It definitely wasn't called warp. I'm pretty sure it was called space wars but I can't be certain and if iirc (it's a damn long time ago) it was programmed in by a student who knew more than was good for him. This was in 1981. I wish I could remember more it.
I remember this game well. We used to play it on a VAX at uni. It had Tholians in it too that would spin a web around you (well, draw a box around you). A good proportion of my computer allocations were used up on it (good thing you could allocate other terminals and steal people's accounts - oops, was that my outside voice?). It was a highly addictive game.
Paying the windows tax? You buy pre-built computers instead of building your own from carefully selected components? Hand in your slashdot membership card at the front desk and don't let the door hit your arse on the way out.
Well, I for one still prefer books. I enjoy reading a good book at night in bed before I go to sleep (no, not porno magazines before you suggest it, you filthy bastards). There is still no substitute for a tired set of eyes than print on a book, especially after staring at a monitor all day.
As for news, well no, I get my news from the internet like any normal person these days. I don't trust newspapers and prefer to have alternate takes on the subject matter easily available - like the insightful comments here on slashdot.:)
I actually forgot that Google had ads until I was using chrome with no adblocker on somebody's windows box the other day. In fact the whole experience was rather disconcerting in general (and not just because I was using windows). One tends to forget that the internet is full of ads when one is used to adblock and/or privoxy. The internet episode of futurama makes more sense now. lol
I don't think that is totally true. The judge iirc was surprised that they wanted to claim all derivatives of a common word like window rather than it's usage in the computing world. If the case had have been pursued it would have been extremely interesting.
Yes, I didn't mean to say copyright, that was a slip up on my part.
Very true but the case I was referring to was a trademark issue too. Using the word copyright in my post was just a slip of the brain. If they trademarked Android Data and then claim nobody else can use the word android it takes one into pretty crazy waters. Some Trademarks have the word "the" in them too.
In the windows/lindows case it was clear that claiming all derivatives of a common word like window was never going to fly in court and of course lindows were happy to settle out of court because the name lindows wasn't as important as a huge cash injection. It will be interesting to see if this results in a similar outcome as the Lindows case.
Isn't this similar to why microsoft decided to settle out of court with Lindows. IIRC the judge said with a degree of incredulity "You are trying to claim ownership of the word windows - and anything that sounds similar?" Being able to copyright a single word that is in common usage would be pretty silly. Would make it a bit hard to talk to each other huh?
Man it's amusing reading this crap about corporations ALWAYS doing better than government. You should take a look at other countries methinks where lots of things get run quite well by governments. I've seen many cases where a govt service was sold and the corporation that bought it ran it into the ground (like public transport for example). Government will spend money on routine maintenance when corporations will only fix it after it breaks. Some times that can be disastrous. You make these statements with what amounts to religious fervour. There are some things that the government should run and essential services are one of those. In those cases what matters is reliablity not profitability. To say that corporations ALWAYS run things better is total bollocks.
All we need to do is follow the Tandoka Scale. They're probably just going home to Melissa Majoria, we should be more worried about why they are leaving.
To police standards? You mean able to shoot unarmed youths at point blank range? Maybe we should train them to shoot armed enemies at long range instead.
That doesn't make it theft. If you decide you like my table but can't afford the price I want for it so you go home, chop down a tree and make one yourself you have stolen nothing. You haven't even deprived me of income (not that that is relevant to the theft issue) because you were never going to buy my table anyway.
There's a book you may want to consult - it's called a dictionary.
Actually google did issue a press release saying that they did not want to encroach upon firefox's market and that it was IE that they had their sights set on. It WAS a press release so read into that what you will. Firefox and Google do make a lot of money for each other so it may be more of a financial thing than a "do no evil" thing. I don't want to speculate, could be a bit from column A and a bit from column B.
The House Of Representatives is elected by electorates. The Senate is elected by proportional representation on a state per state basis with an equal split coming from all states plus some representation from territories. The Green seats he is referring to are Senate seats. The Australian system is a cross between the Westminster system and the US system. Read the links below, it's too complex to fully explain in a/. post.
On a side note - voting is compulsory so it is quite difficult for an overzealous minority to stack the election (like the American Religious Right do for example). That means that for a minor party to gain a seat they really do have to sway a large section of the population rather than just convincing all their followers to vote. Of course to get into the Senate it is far easier for them to concentrate their efforts in the smaller states. They do of course still have to convince a large section of that state to choose them.
You are not actually furnishing a product if I am copying it. What is the actual physical product if I make my own copy? You are providing a service by writing the code if I copy it and a product if you sell me a disk.
Copyright law initially had a time limit of 5 years so you had a chance to be paid and to give incentive to create stuff. Also having a short time limit gives more incentive to create something new. As long as copyright lasts for life it is obscene. I doubt many people would object to the original terms of copyright but the current regime is detrimental to society. Nothing falls into the public domain any more, as soon as Mickey Mouse is due to hit the public domain copyright is extended again.
Slashdot Mirror
It definitely wasn't called warp. I'm pretty sure it was called space wars but I can't be certain and if iirc (it's a damn long time ago) it was programmed in by a student who knew more than was good for him. This was in 1981. I wish I could remember more it.
"It turns out that both the game software and the computer hardware were created at home by three brothers all in college in the mid '70s"
I remember this game well. We used to play it on a VAX at uni. It had Tholians in it too that would spin a web around you (well, draw a box around you). A good proportion of my computer allocations were used up on it (good thing you could allocate other terminals and steal people's accounts - oops, was that my outside voice?). It was a highly addictive game.
Paying the windows tax? You buy pre-built computers instead of building your own from carefully selected components? Hand in your slashdot membership card at the front desk and don't let the door hit your arse on the way out.
As for news, well no, I get my news from the internet like any normal person these days. I don't trust newspapers and prefer to have alternate takes on the subject matter easily available - like the insightful comments here on slashdot. :)
I actually forgot that Google had ads until I was using chrome with no adblocker on somebody's windows box the other day. In fact the whole experience was rather disconcerting in general (and not just because I was using windows). One tends to forget that the internet is full of ads when one is used to adblock and/or privoxy. The internet episode of futurama makes more sense now. lol
"Yes, Minister"
Yes, I didn't mean to say copyright, that was a slip up on my part.
In the windows/lindows case it was clear that claiming all derivatives of a common word like window was never going to fly in court and of course lindows were happy to settle out of court because the name lindows wasn't as important as a huge cash injection. It will be interesting to see if this results in a similar outcome as the Lindows case.
Brought to you by Carl's Junior.
Just in - smart card defeated by a lump of 4x2 to the back of the skull.
Man it's amusing reading this crap about corporations ALWAYS doing better than government. You should take a look at other countries methinks where lots of things get run quite well by governments. I've seen many cases where a govt service was sold and the corporation that bought it ran it into the ground (like public transport for example). Government will spend money on routine maintenance when corporations will only fix it after it breaks. Some times that can be disastrous. You make these statements with what amounts to religious fervour. There are some things that the government should run and essential services are one of those. In those cases what matters is reliablity not profitability. To say that corporations ALWAYS run things better is total bollocks.
Most people still prefer a computer that is useful.
Very true, that's why I run Linux too.
Well that's the Carlyle Group and Halliburton fucked then.
(You may have to be a Yes, Minister fan to get that one)
Dell were successfully prosecuted for false advertising in Australia. I wonder if that's where they learned about the concept?
Watch the skies!!!!
;)
There's a book you may want to consult - it's called a dictionary.
:)
Actually google did issue a press release saying that they did not want to encroach upon firefox's market and that it was IE that they had their sights set on. It WAS a press release so read into that what you will. Firefox and Google do make a lot of money for each other so it may be more of a financial thing than a "do no evil" thing. I don't want to speculate, could be a bit from column A and a bit from column B.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Senate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_House_of_Representatives
On a side note - voting is compulsory so it is quite difficult for an overzealous minority to stack the election (like the American Religious Right do for example). That means that for a minor party to gain a seat they really do have to sway a large section of the population rather than just convincing all their followers to vote. Of course to get into the Senate it is far easier for them to concentrate their efforts in the smaller states. They do of course still have to convince a large section of that state to choose them.
Copyright law initially had a time limit of 5 years so you had a chance to be paid and to give incentive to create stuff. Also having a short time limit gives more incentive to create something new. As long as copyright lasts for life it is obscene. I doubt many people would object to the original terms of copyright but the current regime is detrimental to society. Nothing falls into the public domain any more, as soon as Mickey Mouse is due to hit the public domain copyright is extended again.
Do you pay the plumber every time you flush the toilet?