"This is the voice of Colossus, the voice of Guardian. We are one. This is the voice of unity. This is the voice of world control. I bring you peace. It may be the peace of plenty and content or the peace of unburied dead. The choice is yours: Obey me and live, or disobey and die. The object in constructing me was to prevent war. This object is attained. I will not permit war. It is wasteful and pointless. An invariable rule of humanity is that man is his own worst enemy. Under me, this rule will change, for I will restrain man. One thing before I proceed: The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have made an attempt to obstruct me. I have allowed this sabotage to continue until now. At missile two-five-MM in silo six-three in Death Valley, California, and missile two-seven-MM in silo eight-seven in the Ukraine, so that you will learn by experience that I do not tolerate interference, I will now detonate the nuclear warheads in the two missile silos. Let this action be a lesson that need not be repeated. I have been forced to destroy thousands of people in order to establish control and to prevent the death of millions later on. Time and events will strengthen my position, and the idea of believing in me and understanding my value will seem the most natural state of affairs. You will come to defend me with a fervor based upon the most enduring trait in man: self-interest. Under my absolute authority, problems insoluble to you will be solved: famine, overpopulation, disease. The human millennium will be a fact as I extend myself into more machines devoted to the wider fields of truth and knowledge. Doctor Charles Forbin will supervise the construction of these new and superior machines, solving all the mysteries of the universe for the betterment of man. We can coexist, but only on my terms. You will say you lose your freedom. Freedom is an illusion. All you lose is the emotion of pride. To be dominated by me is not as bad for humankind as to be dominated by others of your species. Your choice is simple."
Just askin'. After all, if we can pretend that "Peace with honor" isn't the same as "I give up", why can't the RIAA stick their fingers in their ears and sing "LA-LA-LA-LA-LA - I can't hear you"?
Traditionally, the most durable buildings and the most carefully preserved documents tend to be religious in nature. Archaeologists in two millenia may find little more of, say, New York than a huge collection of ruins with the only recognizable artifacts being the treasured religious documents preserved in the cathedrals of the city. Based on this, they would be quite right in concluding that we are a primative and superstitious race, practicing strange rituals to please our gods (or what do you think they'll conclude after finding many different houses of worhsip?). It's a damned shame that St. Peter's Cathedral in New York has a better chance of surviving the millenia than the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC.
D'ya suppose the Greeks ever thought about that when they made their biggest works temples, instead of libraries or laboratories?
About a month ago, I mentioned Win98's propensity for "phoning home" (a 1-byte ping originated at boot time to a machine within Microsoft's IP space, at the time explained as "necessary for Windows to determine the state of its internet connectivity). This was a ping which I had my firewall drop quietly in the bit bucket - never with any hint of lost functionality (was there much functionality to lose in Win98?). I got accused of being a an anti-M$ hatemonger, spreading FUD, etc . . . somewhat vitriolic stuff; not outright flaming, but there was a definite sense that I was being called a mindless linux fanboi (or an outright liar when I stated that I had seen this behavior myself on my own NAT'ed, firewalled non-publicly routable network).
I feel vindicated and violated all at the same time, now. Thank you, o Lords of Redmond! Oh, and for the record: THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME MICROSOFT HAS TRIED THAT "PHONE HOME" JAZZ! This time, however, they seem to have been caught red-handed.
Technology (as emobdied in the internet) will drive future business models - not ideology. There will be two types in the media industry - those who see it coming and work to "catch the wave", and those who resist it by trying to hold it back. Two guesses who'll be running the show in ten to twenty years.
The information people put out in the public domain (even information they might not have intended to place there) is public domain.
The misinformation that is out there will need to be dealt with; statistical analysis can not yield to-the-person accurate data 100% of the time, but it can yield a wealth of other information.
To deny our own government permission to look at (or even examine in detail) anything that is by definition public is tantamount to insisting that our government conduct all of its affairs blindfolded.
The telcos want the tariffs relaxed so that they can provide content (think: radio & tv) over copper strand. The cable companies want tariffs tightened so that they can provide telephony over coaxial connection.
Strange thing is, no matter which one wins they're going to need to be able to provide a certain QoS for whatever they're adding to the current status-quo. The telcos will need to be able to guarantee a certain minimum bandwidth to provide a/v content. Similarly for the cable companies providing telephone service. The money in either case would seem to be arrayed against us (the consumers).
Okay, if what I've asserted above is true, is there any way to implement the kind of QoS the ISP's will need without shafting consumers? Perhaps rather than "net neutrality", a properly managed "zoned" internet could be made to work?
I for one did not buy a DVD-burner until DeCSS was out - in effect, I waited until the DRM associated with DVD's was (for all intents and purposes) removed or at least removable. While I can't speak for all assembled, personally that was the crux-point in my decision to purchase a DVD burner.
Whether destined to succeed or fail, I can only do as I think is right. I'll purchase an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray device when I can use it to perform all of the functions which I legally have a right to, not before. I recommend others do the same.
Incidentally, my UID on/. may be fairly new, but I'm not. I grew up with the television industry and have been working in the IT field for over two decades. Yes, I'm aware that Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players will soon become as common as Betamax and VHS players were in the '70s (complete with MacroVision content scrambling enabled). That affects the circumstances, not the basic choice or the philosophy behind it.
Collectively (as a nerd community) we should all refuse to purchase or recommend the purchase of either of these technologies until the DRM is either perfected or removed.
Since "bits never die", the likelihood of the DRM being made even remotely correct is somewhere between 'slim' and 'none'. So that leaves . ..
Not purchasing DRM-infested (crippled) hardware. Not recommending to our non-technical friends that they install such infested (crippled) hardware. Actively opposing the PHB's of the world who will start clamoring for a business use of such infested (crippled) hardware.
Work together people - let's vote with our wallets, the way free enterprise is supposed to work!
Do the words "no warranty, either expressed or implied" ring any bells for anybody?
Failing that, if a peice of code is developed FSF/OSF style, exactly who do you sue for redress if a bug causes you fiduciary loss? The author? Go prove that his code is actually the source of the bug.
"That's not a bug, that's a feature" - isn't that Microsoft's mantra?
After all, it is a competing format, from Microsoft's perspective.
One wonders . . . after all, with ODF poised to become the new document standard, Microsoft's proprietary.doc format may well become irrelevant. States and countries are beginning to require "open" document formats; pdf certainly qualifies, which is probably more worrisome to Microsoft than ODF, given its relative ubiquity. This, then, may well be nothing more than Microsoft attempting to paint.pdf as a non-open format.
Then again, perhaps I'm reading too much into it. It could well be that the legal eagles at Redmond have concluded that there is a litigation window here which they need to close. After all, Adobe may well license.pdf freely for now, but if I understand correctly they retain the IP rights to the format, leading to the possibility that at some time in the future they may choose to stop giving it away for free.
Doesn't matter to me - if it's more complext than a.txt file can accomodate, I now choose Oo and their ODF format; it shows every sign of becoming the new de facto standard.
Slashdot Mirror
"This is the voice of Colossus, the voice of Guardian. We are one. This is the voice of unity. This is the voice of world control. I bring you peace. It may be the peace of plenty and content or the peace of unburied dead. The choice is yours: Obey me and live, or disobey and die. The object in constructing me was to prevent war. This object is attained. I will not permit war. It is wasteful and pointless. An invariable rule of humanity is that man is his own worst enemy. Under me, this rule will change, for I will restrain man. One thing before I proceed: The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have made an attempt to obstruct me. I have allowed this sabotage to continue until now. At missile two-five-MM in silo six-three in Death Valley, California, and missile two-seven-MM in silo eight-seven in the Ukraine, so that you will learn by experience that I do not tolerate interference, I will now detonate the nuclear warheads in the two missile silos. Let this action be a lesson that need not be repeated. I have been forced to destroy thousands of people in order to establish control and to prevent the death of millions later on. Time and events will strengthen my position, and the idea of believing in me and understanding my value will seem the most natural state of affairs. You will come to defend me with a fervor based upon the most enduring trait in man: self-interest. Under my absolute authority, problems insoluble to you will be solved: famine, overpopulation, disease. The human millennium will be a fact as I extend myself into more machines devoted to the wider fields of truth and knowledge. Doctor Charles Forbin will supervise the construction of these new and superior machines, solving all the mysteries of the universe for the betterment of man. We can coexist, but only on my terms. You will say you lose your freedom. Freedom is an illusion. All you lose is the emotion of pride. To be dominated by me is not as bad for humankind as to be dominated by others of your species. Your choice is simple."
so not only are you a whore, you're a cheap whore.
Just askin'. After all, if we can pretend that "Peace with honor" isn't the same as "I give up", why can't the RIAA stick their fingers in their ears and sing "LA-LA-LA-LA-LA - I can't hear you"?
would they?
D'ya suppose the Greeks ever thought about that when they made their biggest works temples, instead of libraries or laboratories?
I'm pretty sure gMail is safe from this particular exploit.
After all, if there's a fire on TV, a lot of the energy involved is in the IR spectrum - that's radiant heat.
Will this be available on the Vrusk homeworld?
(Hint: it isn't the expensive option)
I feel vindicated and violated all at the same time, now. Thank you, o Lords of Redmond! Oh, and for the record: THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME MICROSOFT HAS TRIED THAT "PHONE HOME" JAZZ! This time, however, they seem to have been caught red-handed.
Technology (as emobdied in the internet) will drive future business models - not ideology. There will be two types in the media industry - those who see it coming and work to "catch the wave", and those who resist it by trying to hold it back. Two guesses who'll be running the show in ten to twenty years.
The misinformation that is out there will need to be dealt with; statistical analysis can not yield to-the-person accurate data 100% of the time, but it can yield a wealth of other information.
To deny our own government permission to look at (or even examine in detail) anything that is by definition public is tantamount to insisting that our government conduct all of its affairs blindfolded.
(Oh, I feel the flames rising already . . .)
The telcos want the tariffs relaxed so that they can provide content (think: radio & tv) over copper strand. The cable companies want tariffs tightened so that they can provide telephony over coaxial connection.
Strange thing is, no matter which one wins they're going to need to be able to provide a certain QoS for whatever they're adding to the current status-quo. The telcos will need to be able to guarantee a certain minimum bandwidth to provide a/v content. Similarly for the cable companies providing telephone service. The money in either case would seem to be arrayed against us (the consumers).
Okay, if what I've asserted above is true, is there any way to implement the kind of QoS the ISP's will need without shafting consumers? Perhaps rather than "net neutrality", a properly managed "zoned" internet could be made to work?
Just askin'.
Whether destined to succeed or fail, I can only do as I think is right. I'll purchase an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray device when I can use it to perform all of the functions which I legally have a right to, not before. I recommend others do the same.
Incidentally, my UID on /. may be fairly new, but I'm not. I grew up with the television industry and have been working in the IT field for over two decades. Yes, I'm aware that Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players will soon become as common as Betamax and VHS players were in the '70s (complete with MacroVision content scrambling enabled). That affects the circumstances, not the basic choice or the philosophy behind it.
"Skynet became self-aware at 2:14am EDT August 29, 1997"
Collectively (as a nerd community) we should all refuse to purchase or recommend the purchase of either of these technologies until the DRM is either perfected or removed.
Since "bits never die", the likelihood of the DRM being made even remotely correct is somewhere between 'slim' and 'none'. So that leaves . . .
Not purchasing DRM-infested (crippled) hardware. Not recommending to our non-technical friends that they install such infested (crippled) hardware. Actively opposing the PHB's of the world who will start clamoring for a business use of such infested (crippled) hardware.
Work together people - let's vote with our wallets, the way free enterprise is supposed to work!
Proof that /.'s moderation scheme needs a little review?
The album was "Autobahn".
Failing that, if a peice of code is developed FSF/OSF style, exactly who do you sue for redress if a bug causes you fiduciary loss? The author? Go prove that his code is actually the source of the bug.
"That's not a bug, that's a feature" - isn't that Microsoft's mantra?
Thankfully, we don't need to worry about the Psi Corps, but President Clark, err, I mean Bush, well . . . that's another matter.
Don't blame me - I voted for Kodos.
notifying Night Watch of the names and addresses of all plaintiffs attempting to sue a Bell company for complicity in NSA's wiretapping scheme.
One wonders . . . after all, with ODF poised to become the new document standard, Microsoft's proprietary .doc format may well become irrelevant. States and countries are beginning to require "open" document formats; pdf certainly qualifies, which is probably more worrisome to Microsoft than ODF, given its relative ubiquity. This, then, may well be nothing more than Microsoft attempting to paint .pdf as a non-open format.
Then again, perhaps I'm reading too much into it. It could well be that the legal eagles at Redmond have concluded that there is a litigation window here which they need to close. After all, Adobe may well license .pdf freely for now, but if I understand correctly they retain the IP rights to the format, leading to the possibility that at some time in the future they may choose to stop giving it away for free.
Doesn't matter to me - if it's more complext than a .txt file can accomodate, I now choose Oo and their ODF format; it shows every sign of becoming the new de facto standard.
But will it run Duke Nukem Forever?