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User: bruce_the_loon

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  1. Re:93% of Programmers Think You're Wrong on Why Programmers Need To Learn Statistics · · Score: 1

    Spiking vs non-spiking is something pretty easy to see when you glance at the data.

    And you are one of the programmers he would be happy to work with. You understand looking at spiking in the data. He's moaning about those idiots who take =avg(A1:A1000) and say it is fine based on that and that alone.

  2. Re:That's not what ex post facto means on What Would Have Entered the Public Domain Tomorrow? · · Score: 1

    Accepted, but in very special cases only. Section 6 subsection B states the work originates from outside the US and is still protected in the country of origin. The rest of section 6 lays down some pretty stringent criteria that limits the scope as well.

    If the work originated in the US and has entered the public domain for any reason, 17 USC 104A does not apply.

    I wonder how this applies to the debacle with Amazon and the removal of 1984 and Animal Farm.

  3. Re:That's not what ex post facto means on What Would Have Entered the Public Domain Tomorrow? · · Score: 1

    Actually it is one step further than that.

    If the work had already entered the public domain at the time the bill was enacted, it remains in the public domain. The extensions were just that, extensions to copyright on works still under copyright.

    It forms an interesting dichotomy. Works that expired 1 minute before the president signed the bill into law are still in the public domain, works that would have expired one minute after got the extension.

  4. Re:Yuh huh on Adobe Flash To Be Top Hacker Target In 2010 · · Score: 0

    On a Linux or BSD -style system, WebBoard would be a package like any other and would be regularly updated as part of your routine system maintainence.

    Maybe. If they've made a package available, in a repo that you use, and issue updates. The number of OSS apps I see that direct you to SVN or CVS for the latest fixes, and release a .2 every year or so, is a little scary. And annoying.

    Otherwise if you've installed from source, or like most PHP apps these days, unpacked the tar.gz into the htdocs folder and run install.php from your browser, you're in the same mire as the Windows boys.

  5. Re:No, just typical Microsoft: on Windows 7 May Finally Get IPv6 Deployed · · Score: 2, Informative

    FUD, glorious FUD.

    You do not need Homegroups to make sharing work. It just makes it easier. The older technique of keeping the passwords synced across the machines is still operational.

    And someone has already answered the IPv6 no internet connectivity FUD as well.

  6. Re:not only Verisign on Paul Vixie On What DNS Is Not · · Score: 2, Informative

    Bind has Windows binaries for XP/2003/2008

    https://www.isc.org/downloadables/11

  7. Re:Time to DIY on jQuery Dev Bemoans Overwhelming Spam On Google Groups · · Score: 3, Informative

    Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

    You really truly honestly believe the spammers are paying for their own bandwidth? They're riding on bot-nets and open relays costing someone else their bandwidth. Most of the spam I see on the filters at work comes from residential networks.

  8. Re:Oh no... on Microsoft Opening Outlook's PST Format · · Score: 2, Interesting

    (-5) Sharepoint is stored in a SQL server database. The structure is vaguely nightmarish because of the desire for obfuscation, but it is perfectly possible to get the files back out with a bit of work. It is less of a lock-in than a .pst file would be, even with the release of these specs.

    I'll bet that Alfresco or Knowledge Tree's commercial products can come up with modules to migrate from a Sharepoint if they haven't already.

  9. Re:AT&T Trouble Self Inflicted? on A Possible Cause of AT&T's Wireless Clog — Configuration Errors · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Be careful of equating land area coverage with the size of the networks. There's nearly twice as many people in the EU than the US, and even ignoring the possibility that a greater percentage have cell phones, (Finland had 100% penetration) that's almost 100% more customers on the network.

    The European providers have to manage greater customer density than the US ones do. It's harder to do, making sure frequencies overlap properly, reducing interference etc.

  10. Re:AT&T Trouble Self Inflicted? on A Possible Cause of AT&T's Wireless Clog — Configuration Errors · · Score: 1

    It's amazing how in a developing economy like South Africa we can manage subsidized handsets (down to $8 on some), have no incoming call/sms costs and still have fairly reasonable rates. Without network lock-in.

    USA, you are being royally screwed. And I should know it, it is a daily occurrence down south.

    And before someone comes flaming with the recent articles about reducing interconnect costs, I know.

  11. Bing claimed exclusivity on Google Partners With Twitter For Search · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The funniest part is the news articles presenting the Bing partnership as an exclusive one.

    Bet Steve's tossing chairs now.

  12. Re:Windows Upgrades on Some Users Say Win7 Wants To Remove iTunes, Google Toolbar · · Score: 2, Informative

    VMWare's VSphere client. Amazing, Virtual Server Console, Virtual Infrastructure Client (3.5.0) works, but VSphere was broken. Had to hack a DLL location and put it into debug mode to work.

    Other than that, not much I've run across.

  13. Re:Well, not really... on Photoshop Disaster Draws DMCA Notice For Boing Boing · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Schick-schick......bang.

    There you go.

  14. Re:Obvious questions. on Ants Vs. Worms — Computer Security Mimics Nature · · Score: 1

    And walk straight into pitfall #1 with punji sticks in it.

    What if there is already something wrong with your network. I should send your comment to Marcus J. Ranum sometime, he's always amused by these ideas.

    You HAVE to know exactly what is on the network, not making assumptions that it is clean. Examine everything, catalog everything. Deny all, permit known.

  15. Freedoms on Ballmer Admits "We Screwed Up Windows Mobile" · · Score: 1

    I guess Apple would kick-ban any app that did that on the iPhone, wouldn't they.

  16. Re:HIV Vaccine on AIDS Vaccine Is Partially Successful · · Score: 1

    We've finally got a bunch in power that accepts the correct medical reasoning behind HIV and AIDS. Ten bloody years late, but they're trying now.

  17. Re:Lack of standards. on eBay Denies New Design Is Broken, Blames Users · · Score: 1

    Trust me, I know what I'm doing. Bang

  18. Re:bipolar mice? on Scientists Levitate Mice for NASA · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What doesn't give energy/nutrition will kill if eaten exclusively. If you ate only grass for long enough, you would be dead. Just because it isn't in ten minutes, doesn't mean it falls on the not-dead side. Unless you adapt to digesting grass sufficiently before you stave to death.

    Life's great, ain't it.

  19. Re:It's about damn time. on Alan Turing Gets an Apology From Prime Minister Brown · · Score: 1

    Yes. Get them to apologize.

  20. Re:Generic sounds, words can not be trademarked on Tour Companies Battle Over Trademarked Duck Noises · · Score: 1

    Yes, but they used it to advertise sex with ducks, theoretically a very different market than amphibious tours.

    Followed by one big bang.

  21. Re:Vocabulary Nazi on Treasured "Moon Rock" Is Petrified Wood · · Score: 1

    Does nobody get a joke these days. Tuen did. :)

  22. Math Nazi on Treasured "Moon Rock" Is Petrified Wood · · Score: -1, Troll

    1kg = 2.2lb

    382kg * 2.2lb/kg = 840.2lb

    842 pounds is less than 382 Kilos = Epic Fail

  23. Re:does this mean war? on Treasured "Moon Rock" Is Petrified Wood · · Score: 1

    Island Dwellers?

    You got the right English speakers? Unless you want to take Hawaii?

  24. Re:Grooveshark on RIAA Loses Case Against Launch Media · · Score: 2, Informative

    Only if they argue that they should be paying the statutory fees instead of the per-song licensing.

    If they're happily/unhappily ponying up the per-song license fees, they're in the clear.

  25. Re:Let's Not Get Ahead of Ourselves Here on "District 9" Best Sci-fi Movie of 09? · · Score: 1

    And why not.

    From orbit the problems in South Africa would make it a good place for a beachhead. Disinterested leaders focused on their own enrichment, non-functioning military, undermanned and overworked police force, millions of poorly educated people, citizens hiding behind security fences and closed neighborhoods and a decentish connection to the rest of the world for information. Good place to try and start an invasion of Earth, I would think.

    Seriously, why land in a place where the military could kick your ass back to orbit when you can land somewhere that probably wouldn't notice you until the USA came and tried to bomb your bases. Given our tolerance/intolerance for those that are different, if you don't take jobs away from the citizens, you could walk the streets of Joburg and not get noticed more than Bob Dylan.