Their descendants have now lived long enough to see (parts of it) repeated.
Y'know, I've never been ashamed of my American citizenship until now. This is wrong on the face of it - no need for protracted debate to see that this is another example of the strong using the weak for their (our) own ends.
I was almost able to ignore our (USA's) past arrogance, our willingness to utilize political and military pressure to inappropriately enforce our will on others; but this is seriously over the top. Human experimentation? Paging Doctor Mengele.
In closing, somebody please tell me that these are multinational corporations, not USA-based?
I think our government crashed about twenty years ago; nobody noticed because the rest of the system stayed up (the economy, most outward-facing services, etc.).
I'm arguing that we should fix the thatch hut next door before we start to worry about huts on the next block.
By the way, did anybody stop to ask these folks if they would like us to change their lifestyle? Don't tell me it's self-evident, as many cultures have already demonstrated that they would rather die on their own than become the next "Assimilated in USA" (see: American Indian).
Consider: if the Open Document standard is widely adopted, that means the end of proprietary document formats - who wants to go through their professional career knowing that M$ has the software equivalent of a gun to their heads?
IF, however, M$ can create a second "open" standard (one which presumably is not compatible with the existing open standard), end-users will be frustrated by what they perceive as a failure of the open document standard. I can see some poor cubicle inhabitant trying to open a M$ fnord OpenXML document in OpenOffice and not understanding why it doesn't work. At some point, the PHB's will conclude that "open" document formats aren't interoperable or don't work, making them more receptive to accepting the "lock-in" of proprietary formats because they "just work".
This is just another example of MacroHard trying to pollute the open-source stream. Nothing new under the sun here. Move along, people - move along.
We know there were WMD's in Iraq; our CIA (under George H. W. Bush) delivered them! We're just upset because now we don't know where they ended up (getting used).
I'll bet there's a highly classified hand reciept for them stashed in some beaurocrat's desk drawer.
Y'know, the CSS garbage was (as you rightly point out) semi-trivial to break and circumvent. The PHB's behind Blu-Ray have learned - I understand that they'll be using some variant of RSA this time.
I may be wrong on this point; however, it doesn't seem too likely they'll repeat the CSS mistake. That said, if the DRM they come up with is too draconian, we can be assured of a market failure which will relegate their strong DRM to the circular file of history. If they get it right, however, I won't object too strenuously.
Getting it right, by the way, includes not stepping on my reasonable fair-use rights while securing those of the copyright holders. I make the odds something just slightly less than googleplex:1 against, but only time will tell.
That act demonstrates good will and professionalism on the face of it. If a corporation determines that they cannot trust an outgoing employee despite such a show of good faith, let that be their loss and no onus attached to you - you are responsible only for your actions, not theirs.
That said, if you really were out to sabotage your outgoing employer, I can think of few ways to more effectively do so than to quit summarily (permitting you to perform random acts of evil right up to the last minute, of course). In submitting your resignation, you afford your employer many key opportunities - to review your work, your workload, your position, etc. It's their loss if they don't choose to take advantage of that opportunity (and there may be good reasons why they can't).
My experience is nearly identical (although I have made the occasional mistake, especially at 3:00am).
Even my wife (who doesn't want to become technically competent) has no problems. Now, if I could only get my two teenage kids on board . ..
It's amazing how many people here in meatspace know better than to trust a stranger, know that "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is"; yet when they get into cyberspace they automatically assume that all is sweetness and light and they're oh, so disappointed when Mr. Nagooli Unqualidu of Nigeria won't send them millions of free dollars, or the viewer software from their favorite pr0nsite suddenly pops up at the most inopportune moments to display banner ads.
Not that I know from firsthand experience, of course!
Okay, so $soft still isn't ready for the server farm (IMHO). At least they're trying. AND they do make one helluva desktop, you gotta admit that! Much as I hate it, Windoze is the gold standard against which KDE and GNOME have been comparing themselves for years. Sure, *nix has many inherent advantages, advantages which go back to the basic core design of the OS; but the boys from Redmond have been making steady progress in closing the gap.
Of course, I don't think it's possible to reconcile the needs of their desktop "ease of use" and "configurability" with the demands of server "reliability". There's an essential incompatibility between the two. Still, give 'em credit for trying (and yes, I know they're only doing this in pursuit of the almighty dollar. What could be more American than that?).
Actually, I didn't "buy" the information, I merely "licensed" it.
Think of it as a lifetime lease with only one rent payment. Technically, the software/music/movie manufacturer retains ownership (if I understand correctly).
Yes, I understand that this is not a governmental activity per se, and thus you're correct in pointing out that there isn't necessarily an "our own" to take care of here.
That said, underpriveledged children here in the USA are a lot closer to MIT than unerpriveledged children in, say, Somalia. Also, while poverty and famine have indeed been addressed by other agencies, they are not yet under control. This seems to me to be a better area for the expenditure of our collective efforts.
Lastly, how 'bout shipping them books and other conventional educational materials? I'm sure the cost differential between printing a textbook and manufacturing a computer will more than make up for the lowered utility - and it won't expose the recipients to too much pr0n/spam/casino activity.
"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"
"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."
"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.
"Both very busy, sir."
"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."
I rent an apartment. The landlord has a right to enter and inspect, but not to dictate how I will decorate and maintain my apartment (other than to say that I mustn't damage the property).
So . . . why do software manufacturers (including malware manufacturers) have a right to dictate what I will do with my hardware. Certainly, if I start making bootlegged copies of software/data available I can see where I have abnegated the implicit agreement between myself and the software vendor (damaging the apartment), but so long as such transgressions remain securely within the bounds of my equipment they should have no right to complain (I furnished the apartment with the most hideous furniture in existence, but the apartment remains undamaged).
Slashdot Mirror
Was the research conducted in India?
</sarcasm>
Better?
in India?
Their descendants have now lived long enough to see (parts of it) repeated.
Y'know, I've never been ashamed of my American citizenship until now. This is wrong on the face of it - no need for protracted debate to see that this is another example of the strong using the weak for their (our) own ends.
I was almost able to ignore our (USA's) past arrogance, our willingness to utilize political and military pressure to inappropriately enforce our will on others; but this is seriously over the top. Human experimentation? Paging Doctor Mengele.
In closing, somebody please tell me that these are multinational corporations, not USA-based?
(the silence was thunderous in its intensity)
C'mon, did I really need <sarcasm> and </sarcasm> tags?
Still upset that the Dubya stole the first election fair 'n' square? ;^D
I think our government crashed about twenty years ago; nobody noticed because the rest of the system stayed up (the economy, most outward-facing services, etc.).
If so, have you considered the advantages of finding a slightly less prominent location from which to launch your communiques?
Score one for the Steven - he hit this one right on the head!
I'm arguing that we should fix the thatch hut next door before we start to worry about huts on the next block.
By the way, did anybody stop to ask these folks if they would like us to change their lifestyle? Don't tell me it's self-evident, as many cultures have already demonstrated that they would rather die on their own than become the next "Assimilated in USA" (see: American Indian).
IF, however, M$ can create a second "open" standard (one which presumably is not compatible with the existing open standard), end-users will be frustrated by what they perceive as a failure of the open document standard. I can see some poor cubicle inhabitant trying to open a M$ fnord OpenXML document in OpenOffice and not understanding why it doesn't work. At some point, the PHB's will conclude that "open" document formats aren't interoperable or don't work, making them more receptive to accepting the "lock-in" of proprietary formats because they "just work".
This is just another example of MacroHard trying to pollute the open-source stream. Nothing new under the sun here. Move along, people - move along.
"Las Cruces Spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious."
It didn't taste different from the rest of the meal, but my tummy doesn't feel so good now. ***groan***
I'll bet there's a highly classified hand reciept for them stashed in some beaurocrat's desk drawer.
I may be wrong on this point; however, it doesn't seem too likely they'll repeat the CSS mistake. That said, if the DRM they come up with is too draconian, we can be assured of a market failure which will relegate their strong DRM to the circular file of history. If they get it right, however, I won't object too strenuously.
Getting it right, by the way, includes not stepping on my reasonable fair-use rights while securing those of the copyright holders. I make the odds something just slightly less than googleplex:1 against, but only time will tell.
That said, if you really were out to sabotage your outgoing employer, I can think of few ways to more effectively do so than to quit summarily (permitting you to perform random acts of evil right up to the last minute, of course). In submitting your resignation, you afford your employer many key opportunities - to review your work, your workload, your position, etc. It's their loss if they don't choose to take advantage of that opportunity (and there may be good reasons why they can't).
Even my wife (who doesn't want to become technically competent) has no problems. Now, if I could only get my two teenage kids on board . . .
It's amazing how many people here in meatspace know better than to trust a stranger, know that "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is"; yet when they get into cyberspace they automatically assume that all is sweetness and light and they're oh, so disappointed when Mr. Nagooli Unqualidu of Nigeria won't send them millions of free dollars, or the viewer software from their favorite pr0nsite suddenly pops up at the most inopportune moments to display banner ads.
Not that I know from firsthand experience, of course!
Of course, if you feel that MAC OS-X is the platinum standard, you're entitled to your opinion (and I wouldn't argue ;^).
Let us look to our own house first - and it's not where it needs to be!
Okay, so $soft still isn't ready for the server farm (IMHO). At least they're trying. AND they do make one helluva desktop, you gotta admit that! Much as I hate it, Windoze is the gold standard against which KDE and GNOME have been comparing themselves for years. Sure, *nix has many inherent advantages, advantages which go back to the basic core design of the OS; but the boys from Redmond have been making steady progress in closing the gap.
Of course, I don't think it's possible to reconcile the needs of their desktop "ease of use" and "configurability" with the demands of server "reliability". There's an essential incompatibility between the two. Still, give 'em credit for trying (and yes, I know they're only doing this in pursuit of the almighty dollar. What could be more American than that?).
Think of it as a lifetime lease with only one rent payment. Technically, the software/music/movie manufacturer retains ownership (if I understand correctly).
Fine! Ship 'em the sub-$100 machines you've found, and put the resources of this project to a better use than solving an already solved problem!
That said, underpriveledged children here in the USA are a lot closer to MIT than unerpriveledged children in, say, Somalia. Also, while poverty and famine have indeed been addressed by other agencies, they are not yet under control. This seems to me to be a better area for the expenditure of our collective efforts.
Lastly, how 'bout shipping them books and other conventional educational materials? I'm sure the cost differential between printing a textbook and manufacturing a computer will more than make up for the lowered utility - and it won't expose the recipients to too much pr0n/spam/casino activity.
Any illegal use may attract law enforcement, who will not scruple to preserve the properties value while pursuing a criminal.
Beyond which, the meth lab (presumably) produces an output which will have an effect beyond the limits of my apartment.
"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"
"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."
"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.
"Both very busy, sir."
"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."
So . . . why do software manufacturers (including malware manufacturers) have a right to dictate what I will do with my hardware. Certainly, if I start making bootlegged copies of software/data available I can see where I have abnegated the implicit agreement between myself and the software vendor (damaging the apartment), but so long as such transgressions remain securely within the bounds of my equipment they should have no right to complain (I furnished the apartment with the most hideous furniture in existence, but the apartment remains undamaged).