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User: patternmatch

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  1. Re:I fail to see on Google Rolls Out Encrypted Web Search Option · · Score: 1

    Yes, but the GET request is encrypted before it is even put on the wire (that is, before it leaves your computer), and it is only decrypted at the other end, once it reaches Google. Anyone in between would see only an encrypted datastream.

  2. Re:What is the sound of one hand coding? on Why Computer Science Students Cheat · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It depends on the point of the assignment. If you're at your job, and you just need to get something working quickly, then you're not "cheating" by using a library or re-using someone else's code. But when you're in school, the point is to learn the material by solving the problem yourself. So if you just use someone else's solution, you're perverting the intent of the assignment, and that counts as cheating.

  3. Shocking! on Subversives In South Carolina Mostly Safe · · Score: 1

    What's that? You mean a story that seemed to require all involved to be complete morons was revealed to be incorrect? You mean there was more to the story, which revealed that what really transpired was actually sort of reasonable? Shocking! Surely this is the first time this has ever happened.

  4. Re:I hate photorealism in video games on What's the Importance of Graphics In Video Games? · · Score: 1

    I would gladly pay if someone was selling them for reasonable price and with instant download available.

    You might want to try Good Old Games.

  5. iTunes on Judge Opens Hearing On RealDVD Legal Battle · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If RealDVD is a piracy tool, then so is iTunes (or anything else that allows you to rip CDs).

  6. Re:see a RAND home computer on Researcher Resurrects the First Computer · · Score: 2, Informative

    Actually, I believe it is from a Fark photoshop contest. Sorry, no link handy...

  7. Re:Better than mplayer? on VLC 0.9.9, The Best Media Player Just Got Better · · Score: 1

    Its a bloody video player man. It goes without saying that the OUTPUT is GRAPHICAL. Why wouldn't you want to USE a GRAPHICAL user interface to it?

    I use aalib, you insensitive clod!

  8. Re:Most likely insignificant on Are Long URLs Wasting Bandwidth? · · Score: 1

    Ref tagging of that nature is not designed to track what page someone is coming from (which is what the HTTP referrer header gives you), but rather to track where users are clicking on the page. Did they go to their home page by clicking on the logo, or by clicking somewhere else? This can be useful usability data.

  9. Oxymoron of the day on Valve Claims New Steamworks Update "Makes DRM Obsolete" · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Oxymoron of the day: "unique copy"

  10. Re:Like the Copyright Black Hole? on We're In Danger of Losing Our Memories · · Score: 1

    a Q-Bert ripoff with ice cubes

    Frostbite?

  11. Re:Workaround on Federal Court Says First-Sale Doctrine Covers Software, Too · · Score: 1

    If you install a piece of software, you click through an agreement. You are party to a contract(-ish thing, to get technical).
    Here's my question. Most EULAs include a clause to the effect of "by clicking Agree, you agree to the terms of this license". Suppose I choose not to agree with that clause? Suppose I say to myself, "By clicking Agree, I agree to nothing in particular". Can the software's copyright holder do anything, legally, to prevent my use of the software? It seems to me that they cannot, although I am not well-versed in the intricacies of contract law.
  12. Re:Not just IT workers on IT Workers Are Getting Fatter · · Score: 1

    Im 165 and have been in IT for 15years.

    So what did you do for the first 150 years?

  13. Mwahahaha! on Laser Triggers Electrical Activity In Thunderstorm · · Score: 5, Funny

    Triggering lightning strikes is an important tool for basic and applied research

    Don't forget supervilliany.

  14. Why do we keep making race an issue? on African Americans and the Video Game Industry · · Score: 1

    The only reason race keeps coming up as an issue in the US is because PEOPLE KEEP BRINGING IT UP. I don't care what percentage of whites play games vs. what percentage of blacks, and quite frankly I don't care what the distribution is among developers. Why should it matter anyway? I am white, and I play games that are designed and programmed primarily by Asians. So fucking what?

  15. The pitfalls of "simplicity" on Concept Computer Based on a Tea Cup Design · · Score: 1

    This teacup concept is of course a mere flight of fancy, and it's certainly interesting. But I wonder about these kinds of efforts to make PCs more "simple". Computers just aren't simple devices, and consequently, most attempts to make them easy to use are doomed to failure. Take, for example, the "pouring data" idea. It seems that it can only work with other "teacup" PCs. So if you want to share data with a PC in a more ordinary form factor, you will need some other way of connecting the teacup to it, e.g. a USB cable. Suddenly this "simple" PC isn't so simple any more, because now there are two totally different ways of working with it.

    I'm not saying computers should be difficult or arduous to use, but they do require expertise. And if you try to gloss over that fact, you will wind up either with frustrated users who find that their computer is not as simple as they were led to believe, or with a device that isn't capable of doing very much.

  16. wtfishyperv on Microsoft Hyper-V Leaves Linux Out In The Cold · · Score: 2, Funny

    This story is tagged "wtfishyperv", which I first read not as "wtf is hyper v", but "wt fishy perv"...soo confused.

  17. Re:Kill this article: referral on Amazon Erases Orders To Cover Up Pricing Mistake · · Score: 1

    The link in the summary does not contain an affiliate referral ID. It contains a reftag, which is used by Amazon for clickstream tracking within their site. An affiliate ID would appear in the form "tag=foo".

  18. Re:What's the problem? on ISP Inserting Content Into Users' Webpages · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How else can they do it? Via email? They'd just send it to the email address they provide you with. Who really uses isp-provided email these days? it's all webmail, so they need some window to get through to you, and maybe http is that window.

    Or maybe, just maybe, they could ask you for your regular email when you sign up. This is not rocket science. There is no excuse for an ISP to be arbitrarily modifying the content of a subscriber's traffic.

  19. Re:It's true. on Brain Changes When Viewing Violent Media · · Score: 1

    After watching violent movies I beat my wife much worse than usual.

    Don't worry, you'll get better with practice.

  20. "Spaceware"? on Discovery Channel's Games Documentary Impresses · · Score: 1

    I believe you mean Spacewar!.

  21. Local clubs on How Do You Find New Non-RIAA Music? · · Score: 1

    If you live in a reasonably big city (e.g. Seattle), there's probably a decent local scene with a wide variety of music. Just start going out to local music clubs and listen to the bands. Look through local weekly papers to find listings. When you find one you like, go to as many of their shows as you can. The opening bands (or the band your pick is opening for) will probably be of a similar genre. Then you can go to all of THAT band's shows, and see who opens for THEM, etc...

    I've been doing this in Seattle for the past few years and I have found a ton of great local stuff. You can usually buy the CD right there, direct from the artist, and you can often talk with them about their music as well.

  22. Re:Waste of time? on Steam Survey Takes PC Gaming's Pulse · · Score: 1

    Rather confirming Valve's position on DX10, and what a massive waste of time it is developing for Vista only.
  23. Re:Check with AT&T? on White House Ordered to Preserve All Email · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If you think it cares which letter, D or R, appears on your driver's license - Well, enjoy your false sense of security while it lasts.

    Since when is your party affiliation listed on your driver's license? Mine certainly isn't.

  24. DRM - Don't Restrict Me on MLB Fans Who Bought DRM Videos Get Hosed · · Score: 1

    The unofficial motto of the Amazon MP3 store: http://weill.org/photos/show/recent/photo/1832021825/

  25. Re:Thats an oxymoron on What Are The Best Free Games Online? · · Score: 1

    Flash and best in the same sentence? Ick.

    How the hell did this get modded "Insightful"? Flash is just a tool, it can be used for good or evil.