Here's the best one I know. It's a bit long...but I have faith in you.
A doctor, a lawyer,and an engineer are sentenced to death. Why is not important to the story...what's important is that the death sentence will be carried out in France - via guillotine.
The doctor is first. The executioner straps him down, hoists the glittering blade aloft, and lets it drop...whereupon it sticks about halfway down.
Now, it's a well-known tradition in capital punishment that if the execution apparatus fails for any reason, this is interpreted as a sign from God, and the death sentence is commuted. Accordingly, the doctor walks away, still very much alive.
The lawyer is next. The executioner straps him down, hoists the glittering blade aloft, and lets it drop...whereupon it sticks in the exact same spot. Same rules apply...lawyer walks.
The engineer is last. The executioner straps him down, as he hoists the blade aloft, the engineer twists his neck around, peers up at the blade, and says:
That's right, our own loveable John Dvorak goes on a self-righteous rant about some tech isue or another...while the viewers on the web can vote in on whether or not they found his rant enjoyable and/or informative.
If they did, John gets pelted with rotten fruit, rotten fish, or extremely old cheese.
If they didn't, John gets pelted with shurikens, live (enraged) badgers, or dollops of blistering hot tar.
Yeah...get something you can prove as your work mentioned on ISN, and all the other people in your hacker group pitch in on a case of beer for you. ^_^
But rather than providing this as a service to their existing customers, stream it live to the Internet for everybody's consumption. That will help to build the AT&T brand for security much more so than limiting the audience. The costs cannot be that much more, right?
Actually, I'm thinking that the costs may be less to make this publically available.
Naming issues aside, this souinds like it could be very cool...but will this ever be available to the public at large, or will it remain restricted to AT&T customers?
Direct Marketing Is not an Appropriate Government Function
Although labeled a "Joint Advertising" database, the level of personal information proposed to be collected by DOD suggests a massive direct marketing campaign. As we noted above, the Privacy Act mandated that each agency "shall maintain in its records only such information about an individual as is relevant and necessary to accomplish a purpose of the agency."[12] But this proposal goes far beyond traditional government uses of personal information into activities that are only appropriate for the private sector. Direct marketing to individuals who have expressed no interest in recruitment simply is not an appropriate function for a government agency. The DOD should abandon this approach as it is inconsistent with the Privacy Act, and will lead to increasing demands for individuals' personal information.
This has been going on for decades. Its called the Selective Service.
From the EPIC letter:
Despite the risk of identity theft, DOD proposes to collect SSNs on all high school students aged 16 - 18, all college students, all Selective Service System registrants, all Active Duty and Reserve members of the Armed Forces as well as several other large categories. While the size of any database is not an inherent flaw, any breach of security or change in policy will impact an enormous number of Americans. The size of the database also makes it an attractive target for identity thieves.
This is not Selective Service...this database is far more comprehensive than that. Again, here's a link to the privacy advocates' letter to the D0D. You ought to peruse it...it's a very informative read.
Just when I think our society can't get any more Orwellian, we see this:
The Defense Department will compile and maintain a database of students, which will include such personal information as birth dates, Social Security numbers, e-mail addresses, grade-point averages, ethnicity and school subjects.
Anyone who wants to opt out of this database will be kept in another database instead (most probably named something like 'potential dissidents').
The Defense Department will share all this personal info with non-military organizations, such as law enforcement and state tax authorities.
It's a hat-trick of privacy violation. This is just the tip of the iceberg, too...soon this will be expanded to all americans eligible for military service...then all americans, period. Refusing to submit your info for this database will automatically label you as a dissident, although what with the new national IDs coming out, you'll be in that database whether you like it or not.
Welcome to the New World Order.
(P.S.: Here's a link to the various privacy advocates' letter to the Pentagon referenced in the article.)
Interesting read...the first thing that came to my mind when I read this is that these organic wires may be just the thing for the interface between electronics and organic tisue. One of the major problems in cybernetics is that the chemistry of the implants tends to be poisonous to the surrounding tissue, while the chemistry of the surrounding tisue tends to be corrosive to the implant. Over time, the interface degrades and must eventually be replaced. Microbial nanowires may eliminate this problem and pave the way for permanent interfaces sooner than we thought.
But that's bogus, you still need "access" to a authentic copy to perform this hack. It's not really a hack at all.
Agreed...I'd be much more impressed with a cracked Windows install that bypassed this GenuineAdvantage crap entirely, or a crack for the algorithm that generates this key code in the first place.
Being tied to an authentic copy of XP leaves you vulnerable to blacklisting, and when that happens, the 'genuine' Windows product is in the shit as well.
I mean, I'm fairly certain they would try and hack it (it's there, after all...) but would they, in general, give the info to MS, or would they (out of altruism for future consumers, or just out of spite) keep their hacks to themselves so that they could be used effectively against the product.
For every malicious hacker out there that would keep the info to themselves, there's at least one of comparable skill and slightly lesser maliciousness who would give the info to Microsoft for various reasons (altruism, fame, bragging rights, resume material, etc.).
In short, hackers would respond. The strategy you advocate would probably be quite successful.
Darknet sounds at times like it could have been written by a team of Slashdotters...
Damn....that's harsh... Seriously, though, it looks like a fascinating read (especially the part about GPS chips in laptops). However, with a price tag of $25.95 list ('B&N' price: $20.76...'member' price: $18.68...why so many prices?), I think I'll just grab the torrent. ^_^
"Sony's film canon is broadening all the time, the executive said, with releases aimed at demographics outside the traditional 18-25 year-old male gamer demographic expected soon - including releases targeted at women, and cartoons."
Women, I can see...but I don't think Sony will be selling too many releases to cartoons... ^_^
Apparently, this is a response to pressure from FOX News who has always offered free video.
Well, first of all, it's nice to see that Fox 'News' is actually good for something...
Although 'free' might be an exaggeration, as you do have to pay for the video by sitting through an obligatory advertisment before you get to the good stuff...but that's OK...the part of my brain that processes commercials is just a big knot of scar tissue anymore. Anyway, you're on your computer, so you can use that time to do constructive things, like find and mark a few mines, or put the red seven on the black eight.
Damned good idea...I'm certain that there's college students out there who would enjoy working as voice talent for a pittance...hell, I'd do it for free, just to have my name in the credits.
How about this? Put up a script on a web page...anyone who wants can record a MP3 of themselves reading the lines and email it in. The game people pick which voice they want to use, and give the submitter credit for his work. SAG not required...thanks anyway.
Slashdot Mirror
Here's a good torture.
Force him to copy every spam he's ever sent...in longhand.
I have to admit that I just don't understand this...
I have 5 email accounts that I use on a regular basis. Between all of them, I get mabye 3 spams a week (out of hundreds of legit emails).
What am I doing right that everyone else seems to be doing wrong?
Just fine him a dollar per spam...sounds equitable to me.
Wow, you're out of date. Ever hear of the Selective Service?
Wow, you're an idiot. Ever read the thread you're posting to?
Please refer to this post for your response, as I cannot be bothered to type it all over again.
Well...there are 10 types of people...those who understand binary, and those who don't.
Here's the best one I know. It's a bit long...but I have faith in you.
Just imagine the shows you could syndicate:
Here's one you'll love:
Dvorak!
That's right, our own loveable John Dvorak goes on a self-righteous rant about some tech isue or another...while the viewers on the web can vote in on whether or not they found his rant enjoyable and/or informative.
If they did, John gets pelted with rotten fruit, rotten fish, or extremely old cheese.
If they didn't, John gets pelted with shurikens, live (enraged) badgers, or dollops of blistering hot tar.
Either way, it's a ratings shoe-in! ^_^
Yeah...get something you can prove as your work mentioned on ISN, and all the other people in your hacker group pitch in on a case of beer for you. ^_^
That part wouldn't scroll...it would just be a static banner on the screen.
But rather than providing this as a service to their existing customers, stream it live to the Internet for everybody's consumption. That will help to build the AT&T brand for security much more so than limiting the audience. The costs cannot be that much more, right?
Actually, I'm thinking that the costs may be less to make this publically available.
The service, which currently goes by the code name Internet Security News Network, (ISN) is under development at AT&T Labs...
Ten good reasons not to use "ISN":
Naming issues aside, this souinds like it could be very cool...but will this ever be available to the public at large, or will it remain restricted to AT&T customers?
Thats beyond ludacris.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that...I've heard that Ludacris is actually rather tech-savvy. ^_^
This isn't a privacy violation. This is the exact same tactics used by telemarketers, etc.
Once again, I'd like to direct your attention to the privacy advocates' letter to the Pentagon:
Please reference this comment for your response, as I cannot be bothered to type it out all over again.
This has been going on for decades. Its called the Selective Service.
From the EPIC letter:
This is not Selective Service...this database is far more comprehensive than that.
Again, here's a link to the privacy advocates' letter to the D0D. You ought to peruse it...it's a very informative read.
Officer: How many girlfriends have you had?
Candidate: None. I'm gay. A real faggot.
Officer: Nice try...your file says you are a confirmed hetero. Go pick up your uniform, maggot.
Just when I think our society can't get any more Orwellian, we see this:
It's a hat-trick of privacy violation.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, too...soon this will be expanded to all americans eligible for military service...then all americans, period. Refusing to submit your info for this database will automatically label you as a dissident, although what with the new national IDs coming out, you'll be in that database whether you like it or not.
Welcome to the New World Order.
(P.S.: Here's a link to the various privacy advocates' letter to the Pentagon referenced in the article.)
Interesting read...the first thing that came to my mind when I read this is that these organic wires may be just the thing for the interface between electronics and organic tisue. One of the major problems in cybernetics is that the chemistry of the implants tends to be poisonous to the surrounding tissue, while the chemistry of the surrounding tisue tends to be corrosive to the implant. Over time, the interface degrades and must eventually be replaced. Microbial nanowires may eliminate this problem and pave the way for permanent interfaces sooner than we thought.
But that's bogus, you still need "access" to a authentic copy to perform this hack. It's not really a hack at all.
Agreed...I'd be much more impressed with a cracked Windows install that bypassed this GenuineAdvantage crap entirely, or a crack for the algorithm that generates this key code in the first place.
Being tied to an authentic copy of XP leaves you vulnerable to blacklisting, and when that happens, the 'genuine' Windows product is in the shit as well.
I mean, I'm fairly certain they would try and hack it (it's there, after all...) but would they, in general, give the info to MS, or would they (out of altruism for future consumers, or just out of spite) keep their hacks to themselves so that they could be used effectively against the product.
For every malicious hacker out there that would keep the info to themselves, there's at least one of comparable skill and slightly lesser maliciousness who would give the info to Microsoft for various reasons (altruism, fame, bragging rights, resume material, etc.).
In short, hackers would respond. The strategy you advocate would probably be quite successful.
From the review:
Damn....that's harsh...
Seriously, though, it looks like a fascinating read (especially the part about GPS chips in laptops). However, with a price tag of $25.95 list ('B&N' price: $20.76...'member' price: $18.68...why so many prices?), I think I'll just grab the torrent. ^_^
From TFA:
Women, I can see...but I don't think Sony will be selling too many releases to cartoons... ^_^
Apparently, this is a response to pressure from FOX News who has always offered free video.
Well, first of all, it's nice to see that Fox 'News' is actually good for something...
Although 'free' might be an exaggeration, as you do have to pay for the video by sitting through an obligatory advertisment before you get to the good stuff...but that's OK...the part of my brain that processes commercials is just a big knot of scar tissue anymore. Anyway, you're on your computer, so you can use that time to do constructive things, like find and mark a few mines, or put the red seven on the black eight.
^_^
Damned good idea...I'm certain that there's college students out there who would enjoy working as voice talent for a pittance...hell, I'd do it for free, just to have my name in the credits.
How about this? Put up a script on a web page...anyone who wants can record a MP3 of themselves reading the lines and email it in. The game people pick which voice they want to use, and give the submitter credit for his work. SAG not required...thanks anyway.
Please mod the GP down. If AC doesn't win at least one skirmish in this pathetic little war he's declared against me, he may burst into tears!