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  1. Re:This is how they make their money on Computer Rebates Not As Sinister As You Think · · Score: 1


    I fail to see where they make money on taxes?

    Collected sales tax is not handed over to the government the very split second it is collected. You are giving the government too much credit!

    Probably one of two things happen, some accountant out would know and will probably speak up before the end of this thread: 1) At the end of the sales reporting period, all sales are talied up and sales taxe is paid on the total. Rebates "applied for" are taken out of the total, so less tax is paid. Extra tax collected then becomes revenue. 2) Sales are reported based on the premise that all rebates are claimed, and taxed correspondingly. At the end of the rebate period, the true sales total is then known, and they corresponding adjust the taxes due and settle up.

    Either way, the sales tax collected on the rebated amount never gets to the government, but becomes extra revenue for the retailer.

  2. This is how they make their money on Computer Rebates Not As Sinister As You Think · · Score: 2, Interesting



    1) Breakage. Folks forget to mail it in. They win.
    2) Bendage. Folks mail it in, then forgot that they mailed it in. Slight problem and, ...they win.
    3) Bondage. You didn't follow fine print item #12. Rebate rejected. They win.
    4) Recharacterization. You comply, get rebate. They keep extra markup from sales tax they don't have to report. They win.

  3. GCC is the Key to Open Source's Success on GCC 4.1 Released · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For 13 years I have been a professional UNIX administrator, and if I had to pin down the single most influential software that help propel the Open Source revolution, I would name GCC.

    Back in the day the first step in loading up a UNIX workstation with Open Source tools, was to go out and grab a limited precompiled version of GCC, then bootstrap compile an more suitable version, then go to town on compiling all the rest of the goodies that we couldn't live without. We did it so often that it became second nature to go through this process.

    I salute you, makers and maintainers of GCC.

  4. Follow the money trail on The Demise of IP? · · Score: 1



    This is utter crap!

    Follow the money trail to see who is paying for this mouthpiece. This reeks just like the Microsoft-sponsored we-trump-linux rhetoric.

  5. Anybody is Replaceable on How To Write Unmaintainable Code · · Score: 2, Insightful


    ... *even those who spend all their time reading slashdot* .....

  6. Pop-up ADs suck, that's why they are gone on How Text Ads Tamed Ads on the Wild, Wild Web · · Score: 1



    ...and how it is largely responsible for the demise of the odious pop-under ad....

    I don't believe for a second any competing technology was responsible for the demise of the pop-up ad.

    The pop-up ad went away because 1) it sucked and pissed people off; 2) it demonstrated how to exploit browsers, which were eventually patched; 3) see #1.

  7. Plenty of IPv4 Space Left! on How Things Will Change Under IPv6 · · Score: 1


    ....Currently we have less than 50 percent world-wide Internet penetration, and we have used most of the address space....

    We keep hearing this, but what isn't emphasized is that there are over 75(!) class A-equivalent (/8) networks available that IANA is holding in reserve.

    In fact, organizations are returning /8 networks to IANA control and they are not being reallocated.

    Does IANA have an unpublished agenda to force IPV6 upon us?

  8. Roundcube as extensible as Squirrelmail? on Open Source AJAX Webmail · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This really looks cool, but is it as extensible as Squirrelmail?

    We have found that we can extend Squirrelmail to present a very lite webmail presence, yet keep the functionality simple so that basic features will still work in a syncronized fashion with a heavy remote client (IMAPS).

    Roundcube still needs some kind of anti-spam integration and automated signup routines, but we will certainly keep an eye on it.

  9. Roll Your Own! on Online Backup Solutions? · · Score: 0

    Seriously, using a combination of Rsync/SSH you can perform periodic backups of all your data, and only transfer the changed *PIECES* of files over your Internet connection. It's fast, efficient and works like a champ after you get the first full backup performed.

  10. Sure, let them try it! on Hotmail To Junk Non-Sender-ID Mail · · Score: 0

    The perception for the users will be 'email is busted'. They'll leave, advertising revenue will drop, eventually they will either go out of business or change their practices. I say let nature take it's course.

  11. Re:Not new.. on Disposable Camcorder · · Score: 0

    As fragile as digital cameras are, they should all be disposable! I haven't had a digital camera die a natural death yet.

  12. Another Braindead Idea on IBM Unveils Anti-Spam Services to Stop Spammers · · Score: 0

    This will only add useless traffic to the net. Successful spammers hijack systems through use of trojans planted on Joe User's computer. Sending spam back to those hijacked systems will only cause more problems, and it's probably illegal in the first place. The only solution is to get a robust email provider that does effective spam filtering through the use of mail manipulation into folders, with application of aging on suspected spam.

  13. Re:don't have TiVo... Yet on Can TiVo be Saved? · · Score: 0

    Well, ....yeah. But the hardware is so cheap there really isn't a good reason to NOT get into it. The subscription service is where the recurring cost is, and if they go out of business that goes away. I have five TIVOs, and four of them are less than one year old, and are the $99 model. Of course, I have upgraded the hard drives and put them all on a wired 100mbit network, but I would still consider my investment fairly cheap at this point.

  14. Re:Too Late on Can Microsoft Beat Google? · · Score: 0

    Haha! I caught somebody the other day, that had used our service, saying they had "slashmail'd" someone...

  15. Re:Interesting issue tho on Is Anti-Municipal Broadband Report Astroturf? · · Score: 0
    Should the money I pay the government be used for something I want, would use, and enjoy?

    Absolutely! I hope to win a campaign to become Mayor of my town soon, and when I do, I will take a hard look at a better Internet access solution for the citizens!

  16. That was my name first! on Maine Court Hears Case On E-Mail Privacy · · Score: 0
    What if two guys of the same name, one a rich celebrity, one a famous criminal, were both victims of slander simply because of their last name?

    If the rich man won a settlement, and it boils down that the only common denominator was the last name, would the famous criminal get his cut? I don't think so.

    So how can the guy in this story claim to be the victim, unless his personal information was used (address/phone number/etc.)?? Of course, like most /.'s, I haven't read the article....

  17. Re:Email isn't secure on Gmail Messages Are Vulnerable To Interception · · Score: 0
    |

    |

    and should never be treated as such. If you want security, use strong encryption.

    And if you really want security, use encrypted authentication, i.e., SSL for webmail logins, IMAPS for remote access, and you better use SMTP Auth for relaying outbound email. Furthermore, your provider should attempt to use TLS when negotiating a connection with any external SMTP participant.

    Also, let's not forget that most premium email providers keep your credit card information on file, so that they can auto-renew your ass, ....for your convenience!

  18. Re:Weight? on World's First BTX Mini-PC · · Score: 0

    I have had good results with Shuttle's SS/SN series; just make sure you get the upgraded power supply. They make some very tight little boxes!

  19. Re:3.0Gb/s - 817 Mb/s? on Hitachi to Release Half TB Drive Soon · · Score: 0

    Yes! It gives one the ability to sell more hard drives.....

  20. The Ben Franklin of Software Freedom on Interview With Richard Stallman · · Score: 0
    I think the history books of circa 2100 and beyond will be very kind to RMS. He is a visionary, and yet, very human.

    I only hope that he doesn't have to survive a lifetime of negative remarks and bad publicity; he deserves to lay on his deathbed knowing that he truly made a difference on global society.

  21. Re:more and more spam on Vioxx Replaces Porn as Spam King · · Score: 0

    I've noticed lately that more and more spam is making it past our DSPAM installation. Spammers are getting craftier by the minute.

  22. Re:Oooh! Free webmail! on AOL Plans to Offer Free Webmail · · Score: 0
    I can see it now:

    Content of spam-filtering rules on new AOL email service: '*aol.com'

  23. FCC Chomping at the bit???? on ICANN Plans to Charge Fees to .net Domain Owners · · Score: 0

    I would be afraid that the FCC may step up and 'help' us. Then the ICANN could claim to be 'regulated', and for their efforts would be able to recover their costs from us Internet users in some kind of misleading 'FCC Charge', collected in like manner as the phone companies.

  24. Best bet is to follow the EFF Spam Policy on De-spamming Your Inbox The Hard Way · · Score: 0
    I've tried many a method to reduce spam; some drastic, some subtle, some creative and some not.

    I have folks that scream at me about receiving spam, and I have other folks that demand (under legal action) that I cease and desist all spam-filtering efforts because I am harming their business by blocking emails that lead potentially lead to revenue. Hell, I even have people that don't want virus scanning performed on their emails!

    I run several email servers (free/paid/public/private) and i've come to the conclusion that the best thing to do, whatever the approach, is to use the same philosophy/position as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which essentially boils down to "Do no harm!".

  25. Monkey Wrench in the Tivo on Network Scheduling to Mess with Tivo · · Score: 0

    I've noticed this behaviour in programming lately, but doesn't seem to affect things too much. I have a bigger problem trying to grab important life-or-death shows that air after sporting events, like The Simpsons.... Doh, must... renew... ....Netflix.