Actually, many historians argue that the Black Death did actually help a lot of former serfs and peasants finally own land and actually advance themselves quite well in the aftermath.
On second thought, everyone stop washing their hands.
the Black Death was ugly. Imagine half the population of your entire city or town dying off in 1 or 2 years. Nasty business that.
But, that said, people really should take a more reasoned approach to disease alarmism these days. All this "This latest pandemic is going to kill us ALL!!" Chicken Little shit gets tiresome. The Littles always cite the Black Death and 1918 pandemic as if that's what we could expect from a pandemic today--all without noting the MASSIVE improvements in sanitation, medical science, vaccine research, etc. that make this scale of pandemic highly unlikely in the modern era.
The Black Death could have been stopped in its tracks if those 14th-century peasants had even an inkling of the basic medical/sanitation knowledge that even the biggest idiots among us know today. Basic stuff like "Wash your hands regularly," "Cover your mouth when you cough," and "Don't let your goddamned flea-infested farm animals wander around through your living area, moron" are surprisingly recent bits of common sense that the developed world today takes for granted. Of course, there are still some third-world shitholes where people think that a witch-doctor rubbing feces on an open wound will ward off the evil spirits. But even those places usually have a FEW among them with some basic sense (and soap).
Yes, of course there will always be jailbreaking. But locking down both the hardware and software is pretty effective for mainstream users. I mean, how many people really have jailbroken PS3's and 360's that they use for pirated games? Sure, they're out there. But not many of them. It's certainly not like back the day, when almost NO ONE I knew actually *paid* for a PC game.
it wouldn't be surprising if all software is made available as an ISO on a USB drive which can be read by tablet and PC alike
I hate to say it, but I think Apple's "walled garden" formula is probably the one that's most likely to succeed--for tablets anyway. No loading software on USB drives (Apple's tablets don't even have USB ports), no mounting ISO's, no unapproved outside software. Everything is downloaded through the official app store. And Apple/Microsoft get their cut, of course.
Even more scary is the possibility that this could become the model for not just tablets, but also PC's in the future. About the only thing stopping this now is tradition and bandwidth limitations/download caps. The days of walking into Best Buy and buying a game or application and getting a physical copy of the software could well be numbered. Of course, Linux will still be there, but how many developers will devote resources to Linux development when Apple and MS can pretty much guarantee them a locked-down, piracy-free platform (even if they do take a cut of the action)? For that matter, how many hardware developers will be making locked-down PC's that won't even let you install Linux without some hardware hacking?
Don't worry, of course I'm sure that whoever created this project got permission from Nintendo and Valve before starting it--and so won't have to bitch and moan about them sending him an inevitable cease-and-desist letter at some point in the future.
There are different types of plants. Some are just spies, some are provocateurs, some are saboteurs, etc. There are probably other plants within Wikileaks (and other hacking groups) who are just spies, quietly doing their jobs while relaying information back to their real masters. DDB was clearly there to sabotage and discredit. Recent information seems to indicate that he was stealing leaked documents from day one (and destroying all other copies of them). Then he attempted to sabotage the Wikileaks submission system when he got the boot. Then he immediately wrote a book trying to discredit Assange. Now he's created a honeypot site that ask you to trust him with your leaked documents, with no accountability to ever *actually* release them. The guy may as well be wearing a "I work for the CIA" t-shirt.
You think Google is bad, trying going to the grocery store sometime. Back in MY day, they used to check you out, bag your groceries, take them out to your car, and help you load them in. Now you're lucky if they don't spit on you when your checking yourself out.
Of course, my father used to tell me that in HIS day, grocery stores would actually deliver to your house. But clearly that old bastard didn't realize that civilization peaked when *I* was young, not when his lame generation was young. Like all generations, I believe mine was clearly the best.
I've been saying DDB was a CIA plant since his defection. Everyone just laughs when I say it, but every story that comes out about him seems to point to this more and more. He's a snake in the grass who began sabotaging and attempting to discredit Wikileaks from day one. And, you're right, his "OpenLeaks" site has honeypot written all over it.
That may have something to do with the fact that the PS3 version is built for a controller. Just because they'll LET you use a k/m doesn't mean the game is going to act exactly like it would if you were playing on a PC.
It's done. In fact, it's been done for years now. But the Valve got so tired of listening to all the whiny bitches complain about it not coming out, that they decided to shelve it permanently. A final gold copy of it sits in a special display case at Valve HQ, along with printouts of a bunch of quotes from fans screaming "WHEN IS IT COMING OUT?! WAAAHHH!!!" Every day employees at Valve walk in, see it and laugh--subtly reminded that whining about a release date won't make it come any sooner.
It's a real shame too. Because it was supposedly the best of all the episodes.
This is amusing, but not particularly scary. Everyone expects this kind of behavior and lies out of the Chinese government, and acts accordingly. It's never the covert actions of our enemies that scare me *nearly* as much as the covert actions of my own government. After all, you can build walls to protect against an *outside* threat.
Slashdot Mirror
Is that the OFFICIAL response from the MPAA, or are you just speaking for yourself?
I guess it's nice to know that the U.S. isn't the only country whose leaders are just slavish lapdogs for the MPAA/RIAA. Goodday mates!
Keep up the good work. And remember, photosynthesis is overrated.
But imagine the morning commute.
Actually, many historians argue that the Black Death did actually help a lot of former serfs and peasants finally own land and actually advance themselves quite well in the aftermath.
On second thought, everyone stop washing their hands.
God pulling tricks, that puts an odd image in my mind.
He punked Job pretty good. But then, he would probably say the devil made him do it.
the Black Death was ugly. Imagine half the population of your entire city or town dying off in 1 or 2 years. Nasty business that.
But, that said, people really should take a more reasoned approach to disease alarmism these days. All this "This latest pandemic is going to kill us ALL!!" Chicken Little shit gets tiresome. The Littles always cite the Black Death and 1918 pandemic as if that's what we could expect from a pandemic today--all without noting the MASSIVE improvements in sanitation, medical science, vaccine research, etc. that make this scale of pandemic highly unlikely in the modern era.
The Black Death could have been stopped in its tracks if those 14th-century peasants had even an inkling of the basic medical/sanitation knowledge that even the biggest idiots among us know today. Basic stuff like "Wash your hands regularly," "Cover your mouth when you cough," and "Don't let your goddamned flea-infested farm animals wander around through your living area, moron" are surprisingly recent bits of common sense that the developed world today takes for granted. Of course, there are still some third-world shitholes where people think that a witch-doctor rubbing feces on an open wound will ward off the evil spirits. But even those places usually have a FEW among them with some basic sense (and soap).
CNN goes bonkers for anything that gives them video footage they can harp on all fucking day.
*Every* grocery store delivered. And my dad lived in a rural town too.
Looks like the Iranians learned a neat trick from that attack.
Yes, of course there will always be jailbreaking. But locking down both the hardware and software is pretty effective for mainstream users. I mean, how many people really have jailbroken PS3's and 360's that they use for pirated games? Sure, they're out there. But not many of them. It's certainly not like back the day, when almost NO ONE I knew actually *paid* for a PC game.
it wouldn't be surprising if all software is made available as an ISO on a USB drive which can be read by tablet and PC alike
I hate to say it, but I think Apple's "walled garden" formula is probably the one that's most likely to succeed--for tablets anyway. No loading software on USB drives (Apple's tablets don't even have USB ports), no mounting ISO's, no unapproved outside software. Everything is downloaded through the official app store. And Apple/Microsoft get their cut, of course.
Even more scary is the possibility that this could become the model for not just tablets, but also PC's in the future. About the only thing stopping this now is tradition and bandwidth limitations/download caps. The days of walking into Best Buy and buying a game or application and getting a physical copy of the software could well be numbered. Of course, Linux will still be there, but how many developers will devote resources to Linux development when Apple and MS can pretty much guarantee them a locked-down, piracy-free platform (even if they do take a cut of the action)? For that matter, how many hardware developers will be making locked-down PC's that won't even let you install Linux without some hardware hacking?
Yeah, they still pump your gas for you in New Jersey. That doesn't make it typical.
Anyone remember back when Napster only dealt with pirated files?
Are you kidding, last week they posted an article announcing the upcoming release of the Commodore 64.
Don't worry, of course I'm sure that whoever created this project got permission from Nintendo and Valve before starting it--and so won't have to bitch and moan about them sending him an inevitable cease-and-desist letter at some point in the future.
There are different types of plants. Some are just spies, some are provocateurs, some are saboteurs, etc. There are probably other plants within Wikileaks (and other hacking groups) who are just spies, quietly doing their jobs while relaying information back to their real masters. DDB was clearly there to sabotage and discredit. Recent information seems to indicate that he was stealing leaked documents from day one (and destroying all other copies of them). Then he attempted to sabotage the Wikileaks submission system when he got the boot. Then he immediately wrote a book trying to discredit Assange. Now he's created a honeypot site that ask you to trust him with your leaked documents, with no accountability to ever *actually* release them. The guy may as well be wearing a "I work for the CIA" t-shirt.
You think Google is bad, trying going to the grocery store sometime. Back in MY day, they used to check you out, bag your groceries, take them out to your car, and help you load them in. Now you're lucky if they don't spit on you when your checking yourself out.
Of course, my father used to tell me that in HIS day, grocery stores would actually deliver to your house. But clearly that old bastard didn't realize that civilization peaked when *I* was young, not when his lame generation was young. Like all generations, I believe mine was clearly the best.
Wow, and I thought we were done.
I've been saying DDB was a CIA plant since his defection. Everyone just laughs when I say it, but every story that comes out about him seems to point to this more and more. He's a snake in the grass who began sabotaging and attempting to discredit Wikileaks from day one. And, you're right, his "OpenLeaks" site has honeypot written all over it.
Before we even think about a permanent lunar settlement we need to think about lunar mining to extract iron, aluminum, copper, and uranium ore.
Well, Hubble did spot that whale on the surface. So shouldn't we consider sending whalers instead?
What used to be required for admission are often not learned during university at all.
Agreed. Most students today barely know any Greek or Latin.
That may have something to do with the fact that the PS3 version is built for a controller. Just because they'll LET you use a k/m doesn't mean the game is going to act exactly like it would if you were playing on a PC.
Where's my episode 3
It's done. In fact, it's been done for years now. But the Valve got so tired of listening to all the whiny bitches complain about it not coming out, that they decided to shelve it permanently. A final gold copy of it sits in a special display case at Valve HQ, along with printouts of a bunch of quotes from fans screaming "WHEN IS IT COMING OUT?! WAAAHHH!!!" Every day employees at Valve walk in, see it and laugh--subtly reminded that whining about a release date won't make it come any sooner.
It's a real shame too. Because it was supposedly the best of all the episodes.
This is amusing, but not particularly scary. Everyone expects this kind of behavior and lies out of the Chinese government, and acts accordingly. It's never the covert actions of our enemies that scare me *nearly* as much as the covert actions of my own government. After all, you can build walls to protect against an *outside* threat.
If it's "just a bunch of 1's and 0's" then how can they see it as illegal?
In the same way that real-world written documents and photographs can be illegal, even though they're just ink and paper arranged in a certain way.