Cliff: "Oh, Mister Open Source Community..."
Open Source Community: "What is it, Clifford?"
Cliff: "Our educational system is hurting for money. Is there some way (any way??) we could possibly, as those involved in Technology possibly find a way to reduce its financial stress? Think of the children!!"
Open Source Community: "Well, Clifford, you say that the educational system has no money and they need a technological solution to offset rising overhead costs?"
Cliff: "Uh huh!"
Open Source Community: "I suppose it would help if the solutions were free for anyone to use, had nearly unlimited scalability, and were available in many different flavors, wouldn't it?"
Cliff: "Wow! That would be neat!"
Open Source Community: "Well, Cliff, you're S.O.L."
Cliff: "Super!!"
Also interesting is the acknowledgment that for all the attention paid to Asimov's three laws of robotics, many of his stories deal with situations where those laws are broken, bent or otherwise shown to be invalid.
First of all, Asimov's "three laws of robotics" aren't "laws" in any stretch of the imagination. They were only a plot device in a series of really good books. However, if we do start building robots to which the laws could apply, we would do well to keep them in mind. They should instead be called Asimov's "three very good suggestions to avoid building homicidal robots."
Second of all, the laws would only apply to robots with positronic brains, which would give said robots consciousness and the ability to make decisions. They would not need to be (and most likely could not be) applied to robots controlled by other humans via remote control, programming, or some other input (e.g. - every robot currently in existence). So the laws could not be properly applied to any robot in existance today.
I think this is a case of the writer and/or reviewer taking a concept well-known to the target audience, and then trying to get attention by creating a false sense of controversy about it. However, when taken in context (the three "laws" are a small part of a fictional world), it doesn't really matter. Sorry, but no laws broken here.
It seems insane for anyone to go about attempting a "human-level strong AI" when there are much more basic levels that could be mastered. I would love to see some good ant AI first. I don't mean " capture the flag" ant AI... i mean build-an-ant-hill, fight-the-other-ant-colony, protect-the-queen ant AI. I bet there's some decent software versions of said AI, but i'd like to see it done with ant robots (i.e. - mini robot with feelers, mandibles, etc). Now that would be a doozy - managing communication via feeler tapping instead of by phat pipe. I would pay to see that.
I'm not claiming it's justifiable morally, but it's not all 100% evil.
I believe the phrase you are looking for is "ancillary benefit." Sort of like how military communication research gave us the microwave, or how space programs have given us methods of treating cancer, etc.
It may be a good idea to switch to trusted file-sharing. Remember the days of old (pre-napster) when one had to search out a good ftp site or hotnet server, contact the admin by email, etc. Did you ever worry that the admin was some RIAA/MPAA agent setting a trap? Did you worry that an RIAA/MPAA agent was sniffing packets between you and that ftp server? Did you even know that the RIAA/MPAA existed for a purpose other than putting warning labels on your entertainment?
Too many of us have bought into the "my way, right away" mentality, in which if we can't find what we want in less than five minutes, someone's done us wrong. To many, this is a way of life, and they have stopped caring (to the point at which they routinely risk the longterm health of themselves and their society) who provides them a service or product just as long as it is provided right away. Now, i appreciate the immediacy of (some) file-sharing utilites as well as the broad range of content available on their networks, but is the risk really worth it? Why would anyone in their right mind risk a heavy fine for downloading dukes of hazard or the latest jason mraz album? Anyone who uses any of the top five file-sharing protocols takes that risk each time they download something that someone in california happens to care about.
If you really want the "phat loot," make sure you know who's providing it to you, or at least make sure they can never find out who you are. I've found that the best way to get anything free is to personally know someone who has direct access/control over it. Next chance you get, go visit the helpdesk or IT department or whoever's responsible for installing software onto the machines where you work/go to school. If you don't have a job or go to school (get a job, hippy!) then go visit the local community college during the next open house (and then visit the IT dept). Those people are (or will shortly be) your friends. Chat it up with them, talk about your favorite video game/author/movie/pet - you will have something in common with them (it's inevitable, Mr. Anderson). Any place with a respectable IT department has either site licenses or several extra licenses for just about anything you could ever need/want. Guess what... if you need a software package - and your newfound friend has a few extra on hand - he will share with you (unless he's a total tightwad).
As for movies and music... be honest with yourself. The tripe that has come out within the past few years (White Chicks? You got Served?? Catwoman???) is far below you, and you don't need to watch the whole movie (or listen to the whole cd) to figure that out. Invariably, any movie or music worth experiencing is also worth at least a rental if not an outright purchase - otherwise, don't waste your time. Indie movie makers and musicians probably don't care (and might even like it) if you download their stuff, so go wild on that one.
Trust is good. Patience is good. We could all use a little more.
the mor-peg bubble went bust! woe! WOE!!
</idiocy>
From what was said by those who have actually played the game, it sounds like the makers of the game pretty much did the game in themselves by using nerf paint with an extra broad brush.
I've not played many MMORPGs myself (just anarchy online and toontown), but it doesn't surprise me too much that at least one well known name has fallen to the wayside. As it is, i couldn't really see playing either of the two games i mentioned for more than a few months. Toontown was fairly original and light-hearted, but the simplicity of the game started to make it repetitive. Anarchy Online is fairly complex, but - try to disguise it as they may - a grind is still a grind (the pretty ones just take slightly longer to notice). By the time i quit, any sort of "role playing" i saw being done in AO could have been done for free in any old chat room.
I've only ever had one female supervisor, and it was unpleasant working for her. She denigrated other employees behind their backs (myself included). She would never admit when she didn't know how to do something, and she would get angry if one of her underlings suggested potential solutions or came up with a good idea before she could.
To be honest, i believe she was just old enough (mid to later thirties) to have come from the school of thought that women needed to work twice as hard to prove themselves in the tech sector (or to break that glass ceiling or whatever). Although, i'm sure she did have a few things wrong with her personality. She was always suspicious, and whenever she sat to the side of me, i could have sworn she was staring at me just out of the corner of her eye.
...I've been tasked with something I'm not quite prepared for...
...is it better to have a vendor do it, or yourself?
If you have to ask the question, i think you already know the answer. I'm sure there are tons of great DIY methods of securing a computer, but if you are new to it (and you are), leave it to someone who has done it before.
It would be great to get some first-hand, practical experience on the matter when you have a proper guinea pig, but a classified DoD computer is not said guinea pig.
To place Google in context, Mr. Kraus offered a brief history lesson. In the 1990's, he said, I.B.M. was widely perceived in Silicon Valley as a "gentle giant" that was easy to partner with while Microsoft was perceived as an "extraordinarily fearsome, competitive company wanting to be in as many businesses as possible and with the engineering talent capable of implementing effectively anything."
Now, in the view of Mr. Kraus, "Microsoft is becoming I.B.M. and Google is becoming Microsoft." Mr. Kraus is the chief executive and a founder of JotSpot, a Silicon Valley start-up hoping to sell blogging and other self-publishing tools to corporations.
Step 1: Create start-up to compete against Google.
Step 2: Compare Google to MicroSoft in NYT.
Step 3: ???
Step 4: Keep fingers crossed?
"Google is doing more damage to innovation in the Valley right now than Microsoft ever did," said Reid Hoffman, the founder of two Internet ventures, including LinkedIn, a business networking Web site popular among Silicon Valley's digerati. "It's largely that they're hiring up so many talented people, and the fact they're working on so many different things. It's harder for start-ups to do interesting stuff right now."
"When I meet with venture capitalists, or if I'm engaged in a conversation about going into partnership with someone, inevitably the question is, 'Why couldn't Google do what you're doing?' " said Craig Donato, the founder and chief executive of Oodle, a site for searching online classified listings more quickly.
"The answer is, 'They could, and they're probably thinking about it, but they can't do everything and do it well,' " Mr. Donato said. "Or at least I'm hoping they can't."
So, Google is evil and is hurting innovation because they have so many smart people working on so many projects that there's nothing else to work on?
It sounds more like Google is raising the bar rather than killing innovation. The bubble burst, ladies and gentlemen. You can't get new money for old ideas anymore. Get over it.
To get an idea of how powerful and diverse a Moog synthesizer can be, check out Joy Electic. Ronnie Martin is by no means everyone's cup of tea. His music brings to my imagination an atari on crack, or a manic Trent Reznor on a sugar rush.
Over the past few years, it seems as though there has been a major divide between the interests and desires of major media companies and the end user. Major media companies have shown a strong desire to control their digital content via copy protection and DRM, using their own distinct proprietary methods and limiting the usage of said content to a limited scope (you may only play on such-and-such player, copy n times, and/or play this video in the next 24 hours). End users have shown a desire for flexibility in the way the DRM is applied. If end-user Tom purchases a music file, Tom wants to play that file on any player (software or hardware) and be able to make CD copies so he and his wife can each listen to it while driving separate ways in their respective humvees.
An open source DRM standard would make a method of controlling content widely available. The more widely available it is, the more players we can utilize in playing our DRM'd music, movie, etc. Hopefully, with Sun behind this, enough media executives will start to trust an open DRM.
Pros:
1. High level of transparency/accountability.
2. The standards will be open to everyone. (Now Joe Schmoe can write a player that can read CheapoMP3z.com's DRM'd music.)
3. It's Sun - hopefully, all the music/movie execs will recognize the name and trust them and their products.
Cons:
1. Vaporware? (open DRM is a nice idea, but when's it gonna get here? we'll not hold our breath, thanks.
2. It's Sun - do we trust them and their products?
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government
The National Labor Relations Board has found that we violated Federal labor law and has ordered us to post and obey this notice.
FEDERAL LAW GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO
Form, join, or assist a union
Choose representatives to bargain with us on your behalf
Act together with other employees for your benefit and protection
Choose not to engage in any of these protected activities.
WE WILL NOT maintain or enforce a provision in our employee handbook that may be reasonably interpreted as prohibiting employees from registering complaints with clients regarding wages, hours, or other conditions of employment.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the foregoing rights guaranteed under Section 7 of the Act.
Slashdot Mirror
remove/modify the first law.
(read I, Robot)
How Can Tech Help Fight Education Costs?
Cliff: "Oh, Mister Open Source Community..."
Open Source Community: "What is it, Clifford?"
Cliff: "Our educational system is hurting for money. Is there some way (any way??) we could possibly, as those involved in Technology possibly find a way to reduce its financial stress? Think of the children!!"
Open Source Community: "Well, Clifford, you say that the educational system has no money and they need a technological solution to offset rising overhead costs?"
Cliff: "Uh huh!"
Open Source Community: "I suppose it would help if the solutions were free for anyone to use, had nearly unlimited scalability, and were available in many different flavors, wouldn't it?"
Cliff: "Wow! That would be neat!"
Open Source Community: "Well, Cliff, you're S.O.L."
Cliff: "Super!!"
(please, oh please, don't kill me!!)
Also interesting is the acknowledgment that for all the attention paid to Asimov's three laws of robotics, many of his stories deal with situations where those laws are broken, bent or otherwise shown to be invalid.
First of all, Asimov's "three laws of robotics" aren't "laws" in any stretch of the imagination. They were only a plot device in a series of really good books. However, if we do start building robots to which the laws could apply, we would do well to keep them in mind. They should instead be called Asimov's "three very good suggestions to avoid building homicidal robots."
Second of all, the laws would only apply to robots with positronic brains, which would give said robots consciousness and the ability to make decisions. They would not need to be (and most likely could not be) applied to robots controlled by other humans via remote control, programming, or some other input (e.g. - every robot currently in existence). So the laws could not be properly applied to any robot in existance today.
I think this is a case of the writer and/or reviewer taking a concept well-known to the target audience, and then trying to get attention by creating a false sense of controversy about it. However, when taken in context (the three "laws" are a small part of a fictional world), it doesn't really matter. Sorry, but no laws broken here.
It seems insane for anyone to go about attempting a "human-level strong AI" when there are much more basic levels that could be mastered. I would love to see some good ant AI first. I don't mean " capture the flag" ant AI... i mean build-an-ant-hill, fight-the-other-ant-colony, protect-the-queen ant AI. I bet there's some decent software versions of said AI, but i'd like to see it done with ant robots (i.e. - mini robot with feelers, mandibles, etc). Now that would be a doozy - managing communication via feeler tapping instead of by phat pipe. I would pay to see that.
(seriously.)
I'm not claiming it's justifiable morally, but it's not all 100% evil.
I believe the phrase you are looking for is "ancillary benefit." Sort of like how military communication research gave us the microwave, or how space programs have given us methods of treating cancer, etc.
It may be a good idea to switch to trusted file-sharing. Remember the days of old (pre-napster) when one had to search out a good ftp site or hotnet server, contact the admin by email, etc. Did you ever worry that the admin was some RIAA/MPAA agent setting a trap? Did you worry that an RIAA/MPAA agent was sniffing packets between you and that ftp server? Did you even know that the RIAA/MPAA existed for a purpose other than putting warning labels on your entertainment?
Too many of us have bought into the "my way, right away" mentality, in which if we can't find what we want in less than five minutes, someone's done us wrong. To many, this is a way of life, and they have stopped caring (to the point at which they routinely risk the longterm health of themselves and their society) who provides them a service or product just as long as it is provided right away. Now, i appreciate the immediacy of (some) file-sharing utilites as well as the broad range of content available on their networks, but is the risk really worth it? Why would anyone in their right mind risk a heavy fine for downloading dukes of hazard or the latest jason mraz album? Anyone who uses any of the top five file-sharing protocols takes that risk each time they download something that someone in california happens to care about.
If you really want the "phat loot," make sure you know who's providing it to you, or at least make sure they can never find out who you are. I've found that the best way to get anything free is to personally know someone who has direct access/control over it. Next chance you get, go visit the helpdesk or IT department or whoever's responsible for installing software onto the machines where you work/go to school. If you don't have a job or go to school (get a job, hippy!) then go visit the local community college during the next open house (and then visit the IT dept). Those people are (or will shortly be) your friends. Chat it up with them, talk about your favorite video game/author/movie/pet - you will have something in common with them (it's inevitable, Mr. Anderson). Any place with a respectable IT department has either site licenses or several extra licenses for just about anything you could ever need/want. Guess what... if you need a software package - and your newfound friend has a few extra on hand - he will share with you (unless he's a total tightwad).
As for movies and music... be honest with yourself. The tripe that has come out within the past few years (White Chicks? You got Served?? Catwoman???) is far below you, and you don't need to watch the whole movie (or listen to the whole cd) to figure that out. Invariably, any movie or music worth experiencing is also worth at least a rental if not an outright purchase - otherwise, don't waste your time. Indie movie makers and musicians probably don't care (and might even like it) if you download their stuff, so go wild on that one.
Trust is good. Patience is good. We could all use a little more.
the mor-peg bubble went bust! woe! WOE!!
</idiocy>
From what was said by those who have actually played the game, it sounds like the makers of the game pretty much did the game in themselves by using nerf paint with an extra broad brush.
I've not played many MMORPGs myself (just anarchy online and toontown), but it doesn't surprise me too much that at least one well known name has fallen to the wayside. As it is, i couldn't really see playing either of the two games i mentioned for more than a few months. Toontown was fairly original and light-hearted, but the simplicity of the game started to make it repetitive. Anarchy Online is fairly complex, but - try to disguise it as they may - a grind is still a grind (the pretty ones just take slightly longer to notice). By the time i quit, any sort of "role playing" i saw being done in AO could have been done for free in any old chat room.
I've only ever had one female supervisor, and it was unpleasant working for her. She denigrated other employees behind their backs (myself included). She would never admit when she didn't know how to do something, and she would get angry if one of her underlings suggested potential solutions or came up with a good idea before she could.
To be honest, i believe she was just old enough (mid to later thirties) to have come from the school of thought that women needed to work twice as hard to prove themselves in the tech sector (or to break that glass ceiling or whatever). Although, i'm sure she did have a few things wrong with her personality. She was always suspicious, and whenever she sat to the side of me, i could have sworn she was staring at me just out of the corner of her eye.
...I've been tasked with something I'm not quite prepared for...
...is it better to have a vendor do it, or yourself?
If you have to ask the question, i think you already know the answer. I'm sure there are tons of great DIY methods of securing a computer, but if you are new to it (and you are), leave it to someone who has done it before.
It would be great to get some first-hand, practical experience on the matter when you have a proper guinea pig, but a classified DoD computer is not said guinea pig.
To place Google in context, Mr. Kraus offered a brief history lesson. In the 1990's, he said, I.B.M. was widely perceived in Silicon Valley as a "gentle giant" that was easy to partner with while Microsoft was perceived as an "extraordinarily fearsome, competitive company wanting to be in as many businesses as possible and with the engineering talent capable of implementing effectively anything."
Now, in the view of Mr. Kraus, "Microsoft is becoming I.B.M. and Google is becoming Microsoft." Mr. Kraus is the chief executive and a founder of JotSpot, a Silicon Valley start-up hoping to sell blogging and other self-publishing tools to corporations.
Step 1: Create start-up to compete against Google.
Step 2: Compare Google to MicroSoft in NYT.
Step 3: ???
Step 4: Keep fingers crossed?
"Google is doing more damage to innovation in the Valley right now than Microsoft ever did," said Reid Hoffman, the founder of two Internet ventures, including LinkedIn, a business networking Web site popular among Silicon Valley's digerati. "It's largely that they're hiring up so many talented people, and the fact they're working on so many different things. It's harder for start-ups to do interesting stuff right now."
"When I meet with venture capitalists, or if I'm engaged in a conversation about going into partnership with someone, inevitably the question is, 'Why couldn't Google do what you're doing?' " said Craig Donato, the founder and chief executive of Oodle, a site for searching online classified listings more quickly.
"The answer is, 'They could, and they're probably thinking about it, but they can't do everything and do it well,' " Mr. Donato said. "Or at least I'm hoping they can't."
So, Google is evil and is hurting innovation because they have so many smart people working on so many projects that there's nothing else to work on?
It sounds more like Google is raising the bar rather than killing innovation. The bubble burst, ladies and gentlemen. You can't get new money for old ideas anymore. Get over it.
Seriously...
I'd like buy you a Coke and chill with you a while.
To get an idea of how powerful and diverse a Moog synthesizer can be, check out Joy Electic. Ronnie Martin is by no means everyone's cup of tea. His music brings to my imagination an atari on crack, or a manic Trent Reznor on a sugar rush.
At the least, check out images of Ronnie's Lab.
Over the past few years, it seems as though there has been a major divide between the interests and desires of major media companies and the end user. Major media companies have shown a strong desire to control their digital content via copy protection and DRM, using their own distinct proprietary methods and limiting the usage of said content to a limited scope (you may only play on such-and-such player, copy n times, and/or play this video in the next 24 hours). End users have shown a desire for flexibility in the way the DRM is applied. If end-user Tom purchases a music file, Tom wants to play that file on any player (software or hardware) and be able to make CD copies so he and his wife can each listen to it while driving separate ways in their respective humvees.
An open source DRM standard would make a method of controlling content widely available. The more widely available it is, the more players we can utilize in playing our DRM'd music, movie, etc. Hopefully, with Sun behind this, enough media executives will start to trust an open DRM.
Pros:
1. High level of transparency/accountability.
2. The standards will be open to everyone. (Now Joe Schmoe can write a player that can read CheapoMP3z.com's DRM'd music.)
3. It's Sun - hopefully, all the music/movie execs will recognize the name and trust them and their products.
Cons:
1. Vaporware? (open DRM is a nice idea, but when's it gonna get here? we'll not hold our breath, thanks.
2. It's Sun - do we trust them and their products?
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
An Agency of the United States Government
The National Labor Relations Board has found that we violated Federal labor
law and has ordered us to post and obey this notice.
FEDERAL LAW GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO
Form, join, or assist a union
Choose representatives to bargain with us on your behalf
Act together with other employees for your benefit and protection
Choose not to engage in any of these protected activities.
WE WILL NOT maintain or enforce a provision in our employee handbook
that may be reasonably interpreted as prohibiting employees from registering
complaints with clients regarding wages, hours, or other conditions of employment.
WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere with, restrain, or coerce
employees in the exercise of the foregoing rights guaranteed under Section 7 of the Act.
GUARDSMARK, LLC