so tampering with them would be illegal. I wasn't trying to say anything would come of you if a virus DID alter your files, but it still falls under current laws. Virus was poor wording, it would be some sort of malware or botnet.
Now, update the DMCA and begin water marking? Now we're talking!
Actually, some forms of water marking can survive some reprocessing. However, I am not aware of any watermarking techniques that can survive multiple passes. Even more dangerous yet to watermarking is combining two or more files. For instance, if your friend bought the same track as you did, new software could digitally combine the two files, filtering out any differences. Some bits would probably remain from the watermark, for example, if time 0:01 through 0:02 had the recording artist's name embedded, it would be identical between both tracks. The software could even take a more aggressive approach and simply drop frames or drop partial seconds of audio to remove suspicious data altogether.
Watermarking isn't good in my view, even compared to DRM. There will still be legal restrictions on what you can do. You won't be legally allowed to do ANYTHING to the file except play it. You could even be legally responsible if a virus happened to alter the file.
This won't affect pirates. It won't affect file sharers. It only hurts the consumer and hurts everyone in the long run.
From my friends who have it, it's decent. Their connection honestly isn't much better than my cable connection (Tampa, Florida). The upload speed is a bit better, but not by much. Their phone techs are all but useless. At least with Bright House (local cable monopoly) their phone reps are fairly knowledgeable and their field techs are good. Verizon trucks never seem to carry any spares, whilst the Bright House trucks have spares of EVERYTHING. I called them a few months ago thinking my cable connection was on the fritz -- they came out, turns out it was my personal router. He replaced it with a better router, replaced my modem with a newer model, verified all of my cable outlet connections, and gave me a new remote control -- all free. Meanwhile, a buddy has had terrible luck with his FIOS connection. Almost all calls to Verizon give him a standard "Connection is fine, your computer must not meet the minimum specs".
I'm also convinced Verizon will be jacking the prices after a year or two. They baited local communities into switching by promising low prices. They also yank standard phone wiring while connecting your FIOS, which is downright awful for Florida. Power out? Bye Bye FIOS. Supposedly you can request them leave the lines, but no one I've talked to even knew that their lines had been yanked until I told them to look, they were never asked.
Sorry, you are correct. The tests test for the presence (and level) of ketones. Higher on the scale, the higher the presence of ketones, and in most people, that indicates more fat converted into energy. There are other causes for elevated ketones, some of which are related to diabetes, thus my insistence that any major diet or exercise plan that is a drastic change from normal routine to at least see a general practitioner.
;)
And in re: to the smelling bad... just glad I don't have to deal with many patients face to face--I'll take your word for it.
If any of you are attempting a similar diet on your own (with a doctor or similar overseer), make sure you drink PLENTY of water. Half gallon a day at least. When you go to a low calorie diet, your body should go into ketosis. Ketosis (buring fat stores for energy) is an effective weight loss mechanism but is very water intensive. You can purchase test kits to test your urine for ketosis. Your diet should consist of almost entirely protein (lean sources only, fish, etc), around 5-800 calories a day for normal/moderately overweight. Don't forget a quality daily multi-vitamin or you'll do long term harm (just take note of the contents of th vitamin, some cheap vitamins use very unhealthy binders -- you want something under 5 calories ideally). Small amounts of calcium may also be needed, but most people only stay on such a diet for a few weeks at a time. You may also find laxatives helpful, as all-protein diets can be, uh, hard on your digestive system at first.
(Disclaimer: I'm in the weight loss industry, but you should at least consult your general practitioner prior to pursuing a diet on your own like this. It isn't for everyone, and some health conditions can make such a diet very risky.)