"What you gave was a contrived example at best, and not very realistic in the real world."
Agreed, to an extent*. It was simply an attempt to point out the error in the generalization. A Prius driver isn't inherently more "green" than a Navigator driver. I do, in fact, have several friends that have purchased cars for the good gas mileage just BECAUSE they feel it enables them to drive more.
Who contributes to this problem more: The guy who gets 30+mpg, or the guy who gets 13 mpg?
Perhaps the guy who bought the 13 mpg SUV did so because he lives less than a mile from work and hardly drives? Perhaps he requires it for hauling kids/wares?
What if the guy who bought the 30+mpg ride did so because he loves to drive for fun, polluting more and *shudder* pissing away your precious natural resources anyway? What say you then?
"All generalizations are dangerous. Even this one." - Dumas
No need to fear -- in their relentless effort to relieve parents of the responsibilities of 'parenting', the government's now asking these questions themselves.
I've always felt more comfortable with Sam, my creepy uncle, looking over my shoulder. I hope he can keep track of my kids as well!
"At least over here, the key term is 'reasonableness', a term of which computers have no understanding and which no algorithm can replace."
We have an even stronger term over here -- "limited"!
From our Constitution: "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8)
It's right there, black and white (at least it seems to me). Any DRM mechanism that doesn't disactivate itself after the copyright period is pretty clearly unconstitutional. Now if we could just get us a case in front of them thar 'activist judges'...
"The first amendment exists for this reason and it's for this reason we should defend it absolutely without question always. Everyone has a right to be heard."
Great rant, until the end. Two things -- first, did you really contend that we should defend this freedom "absolutely without question always"? Should anything be defended without question? It sounds to me like you more have 'faith' in our Bill of Rights than believe in it.
Also -- and I find this important to point out because it seems to be a very common misconception -- everyone has the right to 'speak', but not to 'be heard'. It's quite a distinction.
If this is the case, and they can spin off a truck-load of pedal-powered dynamos on the cheap, these could find all sorts of other uses -- charging a different laptop, a cell-phone, pda, etc...
I think it's time we standardized DC power adapters, and the accessories this laptop brings to market could help.
Government regulations are a good thing. Regulations on banks are a damn good thing, they ensure my life savings are safe.
Agreed. Sort of...
In an effort to avoid goin' anarchocapitalist on you, I'll just say it like this -- government regulations can be a good thing. Regulations on banks can be a damn good thing. Does that mean they should be above scrutiny?
Even well crafted regs are sure to find their language out of date as their loopholes become the norms. As it stands today, the language of regulation is bought and sold anyway, in a not-so-free political market. If regulation were truly a Good Thing(tm), the Gucci Gulch would have been regulated out of existence years ago...
It is utterly remarkable to me that a communist county has the stones to get this problem figured out while a country like the US is handcuffed by granola munching tree huggers... except for the founder of the Sierra Club... he gets it.
I agree that concepts such as hereditary priviledge, status, class, et al are inherently rediculous, but since you're suggesting the abolition of that ye olde principle of hereditary property, I'm curious to know what you think capitalism v1.1 might look like? Where does all the property go? Should we just burn it? I suppose we could 'equitably' redistribute...err...damn!
No, I'm not implying that everything done in Flash looks good. Hell, most of it looks like garbage -- it's a little 'too' easy to use, so any monkey can not just slap together a site, but design their own user interface on top of it. Thtat said, don't bitchslap the tool just because a bunch of amateurs are using it. The components that come bundled with it are very feature-rich indeed (MUCH more so than any other web technology I know of at least). Some of the extension components available are even more so.
All I was implying is that if you're not a complete jackass, you can slap together a web application with all the features and more of a desktop app -- but alas, there be a lot of jackasses. "Oh, shiney, moving graphics...I bet that'll make a good textbox background!"
The key to interface design is guiding your user through the software with tactile cues (like the OS X dock, for instance). Unlike the much beloved AJAX, Flash gives you the ability to actually DO this without a lot of kludge.
But more to the point, what I was trying to say in my previous post was that the concept of 'Flash as a window manager' could be an interesting one -- it's the only feasable path I see toward breaking us out of this damned reliance on the browser...
I know where you're coming from and all, but I have to say, you're way off the mark here. With the newer Flash IDEs, there's a metric ton of components you can use to make any web interface more and more like a desktop application. Hell, the only thing it's really missing is better skin support (it's there, but none-too-easy) to make some of these components truly universal...
In fact, that would make a hell of an osFlash project -- a universal Flash app that could run any and all X11 apps inside a browser (or a pdf...or an openoffice doc, or a powerpoint...or any of the multitude of places you can run an swf), and even pull in the pngs from your Gnome or KDE skin. Something like this wouldn't take but a few weeks to build if Macrodobe ever got around to opening up the swf like they've done w/ the pdf (mostly). Could something like that be pulled off in AJAX? Not in our lifetime! In Java? Ehhh...not bloody likely.
Yes, Flash ads drive me insane too -- I'm no Flash fanboy and don't even particularly like developing in it. But that doesn't change the simple fact that that the Slashbots love to ignore -- it's a hell of a tool -- and it's as close to true portable code as we're gonna get (unlike our friend, Microsoft Sparkle, which I believe is what the GP was alluding to).
The future of the PDA isn't dire -- it just needs to find its niche. Like everything else, portable computing will eventually modularize (when consumers have their way, at least), and the day we see the emergence of a half decent wearable display, and hopefully some versitile input mechanisms, the PDA will lose its jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none chains and morph into a powerhouse of a mini-cpu, storage and personal area networking hub.
either you have to pay everybody when you want to contribute
I've always wondered -- what is the incentive for anyone to actually DO this? In Maryland there's actually a checkbox on the income tax form that asks would you like to contribute $7 to the general election fund, or something to that effect. Why?!
or you have to do so anonymously (so that the politicians don't know who's doing it)
That's more like it! But what is ananomity and how would you ensure it?
Of course, both policies would virtually eliminate honest campaign contributions
Oh, that pesky first ammendment loophole again? But seriously -- there really has to be a better way!
"Beta code, by it's very nature, is going to have and cause problems."
Alpha code, by its very nature, is going to have and cause problems. In theory, what goes to beta, by its very nature, should be free of major (and most minor flaws) -- but of course, there are no guarantees...but even with production releases...are there ever?
- Support for auxiliry LCD displays (windows SideShow)
Whee.
You jest, but I've been dreaming of something like this for an eternity...many of us have those small but constant apps that are pretty much always up, just cluttering the desktop, but you like to keep them visible...
Gaim buddy list
Winamp + playlist
Outlook...
* ducks *
But how great would it be to be able to pick up a few small, conveniently sized displays on ebay on the cheap and be able to keep all of your windows open without cluttering your screen (cluttering your actual desk is another matter entirely)? Of course, they could always borrow Linux's multiple desktop approach -- but I'm not holding my breath...
Slashdot Mirror
"What you gave was a contrived example at best, and not very realistic in the real world."
Agreed, to an extent*. It was simply an attempt to point out the error in the generalization. A Prius driver isn't inherently more "green" than a Navigator driver. I do, in fact, have several friends that have purchased cars for the good gas mileage just BECAUSE they feel it enables them to drive more.
*The SUV example came strait from the real world
Who contributes to this problem more: The guy who gets 30+mpg, or the guy who gets 13 mpg?
Perhaps the guy who bought the 13 mpg SUV did so because he lives less than a mile from work and hardly drives? Perhaps he requires it for hauling kids/wares?
What if the guy who bought the 30+mpg ride did so because he loves to drive for fun, polluting more and *shudder* pissing away your precious natural resources anyway? What say you then?
"All generalizations are dangerous. Even this one." - Dumas
No need to fear -- in their relentless effort to relieve parents of the responsibilities of 'parenting', the government's now asking these questions themselves. I've always felt more comfortable with Sam, my creepy uncle, looking over my shoulder. I hope he can keep track of my kids as well!
"The only thing that can destroy Open Source is if people stop writing Open Source Software."
That's what Perens is talking about here -- the threat of a patent lawsuit could stop the motor of the movement. That threat is escalating!
Stay tuned...
"This is one of the more Linux-centric sites on the internet."
Really? I must be in the wrong place -- and here I was thinking I was on an anti-M$ site. So where's the best place for the Microsoft bashing?
IANAR, but it's refreshing to see them against regulation again -- I was starting to think that was impossible in this Congress!
"At least over here, the key term is 'reasonableness', a term of which computers have no understanding and which no algorithm can replace."
We have an even stronger term over here -- "limited"!
From our Constitution: "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8)
It's right there, black and white (at least it seems to me). Any DRM mechanism that doesn't disactivate itself after the copyright period is pretty clearly unconstitutional. Now if we could just get us a case in front of them thar 'activist judges'...
As long as a user can download and install/run software, the system is vulnerable, and there's nothing it can do about it.
No need to fear -- DRM and Trusted Computing are right around the corner to save the day...
*ducks*
75 comments and no references to GEB and self-referentiality? What gives?
They're both XML, right? How can one take that much longer to parse?
This has nothing to do with binary vs. XML...
OOo is written in Java, and everyone knows how slow Java is, right?
*** ducks ***
"The first amendment exists for this reason and it's for this reason we should defend it absolutely without question always. Everyone has a right to be heard."
Great rant, until the end. Two things -- first, did you really contend that we should defend this freedom "absolutely without question always"? Should anything be defended without question? It sounds to me like you more have 'faith' in our Bill of Rights than believe in it.
Also -- and I find this important to point out because it seems to be a very common misconception -- everyone has the right to 'speak', but not to 'be heard'. It's quite a distinction.
If this is the case, and they can spin off a truck-load of pedal-powered dynamos on the cheap, these could find all sorts of other uses -- charging a different laptop, a cell-phone, pda, etc...
I think it's time we standardized DC power adapters, and the accessories this laptop brings to market could help.
Government regulations are a good thing. Regulations on banks are a damn good thing, they ensure my life savings are safe.
Agreed. Sort of...
In an effort to avoid goin' anarchocapitalist on you, I'll just say it like this -- government regulations can be a good thing. Regulations on banks can be a damn good thing. Does that mean they should be above scrutiny?
Even well crafted regs are sure to find their language out of date as their loopholes become the norms. As it stands today, the language of regulation is bought and sold anyway, in a not-so-free political market. If regulation were truly a Good Thing(tm), the Gucci Gulch would have been regulated out of existence years ago...
It is utterly remarkable to me that a communist county has the stones to get this problem figured out while a country like the US is handcuffed by granola munching tree huggers... except for the founder of the Sierra Club... he gets it.
Or do you mean one of the founders of Greenpeace?
"Look at how many people far for accepting repressive laws in the name of fighting terrorism and ensuring global freedom."
Don't forget about "protectin' the childrens". It seems to be an even more effective rubber stamp than "terrorism" these days!
I agree that concepts such as hereditary priviledge, status, class, et al are inherently rediculous, but since you're suggesting the abolition of that ye olde principle of hereditary property, I'm curious to know what you think capitalism v1.1 might look like? Where does all the property go? Should we just burn it? I suppose we could 'equitably' redistribute...err...damn!
Alright, I'll bite...
No, I'm not implying that everything done in Flash looks good. Hell, most of it looks like garbage -- it's a little 'too' easy to use, so any monkey can not just slap together a site, but design their own user interface on top of it. Thtat said, don't bitchslap the tool just because a bunch of amateurs are using it. The components that come bundled with it are very feature-rich indeed (MUCH more so than any other web technology I know of at least). Some of the extension components available are even more so.
All I was implying is that if you're not a complete jackass, you can slap together a web application with all the features and more of a desktop app -- but alas, there be a lot of jackasses. "Oh, shiney, moving graphics...I bet that'll make a good textbox background!"
The key to interface design is guiding your user through the software with tactile cues (like the OS X dock, for instance). Unlike the much beloved AJAX, Flash gives you the ability to actually DO this without a lot of kludge.
But more to the point, what I was trying to say in my previous post was that the concept of 'Flash as a window manager' could be an interesting one -- it's the only feasable path I see toward breaking us out of this damned reliance on the browser...
But what the hell do I know
I know where you're coming from and all, but I have to say, you're way off the mark here. With the newer Flash IDEs, there's a metric ton of components you can use to make any web interface more and more like a desktop application. Hell, the only thing it's really missing is better skin support (it's there, but none-too-easy) to make some of these components truly universal...
In fact, that would make a hell of an osFlash project -- a universal Flash app that could run any and all X11 apps inside a browser (or a pdf...or an openoffice doc, or a powerpoint...or any of the multitude of places you can run an swf), and even pull in the pngs from your Gnome or KDE skin. Something like this wouldn't take but a few weeks to build if Macrodobe ever got around to opening up the swf like they've done w/ the pdf (mostly). Could something like that be pulled off in AJAX? Not in our lifetime! In Java? Ehhh...not bloody likely.
Yes, Flash ads drive me insane too -- I'm no Flash fanboy and don't even particularly like developing in it. But that doesn't change the simple fact that that the Slashbots love to ignore -- it's a hell of a tool -- and it's as close to true portable code as we're gonna get (unlike our friend, Microsoft Sparkle, which I believe is what the GP was alluding to).
The future of the PDA isn't dire -- it just needs to find its niche. Like everything else, portable computing will eventually modularize (when consumers have their way, at least), and the day we see the emergence of a half decent wearable display, and hopefully some versitile input mechanisms, the PDA will lose its jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none chains and morph into a powerhouse of a mini-cpu, storage and personal area networking hub.
Its much easier to succeed, if you never try anything difficult.
True brilliance isn't trying something obviously difficult, it's succeeding at something that's not as obviously easy.
either you have to pay everybody when you want to contribute
I've always wondered -- what is the incentive for anyone to actually DO this? In Maryland there's actually a checkbox on the income tax form that asks would you like to contribute $7 to the general election fund, or something to that effect. Why?!
or you have to do so anonymously (so that the politicians don't know who's doing it)
That's more like it! But what is ananomity and how would you ensure it?
Of course, both policies would virtually eliminate honest campaign contributions
Oh, that pesky first ammendment loophole again? But seriously -- there really has to be a better way!
"if we can't have transparency to the voters, it's really just a dictatorship"
More accurately, it's an oligarchy -- but I dig your point!
// Dooomed
<voice type="obnoxiousNag">Invalid Syntax</voice>
"Beta code, by it's very nature, is going to have and cause problems."
Alpha code, by its very nature, is going to have and cause problems. In theory, what goes to beta, by its very nature, should be free of major (and most minor flaws) -- but of course, there are no guarantees...but even with production releases...are there ever?
- Support for auxiliry LCD displays (windows SideShow)
Whee.
You jest, but I've been dreaming of something like this for an eternity...many of us have those small but constant apps that are pretty much always up, just cluttering the desktop, but you like to keep them visible...
Gaim buddy list
Winamp + playlist
Outlook...
* ducks *
But how great would it be to be able to pick up a few small, conveniently sized displays on ebay on the cheap and be able to keep all of your windows open without cluttering your screen (cluttering your actual desk is another matter entirely)? Of course, they could always borrow Linux's multiple desktop approach -- but I'm not holding my breath...