What a marvelous example of how mathematics is a form of (free and protected) speech.
Has someone tried to claim a patent on this? It's a neat little math trick, but the poster seems a little paranoid. Should we not tell the world that the digits in numbers divisible by three add up to three, in case someone tries to patent that too? It doesn't seem like this is a big problem. or even a free speech issue.
Next think you know, they'll be figuring out a way to crazy casino games like Kino...
There's an easy way to win at Keno - don't play. If you're looking to win at gambling, first remember that hotels are big and fancy for a reason, and second, play blackjack - that's as close as you're going to get to having "good" odds.
Essentially, the music industry is pissing off their customer base.
Unfortunatly, 99% of people who buy music have no idea who the RIAA is or what they do. While the/. crowd is pissed off, it doesn't change the fact that even people who can't "find what they want on Napster anymore" don't know much about the case or the reasons behind it. We all know about the RIAA, but Joe Musicbuyer doesn't.
I thought paying my monthly bill was enough to buy me a right to watch television. Basic cable gives you only some TV-shows and programs. Most of it is crap, you pay CAD$ 40 for it and you still have to watch the ads. What do you think of that?
I was speaking of broadcast television, but I do see your point. But you're paying for more than just your channels...you're paying for upkeep of your cable system, the hardware, the reception, and the choice of more channels, regardless of what's on them. There are a good deal of problems with the current cable system (price, no competition except from satalite, etc.) My main point is that the price you pay for cable doesn't go toward the channels, it goes to your provider.
and to top it off, it tries to cram the thing I hate the most down my throat- ads
You can feel free to move to the Pay-Per-View model for broadcast television anytime you want. In the meantime, ads pay for your television viewing. With newer technologies like Tivo or the "VCR", you can skip them all together.
It was interesting, when I was a kid, to tape an episode of Star Trek DS9 and come to the cold realization that out of that 60 minutes of time, less than 45 minutes of it was the program.
A nitpick: Most shows, including Deep Space Nine (in it's original run, syndicators often edit more) run for 48 minutes. The end credits are approximately a minute, as are the start credits. You're only down to 46 minutes of show.
I haven't watched television in over a year...
While I'm sure you think this noble, there's plenty that local television can give you that other media can't. No matter your hatred for local news, in an emergency, they're you're best source for updates. And I'm of the opinion that if you think EVERYTHING on television is a waste of time, there's probably something wrong with your perception, not necessarily the boob tube.
Watching the damned thing is a waste of your life- what's going to make for better memories- a brain full of Voyager and Buffy episodes or a brain full of conversation, creative work, and real experience that the television is never going to come close to giving you?
Books will also never give you "a brain full of conversation, creative work, and real experience". While I understand your point, it's silly since the only way to get those things is through those things. Cooking dinner doesn't do it either, but I don't think you're going to stop eating. Television is for entertainment. If you don't find it entertaining, don't watch it. But you shouldn't go in expecting to better your life. It's a nice diversion. That's all. Don't take it so seriously, it's not meant to be.
Kill the damned thing- it's completely opt-in, so you have no right to bitch about the fucking ads when you can turn it off and do something meaningful.
Doing something meaningful is wonderful. I don't suggest sitting in front of the television all your waking hours. But "kill" your TV? It's a piece of hardware. When you want to kill plastic, glass, and electronic equipment, the fault is yours and your mental condition, not the collection of parts.
I tend to agree, but when people are trying to pass laws against what you enjoy doing it is not wise to expose your identity to them. Stand up and be counted, but only if you're not likely to be shot down.
That's why it's all the more important to stand up for it. When you have the chance to get shot down, it's important that everyone stand, so it's harder to hit any one individual.
Besides, when I search for porn, I want to be as anonymous as possible.
Privacy issues aside, we should all be proud of what we do, porn included. Looking at porn isn't illegal, and if you're looking at it, you (probably) don't have a moral problem with it.
This time he's being sued by Ford Motor Company for pointing a domain name that the New York Times won't mention to Ford's website.
When did journalists turn into a bunch of pansies? So the domain name has the word "fuck" in it. It's a dirty word in our culture. But it's relevant to the story. The author of the piece wouldn't be including it to be funny, it's news, and should therefore be included. It's not as if readers won't have heard it anywhere before.
This same thing happened a while back with the term "nigger". It's very offensive, very hurtful (much more so than "fuck"), and it has a cultural history that most Americans aren't proud of. But at the same time, when it's relevant to a news story, you say it/print it. No one is going to accuse the journalist of being a racist because he mentions what someone else says. It's time for people to grow up and realize reporting the news means reporting it all, offensive letter combinations included.
I started getting mod points after about 10 karma, and every few weeks. Once I got past 25 I started having them almost all the time (only 3 or 4 days in the last month I haven't have them). Appearently, however, many/. users are getting them a lot, at all karma levels.
Speaking of such things, has anyone else noticed (or been expiriencing) that moderation points are being handed out like they're going out of style? I've be a moderator 4 times in the last three weeks, and so have many others. This happening to anyone else out there?
The US and British governments should get ahold of these for their spy agencies...they could set their laptops to self-destruct every time they're lost. The Good Reverend I'm different, just like everybody else.
It sounds like a great way to watch TV or read news headlines on the bus if you ask me, but the article discusses some more, um, useful applications.
Companies need to realize there's nothing more "useful" then what people want something for. Scientific and military applications are fine, but if they want to sell, they'll have implant TV, porn, and high level gaming. Government contracts are nice, but 90% of geeks using your technology to play Quake is even better.
NASA's site seems either down, slow, or slashdotted. There's also the Solar System Live (http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/uncgi/Solar/actio n?sys=-Sf). It appears to be/do the same thing (though I haven't seen the NASA site).
So, basically, my Good Reverend, you want to reduce your spam level but not make any effort yourself to do so:-)
That's correct. I also want a ban on wildlands oil drilling, but I'm not chaining myself to bulldozers.
I submit that until you start doing some of the work yourself, you will not ever reduce your level of spam.
I do. I have filters, and I hit delete. I also vote for congressional representitives who represent my views. And I post to slashdot. That's GOT to count for something;)
Until you start helping the rest of us that take the time to actually complain about it, may your mailbox be infested with the excrement of spammers!
Do you bite your thumb at me?
Here's a tip: spammers have "flamers lists" that they use to weed out addresses that are known to complain a lot...
Actually, there are many people who don't have Windows but still need to communicated with their friends and co-workers.
There's always ICQ, Jabber, email...
Besides, reverse engineering something for the purposeses of interoperability is not illegal
No, but is using a company's servers without their permission?
I suspect you see issues like this in a very black and white manner.
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I pick my battles.
1. Laws are not always just or wise. History teaches us that laws are frequently put in place for entirely selfish or wrong reasons.
I agree 100%.
2. Fighting laws "in the system" is possibly the slowest and least effective means of changing a law. People don't wouldn't throw tea in harbors if it was easy (or possible) to change the law through the system.
What do you suggest? Civil unrest for the purpose of using the IM client you like? This isn't civil rights or taxation without representation. This is the right to use a company's network for purposes they don't agree with. I see a difference, do you?
You forgot the forth option - stop whining that a company doesn't have something for you. The world has different operating systems. You choose to use one that most of the rest of the world doesn't use. I respect your choice. But that doesn't mean you have a right to steal the service from the company providing it simply because you don't happen to like the provided client or what you see as it's downfalls.
No offence, but too bad. You don't have a god-given right to AIM, and AOL doesn't have a obligation to give it to you.
What it boils down to is that it's in AOL's best interest to support alternative operating systems.
Regardless of what you think, That's really up to AOL now, isn't it? Possibly breaking the law because you think AOL should be on your side anyway doesn't make you right.
Check out the Internet Law & Policy Forum (http://www.ilpf.org/) - There's all sorts of information on digital signatures, digital law, internet borders, etc.
I agree that sometimes, flash sucks. But it doesn't have to. Flash integration on a site, like anything on the web, can look good if done right. Too bad the dack.com site is already slashdotted, or I'd stop by to see if it's a joke, an ugly page, or something in between. Any mirrors?
Regardless if the software running the enbedded system is open or not, what's really important is how well it works and how likely it is to crash. I can't simply reboot my toaster, and I shouldn't have to.
I accept a certain about of instability in computer systems, there are many companies all working seperatly, and problems will happen. But for my vacuum, answering machine or lawn mower, I don't want to have to worry about crashes. I don't care what's in them, as long as it works, and works well.
Those damn hippies and their soybeans! Why can't they use an American fuel source, like corn, or beer?
Seriously, if true, this is awesome. I tend to hear a lot of stories about government repression of good alternative fuels, but it's hard to say which are true, and which aren't. Unfortunatly, I don't think President Bush would care too much. Too many jobs (and too much of his own money) in oil...
Slashdot Mirror
What a marvelous example of how mathematics is a form of (free and protected) speech.
Has someone tried to claim a patent on this? It's a neat little math trick, but the poster seems a little paranoid. Should we not tell the world that the digits in numbers divisible by three add up to three, in case someone tries to patent that too? It doesn't seem like this is a big problem. or even a free speech issue.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
Next think you know, they'll be figuring out a way to crazy casino games like Kino...
There's an easy way to win at Keno - don't play. If you're looking to win at gambling, first remember that hotels are big and fancy for a reason, and second, play blackjack - that's as close as you're going to get to having "good" odds.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
Essentially, the music industry is pissing off their customer base.
/. crowd is pissed off, it doesn't change the fact that even people who can't "find what they want on Napster anymore" don't know much about the case or the reasons behind it. We all know about the RIAA, but Joe Musicbuyer doesn't.
Unfortunatly, 99% of people who buy music have no idea who the RIAA is or what they do. While the
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
I thought paying my monthly bill was enough to buy me a right to watch television. Basic cable gives you only some TV-shows and programs. Most of it is crap, you pay CAD$ 40 for it and you still have to watch the ads. What do you think of that?
I was speaking of broadcast television, but I do see your point. But you're paying for more than just your channels...you're paying for upkeep of your cable system, the hardware, the reception, and the choice of more channels, regardless of what's on them. There are a good deal of problems with the current cable system (price, no competition except from satalite, etc.) My main point is that the price you pay for cable doesn't go toward the channels, it goes to your provider.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
and to top it off, it tries to cram the thing I hate the most down my throat- ads
You can feel free to move to the Pay-Per-View model for broadcast television anytime you want. In the meantime, ads pay for your television viewing. With newer technologies like Tivo or the "VCR", you can skip them all together.
It was interesting, when I was a kid, to tape an episode of Star Trek DS9 and come to the cold realization that out of that 60 minutes of time, less than 45 minutes of it was the program.
A nitpick: Most shows, including Deep Space Nine (in it's original run, syndicators often edit more) run for 48 minutes. The end credits are approximately a minute, as are the start credits. You're only down to 46 minutes of show.
I haven't watched television in over a year...
While I'm sure you think this noble, there's plenty that local television can give you that other media can't. No matter your hatred for local news, in an emergency, they're you're best source for updates. And I'm of the opinion that if you think EVERYTHING on television is a waste of time, there's probably something wrong with your perception, not necessarily the boob tube.
Watching the damned thing is a waste of your life- what's going to make for better memories- a brain full of Voyager and Buffy episodes or a brain full of conversation, creative work, and real experience that the television is never going to come close to giving you?
Books will also never give you "a brain full of conversation, creative work, and real experience". While I understand your point, it's silly since the only way to get those things is through those things. Cooking dinner doesn't do it either, but I don't think you're going to stop eating. Television is for entertainment. If you don't find it entertaining, don't watch it. But you shouldn't go in expecting to better your life. It's a nice diversion. That's all. Don't take it so seriously, it's not meant to be.
Kill the damned thing- it's completely opt-in, so you have no right to bitch about the fucking ads when you can turn it off and do something meaningful.
Doing something meaningful is wonderful. I don't suggest sitting in front of the television all your waking hours. But "kill" your TV? It's a piece of hardware. When you want to kill plastic, glass, and electronic equipment, the fault is yours and your mental condition, not the collection of parts.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
I tend to agree, but when people are trying to pass laws against what you enjoy doing it is not wise to expose your identity to them. Stand up and be counted, but only if you're not likely to be shot down.
That's why it's all the more important to stand up for it. When you have the chance to get shot down, it's important that everyone stand, so it's harder to hit any one individual.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
Besides, when I search for porn, I want to be as anonymous as possible.
Privacy issues aside, we should all be proud of what we do, porn included. Looking at porn isn't illegal, and if you're looking at it, you (probably) don't have a moral problem with it.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
This time he's being sued by Ford Motor Company for pointing a domain name that the New York Times won't mention to Ford's website.
When did journalists turn into a bunch of pansies? So the domain name has the word "fuck" in it. It's a dirty word in our culture. But it's relevant to the story. The author of the piece wouldn't be including it to be funny, it's news, and should therefore be included. It's not as if readers won't have heard it anywhere before.
This same thing happened a while back with the term "nigger". It's very offensive, very hurtful (much more so than "fuck"), and it has a cultural history that most Americans aren't proud of. But at the same time, when it's relevant to a news story, you say it/print it. No one is going to accuse the journalist of being a racist because he mentions what someone else says. It's time for people to grow up and realize reporting the news means reporting it all, offensive letter combinations included.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
We tried not to run this, but there are too many submissions to ignore.
How many is too many? I have 100 friends and some stories about my website, my hobbies, my cat...
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
I started getting mod points after about 10 karma, and every few weeks. Once I got past 25 I started having them almost all the time (only 3 or 4 days in the last month I haven't have them). Appearently, however, many /. users are getting them a lot, at all karma levels.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
Speaking of such things, has anyone else noticed (or been expiriencing) that moderation points are being handed out like they're going out of style? I've be a moderator 4 times in the last three weeks, and so have many others. This happening to anyone else out there?
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
The US and British governments should get ahold of these for their spy agencies...they could set their laptops to self-destruct every time they're lost.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
It sounds like a great way to watch TV or read news headlines on the bus if you ask me, but the article discusses some more, um, useful applications.
Companies need to realize there's nothing more "useful" then what people want something for. Scientific and military applications are fine, but if they want to sell, they'll have implant TV, porn, and high level gaming. Government contracts are nice, but 90% of geeks using your technology to play Quake is even better.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
NASA's site seems either down, slow, or slashdotted. There's also the Solar System Live (http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/uncgi/Solar/actio n?sys=-Sf). It appears to be/do the same thing (though I haven't seen the NASA site).
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
So, basically, my Good Reverend, you want to reduce your spam level but not make any effort yourself to do so :-)
;)
That's correct. I also want a ban on wildlands oil drilling, but I'm not chaining myself to bulldozers.
I submit that until you start doing some of the work yourself, you will not ever reduce your level of spam.
I do. I have filters, and I hit delete. I also vote for congressional representitives who represent my views. And I post to slashdot. That's GOT to count for something
Until you start helping the rest of us that take the time to actually complain about it, may your mailbox be infested with the excrement of spammers!
Do you bite your thumb at me?
Here's a tip: spammers have "flamers lists" that they use to weed out addresses that are known to complain a lot...
I'm interested in such a list...keep looking!
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
I'm glad someone took the time and effort to sue someone for spamming. Maybe it'll make other companies think twice before spamming me.
On second thought, it probably won't, unfortunatly.
Until then, I have my good friend, the "delete" key. Takes a second, gets rid of my problem. It's not THAT difficult.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
Actually, there are many people who don't have Windows but still need to communicated with their friends and co-workers.
:)
There's always ICQ, Jabber, email...
Besides, reverse engineering something for the purposeses of interoperability is not illegal
No, but is using a company's servers without their permission?
I suspect you see issues like this in a very black and white manner.
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I pick my battles.
1. Laws are not always just or wise. History teaches us that laws are frequently put in place for entirely selfish or wrong reasons.
I agree 100%.
2. Fighting laws "in the system" is possibly the slowest and least effective means of changing a law. People don't wouldn't throw tea in harbors if it was easy (or possible) to change the law through the system.
What do you suggest? Civil unrest for the purpose of using the IM client you like? This isn't civil rights or taxation without representation. This is the right to use a company's network for purposes they don't agree with. I see a difference, do you?
3. I like enumerating things.
So I've noticed =)
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
You forgot the forth option - stop whining that a company doesn't have something for you. The world has different operating systems. You choose to use one that most of the rest of the world doesn't use. I respect your choice. But that doesn't mean you have a right to steal the service from the company providing it simply because you don't happen to like the provided client or what you see as it's downfalls.
No offence, but too bad. You don't have a god-given right to AIM, and AOL doesn't have a obligation to give it to you.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
What it boils down to is that it's in AOL's best interest to support alternative operating systems.
Regardless of what you think, That's really up to AOL now, isn't it? Possibly breaking the law because you think AOL should be on your side anyway doesn't make you right.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
Check out the Internet Law & Policy Forum (http://www.ilpf.org/) - There's all sorts of information on digital signatures, digital law, internet borders, etc.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
I agree that sometimes, flash sucks. But it doesn't have to. Flash integration on a site, like anything on the web, can look good if done right. Too bad the dack.com site is already slashdotted, or I'd stop by to see if it's a joke, an ugly page, or something in between. Any mirrors?
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
Regardless if the software running the enbedded system is open or not, what's really important is how well it works and how likely it is to crash. I can't simply reboot my toaster, and I shouldn't have to.
I accept a certain about of instability in computer systems, there are many companies all working seperatly, and problems will happen. But for my vacuum, answering machine or lawn mower, I don't want to have to worry about crashes. I don't care what's in them, as long as it works, and works well.
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
in case you didn't know, soybeans are commonly grown in America...
Oh, I know. I was going for humor. I eat a lot of soy =)
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
Those damn hippies and their soybeans! Why can't they use an American fuel source, like corn, or beer?
Seriously, if true, this is awesome. I tend to hear a lot of stories about government repression of good alternative fuels, but it's hard to say which are true, and which aren't. Unfortunatly, I don't think President Bush would care too much. Too many jobs (and too much of his own money) in oil...
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.
For the goatse.cx weary...
How about holding your pointing device cursor over the link and reading what it is? It's not THAT tough...
The Good Reverend
I'm different, just like everybody else.