I once had a story in "Pending" state for TWO MONTHS
Holy crap...and here I am beating my breast over ten measly hours. Thanks for putting my particular grievance in perspective, but this only underscores the underlying issue: that story submission on Slashdot is fundamentally broken (CmdrTaco's protestations notwithstanding).
Because I believed I had a chance to contribute to the content on this site. In the past, after numerous rejected submissions, I had simply given up attempting to submit stories. While some of my submissions were rejected because others had submitted them earlier, many were rejected despite the fact that no one else submitted them at all, and a disconcerting number were rejected, only to appear later accredited to someone else.
Recently, CmdrTaco posted a discussion regarding the controversy regarding the perceived irregularities in submission acceptance. An excellent discussion ensued, in which I took part. After this exchange, I had a renewed sense of faith in the story selection mechanism, and when I read about the Anonym.OS story, I decided to go ahead and submit it to Slashdot. Unfortunately, ten straight hours went by while my submission languished in 'pending' limbo, neither accepted nor rejected, while the story itself was posted under another name (an obvious linkwhore).
The story's up, that's what matters.
Certainly, this is true. The story is up, and as that was my intention in the first place, that is what matters. However, I do resent going to the trouble to research the story, write it up, submit it, only to have my submission ignored while another (inferior) write-up took its place. I don't believe my resentment in this case is unreasonable.
Don't think there's an obligation to hand a day in the sun to you.
I'm certainly not looking for a 'day in the sun'...if that was my intention, garnering first post in a discussion would certainly be sufficient (as my legion of AC detractors will certainly attest). I submit stories for the same reason I post here: to try to enrich the Slashdot community through my contribution. Unfortunately, the process of Slashdot story selection doesn't seem to be as nearly free of ulterior motive as CmdrTaco would have us believe. I personally would prefer to believe otherwise, but Res Ipsa Loquitur.
Barring any ground-shaking developments, I'm through submitting stories to Slashdot. This is the last straw. I'm well aware that the powers-that-be have no obligation to me, but conversely, I have no obligation to them. Why should I go to the effort if my submisions will simply be ignored? Taco, if you're out there, I'd appreciate a reply (and an explanation, if available), but if not, it's too bad, but there it is.
Sorry to go offtopic here, but I don't really care at the moment.
I submitted this story over TEN HOURS AGO. At the time of this post, my submission is STILL 'pending'. Meanwhile, the same story submitted by a linkwhore gets accepted.
And Taco wonders why everyone is so pissed off about story selection. THIS IS WHY, TACO.
Honestly...on the 12th we had a story on whether of not the Intel Mac would run Windows...a story that said nothing more definite than 'perhaps'. And now, today we get another story with essentially the same message...nothing definite, just useless speculation.
Please don't post another story on this subject until a story surfaces about someone who's actually tried installing a Windows OS on an Intel mac, and can actually say something definite on the matter.
Corroboration of the findings by another party or three would be nice, too.
Oh, and this is the fourth Apple story today. Slow news day? If so, then why is the story I submitted at 8:26 am EST still 'pending'?
Too bad it's Lovelock saying this...
on
Forecasting Doomsday
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
"I'd like to share a revelation I had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You are a plague, and we are the cure."
- Agent Smith
"Master Blaster run Bartertown!"
- Master
It's really too bad that James Lovelock is perceived as a bit of a nutball in the scientific community...global climate change is a real and accelerating problem (the duplicitious yammerings of the naysayers and industrial apologists notwithstanding), and it needs to have more serious attention focused upon it. I fear that all Lovelock's doomsaying will accomplish is the opposite.
Clint, from the Ars blog, points out that the Core Duo processor is socket-mounted, allowing for possible upgrades, unlike the IBM chips which were soldered to the PCB's.
I's possible to upgrade a soldered chip...just takes a soldering iron, a little skill, and a lot of paitence.
(A commercial-grade desoldering tool is also useful.)
And their [Microsoft's] definition for what's critical is sort of amazing. I mean, and this is from a page on their website. They say a vulnerability in Windows is critical only if its exploitation could allow the propagation of an Internet worm without user action. In other words, anything else is not critical.
You mean user action like...say...opening a web browser?
Anyway, this is freaky interesting, because if this is actually true, it's pure, unvarnished evil. I't a lot like the Allied soldiers who were fighting in Germany, being told all these horror stories about how evil the Nazis actually were, and then coming upon a concentration camp and finding out that these stories were real after all.
Steve makes an excellent case with his diagnosis, but I'd love to see his findings verified by a few other agencies. This is too important to leave to one researcher.
I, for one, am going to be following this story avidly. Any bets on when M$ issues a statement that a 'rogue programmer' put this code in, and disaavow any knowledge or responsibility?
I wonder how much "justice" he'd be dealing out if everyone just ignored him.
In a perfect world, everyone would be able to see through Jack's shenanigans and ignore him accordingly. The problem is: it's not a perfect world...not by a long shot.
We've been trying the 'ignore the troll, and he'll eventually get bored and leave' strategy for a while now, and the fact is, Jack is still around. Ignoring him isn't going to do the trick, because there are enough fundies, misled individuals, and just plain idiots out there who are more than willing to listen to Jack and fuel his derranged campaign.
(Especially the fundies...dear GOD, there are enough fundies...)
It's obvious that the passive strategy for ridding ourselves of this cancer have failed. We need to start pursuing more agressive strategies, and we need to start soon. Forcing Jack into a corner on his 'Modest Proposal' bullshit is one such strategy. Here is another:
Snippet from TFA:
They [Gabe & Tycho of Penny Arcade]don't want to get into a debate with me because they will lose; their position is bankrupt.
I wonder if Gabe and Tycho have read this interview yet...I'm sure they would be interested. The above quote sounds a lot like a gauntlet being thrown down...a gauntlet I'd dearly like to see them pick up.
So basically, no matter what anybody does, he's going to move the goalposts so that whatever he defines as "real" is not met.
Exactly...what needs to be done is this:
A group of designers needs to form a corporation (it's easy, and it's one of Jack's requirements).
Said corporation needs to produce the game to jack's requirements (a standalone game, not an add-on or mod to an existing game) and release it by the end of 2006.
Said corporation also needs to charge for said game (this is important). It doesn't matter how much, and it doesn't matter what they choose to do with the money. What's important is that a charge is assessed, so they fit within Jack's narrow definition of the "video game industry". I for one would jump at the chance to purchase a game, if buying it meant that Jack would have to make good on his pledge.
With these criteria met, it's difficult to imagine how Jack could justify weaseling out (although we all know he's not too big on justifying his own behavior...)
What about Cox's boasting that Red Hat took the initiative to notify its users about the Flash issue?
This quote sums it up nicely:
From TFA (emphasis mine):
In late 2005 when flaws were found in Macromedia's Flash Player, Red Hat took responsibility for providing users with a vulnerable version of the Flash plug-in and made an update available, he [Cox] said.
How far does it go?
Basically, if you are the one to provide the software, you are responsible for getting the patches to the users. This is one big reason the *nixes performance in US-CERT's annual summary of vulnerabilities appeared so poor...because the *nixes were also issuing patches for all the software that came bundled with the OS.
Microsoft Corp. seems to be moving away from focusing on the actual number of security patches and updates that it and its software competitors release.
Instead, it is concentrating on making it easy and efficient for customers to obtain the security fixes and update their systems.
That's funny...I've never had a problem with my Yast Online Update...
"...patching, particularly for security, is not a 'Microsoft problem,' but something that affects all operating system and platform vendors," Hilf said.
Nice straw man, Hilf. No one is claiming that non-Microsoft operating systems don't need to be patched. The issue is whether the patches are issued in a timely manner...or not.
Some more information about the NAND flash memory can be found here.
One nice thing about this article is that it clearly explains the difference between a gigabit (Gb) and a gigabyte (GB)...something the article referenced in the story seems confused about.
From the article referenced in the story:
Samsung will start producing 16 gigabit Nand Flash chips this year...
Gartner estimates that 16GB Flash drives will cost from about $90...
And from the article referenced above:
Memory chips are measured in gigabits, or Gb, but consumer electronics manufacturers talk about how many gigabytes, or GB, are in their products. Eight gigabits make a gigabyte, so one 8Gb chip is the equivalent of 1GB.
The high-rise towers of Renham Industries are full of go-getters, success stories, and winners... apart from in the basement. While their beautiful colleagues work upstairs in fantastic surroundings, the I.T. department - Jen, Roy and Moss - lurk below ground, scorned by their co-workers as geeky losers.
"Geeky losers"? Oh dear...
<clickety clickety>
Let's just see how geeky you think the IT department is after I format your drive, toss the backup, and submit your 'candid holiday snaps' to a few dozen gay singles websites, along with your name, address, work number, and personal cell number, shall we?
Oh, hold on...
<clickety clickety>
Now the Boss' home page has been set to one of the raunchier gay singles websites, proudly displaying your picture as 'twink of the week', and stating that your interests include latex, flash photography, and small mammals. That ought to spice up the water-cooler gossip.
They may be illegally listening to average americans, but that's illegal as a technicality.
Bullshit. It's either legal or illegal. The phrase 'illegal as a technicality' makes about as much sense as 'pregnant as a technicality'.
If you're listened to by the NSA, who cares really?
I CARE. I have a fundamental right to privacy, like every other American citizen. The argument of 'if you're innocent, you have nothing to fear' is a recipe for oppression.
YOU'RE NOT THEIR TARGET
Not yet, anyway...
It's illegality on a technicality like sharing music with friends so they can go buy their own copy of a CD. Not immoral and not reprehensible.
Really? I think the RIAA might take issue with you on that. What a perfect refutation of your entire argument.
There's a good explanation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court here, as well as more information on George W. illegally bypassing said court here.
A lot more info on this subject, including a transcript of the interview of Russell Tice by Amy Goodman, can be found here.
From the interview:
RUSSELL TICE: Well, as far as an intelligence officer, especially a SIGINT officer at N.S.A., we're taught from very early on in our careers that you just do not do this. This is probably the number one commandment of the SIGINT Ten Commandments as a SIGINT officer. You will not spy on Americans. It is drilled into our head over and over and over again in security briefings, at least twice a year, where you ultimately have to sign a paper that says you have gotten the briefing. Everyone at N.S.A. who's a SIGINT officer knows that you do not do this. Ultimately, so do the leaders of N.S.A., and apparently the leaders of N.S.A. have decided that they were just going to go against the tenets of something that's a gospel to a SIGINT officer.
Slashdot Mirror
Is it empty emough that you don't notice it in your clothes?
I'm married.
^_^
I once had a story in "Pending" state for TWO MONTHS
Holy crap...and here I am beating my breast over ten measly hours. Thanks for putting my particular grievance in perspective, but this only underscores the underlying issue: that story submission on Slashdot is fundamentally broken (CmdrTaco's protestations notwithstanding).
Seriously. Why does it matter to you?
Because I believed I had a chance to contribute to the content on this site. In the past, after numerous rejected submissions, I had simply given up attempting to submit stories. While some of my submissions were rejected because others had submitted them earlier, many were rejected despite the fact that no one else submitted them at all, and a disconcerting number were rejected, only to appear later accredited to someone else.
Recently, CmdrTaco posted a discussion regarding the controversy regarding the perceived irregularities in submission acceptance. An excellent discussion ensued, in which I took part. After this exchange, I had a renewed sense of faith in the story selection mechanism, and when I read about the Anonym.OS story, I decided to go ahead and submit it to Slashdot. Unfortunately, ten straight hours went by while my submission languished in 'pending' limbo, neither accepted nor rejected, while the story itself was posted under another name (an obvious linkwhore).
The story's up, that's what matters.
Certainly, this is true. The story is up, and as that was my intention in the first place, that is what matters. However, I do resent going to the trouble to research the story, write it up, submit it, only to have my submission ignored while another (inferior) write-up took its place. I don't believe my resentment in this case is unreasonable.
Don't think there's an obligation to hand a day in the sun to you.
I'm certainly not looking for a 'day in the sun'...if that was my intention, garnering first post in a discussion would certainly be sufficient (as my legion of AC detractors will certainly attest). I submit stories for the same reason I post here: to try to enrich the Slashdot community through my contribution. Unfortunately, the process of Slashdot story selection doesn't seem to be as nearly free of ulterior motive as CmdrTaco would have us believe. I personally would prefer to believe otherwise, but Res Ipsa Loquitur.
Barring any ground-shaking developments, I'm through submitting stories to Slashdot. This is the last straw. I'm well aware that the powers-that-be have no obligation to me, but conversely, I have no obligation to them. Why should I go to the effort if my submisions will simply be ignored? Taco, if you're out there, I'd appreciate a reply (and an explanation, if available), but if not, it's too bad, but there it is.
Sorry to go offtopic here, but I don't really care at the moment.
I submitted this story over TEN HOURS AGO. At the time of this post, my submission is STILL 'pending'. Meanwhile, the same story submitted by a linkwhore gets accepted.
And Taco wonders why everyone is so pissed off about story selection. THIS IS WHY, TACO.
a 20 year old Cal Tech student set a new record by solving a 3x3 rubrics cube in 11.13 seconds.
<pedant>
Surely it was a 3x3x3 cube, since '3x3' doesn't describe a cube at all.
</pedant>
Honestly...on the 12th we had a story on whether of not the Intel Mac would run Windows...a story that said nothing more definite than 'perhaps'. And now, today we get another story with essentially the same message...nothing definite, just useless speculation.
Please don't post another story on this subject until a story surfaces about someone who's actually tried installing a Windows OS on an Intel mac, and can actually say something definite on the matter.
Corroboration of the findings by another party or three would be nice, too.
Oh, and this is the fourth Apple story today. Slow news day?
If so, then why is the story I submitted at 8:26 am EST still 'pending'?
It's really too bad that James Lovelock is perceived as a bit of a nutball in the scientific community...global climate change is a real and accelerating problem (the duplicitious yammerings of the naysayers and industrial apologists notwithstanding), and it needs to have more serious attention focused upon it. I fear that all Lovelock's doomsaying will accomplish is the opposite.
Article summary is a trifle misleading...I was hoping to see a modification to a real wallet, not a wallet made out of duct tape with foil added.
It seems to me that I could simply line the pockets of my actual wallet with foil...this would have several benefits over the duct-tape wallet:
I'll admit that the duct tape wallet has a certain Red Green-esque appeal, but I'd rather have a more practical solution.
No, you can't desolder an BPGA chip, without desoldering all other components on the same PCB. Forget the idea.
Funny...I've done it (granted it was a 386 back in the day, but it's certainly possible).
It'd be 1/100 of the cost to simply buy a new pc...
I merely claimed it was possible. I mentioned nothing about it being cost-effective...
Clint, from the Ars blog, points out that the Core Duo processor is socket-mounted, allowing for possible upgrades, unlike the IBM chips which were soldered to the PCB's.
I's possible to upgrade a soldered chip...just takes a soldering iron, a little skill, and a lot of paitence.
(A commercial-grade desoldering tool is also useful.)
Say...how's that mod bomb working out?
Loser.
It looks like this:
-_-
Jack Thompson? Is that you, Jack?
...over 50% of UK teachers would consider using educational games in the classroom.
Of course they would. Anything to keep the little monsters occupied!
^_^
From TFA: You mean user action like...say...opening a web browser?
Anyway, this is freaky interesting, because if this is actually true, it's pure, unvarnished evil. I't a lot like the Allied soldiers who were fighting in Germany, being told all these horror stories about how evil the Nazis actually were, and then coming upon a concentration camp and finding out that these stories were real after all.
Steve makes an excellent case with his diagnosis, but I'd love to see his findings verified by a few other agencies. This is too important to leave to one researcher.
I, for one, am going to be following this story avidly. Any bets on when M$ issues a statement that a 'rogue programmer' put this code in, and disaavow any knowledge or responsibility?
I wonder how much "justice" he'd be dealing out if everyone just ignored him.
In a perfect world, everyone would be able to see through Jack's shenanigans and ignore him accordingly. The problem is: it's not a perfect world...not by a long shot.
We've been trying the 'ignore the troll, and he'll eventually get bored and leave' strategy for a while now, and the fact is, Jack is still around. Ignoring him isn't going to do the trick, because there are enough fundies, misled individuals, and just plain idiots out there who are more than willing to listen to Jack and fuel his derranged campaign.
(Especially the fundies...dear GOD, there are enough fundies...)
It's obvious that the passive strategy for ridding ourselves of this cancer have failed. We need to start pursuing more agressive strategies, and we need to start soon. Forcing Jack into a corner on his 'Modest Proposal' bullshit is one such strategy. Here is another:
Snippet from TFA:
I wonder if Gabe and Tycho have read this interview yet...I'm sure they would be interested. The above quote sounds a lot like a gauntlet being thrown down...a gauntlet I'd dearly like to see them pick up.
So basically, no matter what anybody does, he's going to move the goalposts so that whatever he defines as "real" is not met.
Exactly...what needs to be done is this:
With these criteria met, it's difficult to imagine how Jack could justify weaseling out (although we all know he's not too big on justifying his own behavior...)
MS is doing a great job.
Somebody tell Taco Slashdot is broken...it's started stripping the <sarcasm> tags from posts again.
What about Cox's boasting that Red Hat took the initiative to notify its users about the Flash issue?
This quote sums it up nicely:
From TFA (emphasis mine): How far does it go?
Basically, if you are the one to provide the software, you are responsible for getting the patches to the users. This is one big reason the *nixes performance in US-CERT's annual summary of vulnerabilities appeared so poor...because the *nixes were also issuing patches for all the software that came bundled with the OS.
Microsoft Corp. seems to be moving away from focusing on the actual number of security patches and updates that it and its software competitors release.
But of course they are...since Joe Brockmeier and Joe Barr of NewsForge , as well as Pamela Jones of Groklaw did such a masterful job of debunking the ridiculous annual summary of vulnerabilities by US-CERT (discussed earlier on Slashdot), Microsoft has necessarily had to switch propaganda tactics.
Instead, it is concentrating on making it easy and efficient for customers to obtain the security fixes and update their systems.
That's funny...I've never had a problem with my Yast Online Update...
"...patching, particularly for security, is not a 'Microsoft problem,' but something that affects all operating system and platform vendors," Hilf said.
Nice straw man, Hilf. No one is claiming that non-Microsoft operating systems don't need to be patched. The issue is whether the patches are issued in a timely manner...or not.
Some more information about the NAND flash memory can be found here.
One nice thing about this article is that it clearly explains the difference between a gigabit (Gb) and a gigabyte (GB)...something the article referenced in the story seems confused about.
From the article referenced in the story:
And from the article referenced above:
Sorry to be picky, but I'm a stickler for detail.
The high-rise towers of Renham Industries are full of go-getters, success stories, and winners... apart from in the basement. While their beautiful colleagues work upstairs in fantastic surroundings, the I.T. department - Jen, Roy and Moss - lurk below ground, scorned by their co-workers as geeky losers.
"Geeky losers"? Oh dear...
<clickety clickety>
Let's just see how geeky you think the IT department is after I format your drive, toss the backup, and submit your 'candid holiday snaps' to a few dozen gay singles websites, along with your name, address, work number, and personal cell number, shall we?
Oh, hold on...
<clickety clickety>
Now the Boss' home page has been set to one of the raunchier gay singles websites, proudly displaying your picture as 'twink of the week', and stating that your interests include latex, flash photography, and small mammals. That ought to spice up the water-cooler gossip.
They may be illegally listening to average americans, but that's illegal as a technicality.
Bullshit. It's either legal or illegal. The phrase 'illegal as a technicality' makes about as much sense as 'pregnant as a technicality'.
If you're listened to by the NSA, who cares really?
I CARE. I have a fundamental right to privacy, like every other American citizen. The argument of 'if you're innocent, you have nothing to fear' is a recipe for oppression.
YOU'RE NOT THEIR TARGET
Not yet, anyway...
It's illegality on a technicality like sharing music with friends so they can go buy their own copy of a CD. Not immoral and not reprehensible.
Really? I think the RIAA might take issue with you on that. What a perfect refutation of your entire argument.
Can't they just get a classified warrant?
There's a good explanation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court here, as well as more information on George W. illegally bypassing said court here.
A lot more info on this subject, including a transcript of the interview of Russell Tice by Amy Goodman, can be found here.
From the interview: