I guess there is little stopping the CIA, DIA or NSA to recruit someone at DARPA to work for them covertly. But then again I suppose there is little stopping them from recruiting anyone in any position if they felt a need to do so (and it was a qualified candidate).
The reason is of course that force is the only way to have authority. Unless you have (read: claim) divine authority; something of a force in its own right. Not to mention the fact that divine authority often comes from previous generations having used force to change the religous landscape of a region.
So I guess I am agreeing, yes the ultimate source of all authority is force.
As long as you can be sued for slander, you don't have free speech. Free speech is, in my view, about being able to share political, social and economic ideas without being taken out back and shoot/arrested/tortured.
Not being fired or arrested for your polical views or sexual orentation is about free speech; being fired for calling your boss an Asshole isn't. I feel that is appropriate that slander is a crime, even though such laws are rarely enforced since slander can in many cases be very hard to prove/disprove.
However, in this particular case I feel that Vince Siemer is the victim of a flawed judicial system that need rigorous re-evaluation (as do all judical systems really).
I guess this situation is partially because the political system that developed to organize the massive territory of the United States has not adapted to the current technological/social situation. People have a much greater power for oversight at this point in time, but states/governments never relinquish powers/authorities easily. The fact that you know about these machinations of powers is probably more a sign of this than of any increase if corruption or secrecy. Though I shall not argue that there is in any way less secrecy than before, there were undoubtedly some secrecy within the political administration of earlier days; you just don't know about it since these things actually stayed secret.
E.Coli, usually harmless etc, commonly found in the gut and able to survive brief periods outside it's normal (animal intestine) environment. So if this escaped into the wild, and you accidentally consumed a small amount, would it turn you into crude oil? Isn't that the plot of an episode of X-Files? (or maybe Doctor Who).
"That's Real's filing suit against a company for making software that will rip their streams, then coming out with a player that will rip others' streams. The hypocracy is sickening, but then again just about everything any money-worshiping corporation does is sickening."
Is it hypocracy in this case? I was under the impression that Real tried to stop the "Ripper", but failed. Then they considered this and evolved. If you can't beat them; steal their features and sell it.
I think the important part right now is that people and informed politicians try to push the use of Open Source and Free Software in administration, schools, libraries and universities.
In Norway it has been decided that ODF will be the official format for delivering assignments at schools, to ensure that parents and students can make use of tools such as Open Office, since it does not require an increased financial commitment from parents. As purchasing MS Office would. Something I find to be a rational decision.
I am trying to think how such a PR campaign would work. No doubt getting PR companies involved would increase your exposure, but in what way? Of course one should never underestimates people abilities to absorb factoids as truth. However, I would hope, that those active on blogs and forums; use the amazing power of the internet to at least do some casual fact checking to ensure that their views and opinions are based on facts.
Because among other things it gives other researchers the opportunity to read about what they have discovered so far and to test these findings in their own laboratory,
And only those resistant to the super bug will survive; evolution in practice. Stupid thing is that religious fundamentalists will be convinced it is punishment from god and that they survived simply because they were true believers.
Sorry, but if you believe that, then you are out of touch. Or, to put it more directly - how do you think people exercised those freedoms before the internet? Somehow, hundreds of people throughout history managed to make their views known to more than a few people without the internet. So, I say again, hyperbole. Hundreds of people throughout history might have managed to make their views know; but I guarantee there is millions of people throughout history that had their views oppressed and censored. Internet does make it a lot easier to express your opinions and to find people that agree/disagree with which to have meaningful debate (and a quite a lot more to have blazing flame wars with).
I feel it is important to state that P2P isn't just used for the illegal sharing of music.
An attack on P2P itself would be oppressive and overkill by several degrees. However just targeting the illegal file sharing is not; unless the methods used are oppressive and over the top.
That being said I feel that individual freedom should always be weighted more heavily than corporate interests. Even if this means that minor forms of criminal behavior have to be tolerated.
The only citizens are the ones following and obeying the establishment; even when that establishment breaks the very rules that governs it. The rest of us, I am afraid, are disgruntled outsiders incapable of listening to reason (as in, when they proclaim; we argue).
By the new, or possible very very old) standard; debate with continued and updated reference to facts and data for accuracy, transparency and objectivity is by definition unpatriotic and counterproductive to society.
"Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither." -Benjamin Franklin
Well if he manages to build, or at least take several steps towards, a solid online system that lets citizens actively participate in their democratic system; I reckon that is a good thing. Hopefully this system will be free, uncensored and provide oversight over the decisions made.
Great fun, if a bit too short. Personally I would have wished for more complex gameplay when it came to clues (like in Discworld Noir if anyone have tried that). Looking for clues and combining them in various ways to advance the case. Of course that's just me. However, if the developers see a steady inflow of cash from this game and upcoming episodes then it stands to reason that the amount of content should increase (one would hope). Especially seeing as they now have an existing engine/platform for witch to great new modules.
That being said I found the game witty and highly entertaining; with very few drawbacks. Though on notable drawback for me was the fact that each time you traveled to Pelican Bay you got to hear the same piece of music; and that got annoying fairly quick.
I wonder if the average age of IT workers have increased. This is just idle speculation on my part, but seems to me that in the early nineties there was a bit of a boom when it came to people going for an IT related education. Perhaps one of the factors is that a large group of the people working with IT is aging and thus the average age increases. Of course I have no doubt that unhealthy eating habits plays it's part; just how much worse is it for IT workers than people in general. Seems to me that spending time and capacity understanding what is good for your body and trying to act upon that information; is something most people could benefit from; not just IT workers.
Blizzard are considering the future and managing their resources based upon that. Some of the profit from WoW goes to maintenance, some to developing new patches and content; and some undoubtedly goes to future projects (World of Starcraft/The New World of Warcraft, or whatever they have up their sleeve). Also they are considering how to keep the larges majority of their players from changing to Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, Generic New RPG/FPS/RTS/BIG-BROTHER-STYLE - MMO. New products will continue to hit the market and as they learn and improve in quality serious challengers to the dominance of Blizzard will arrive.
I think Blizzard are willing to risk alienating one group of their players if it means holding upon another; if indeed those are mutually exclusive. Whatever happens I am sure in the end serious competition will force Blizzard to improve or die.
For that matter Vista isn't really all that much of a failure in the long run, it gets a lot of bad press, but it's not a horrible OS, and even if financially it does turn into the next ME, the lessons they've learned will still be useful in the next OS. It is great if they learn from their mistakes and make a better product (either through updates or lunching a new version all together). However, I would really like an OS that works well when I install it; not after two-three service packs. Of course I realize that no OS is perfect, and never will be, but it seems to me that Vista could have benefited from a longer development cycle.
Slashdot Mirror
I guess there is little stopping the CIA, DIA or NSA to recruit someone at DARPA to work for them covertly. But then again I suppose there is little stopping them from recruiting anyone in any position if they felt a need to do so (and it was a qualified candidate).
So I guess I am agreeing, yes the ultimate source of all authority is force.
Not being fired or arrested for your polical views or sexual orentation is about free speech; being fired for calling your boss an Asshole isn't. I feel that is appropriate that slander is a crime, even though such laws are rarely enforced since slander can in many cases be very hard to prove/disprove.
However, in this particular case I feel that Vince Siemer is the victim of a flawed judicial system that need rigorous re-evaluation (as do all judical systems really).
If you know about them, are they secret?
I guess this situation is partially because the political system that developed to organize the massive territory of the United States has not adapted to the current technological/social situation. People have a much greater power for oversight at this point in time, but states/governments never relinquish powers/authorities easily. The fact that you know about these machinations of powers is probably more a sign of this than of any increase if corruption or secrecy. Though I shall not argue that there is in any way less secrecy than before, there were undoubtedly some secrecy within the political administration of earlier days; you just don't know about it since these things actually stayed secret.
"That's Real's filing suit against a company for making software that will rip their streams, then coming out with a player that will rip others' streams. The hypocracy is sickening, but then again just about everything any money-worshiping corporation does is sickening."
Is it hypocracy in this case? I was under the impression that Real tried to stop the "Ripper", but failed. Then they considered this and evolved. If you can't beat them; steal their features and sell it.
I think the important part right now is that people and informed politicians try to push the use of Open Source and Free Software in administration, schools, libraries and universities.
In Norway it has been decided that ODF will be the official format for delivering assignments at schools, to ensure that parents and students can make use of tools such as Open Office, since it does not require an increased financial commitment from parents. As purchasing MS Office would. Something I find to be a rational decision.
I am trying to think how such a PR campaign would work. No doubt getting PR companies involved would increase your exposure, but in what way? Of course one should never underestimates people abilities to absorb factoids as truth. However, I would hope, that those active on blogs and forums; use the amazing power of the internet to at least do some casual fact checking to ensure that their views and opinions are based on facts.
I guess someone finally told grandpa about the internet.
Maybe someone read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interface_(novel) and thought it was a good idea. hehe.
http://scienceblogs.com/loom/2008/06/02/a_new_step_in_evolution.php
Because among other things it gives other researchers the opportunity to read about what they have discovered so far and to test these findings in their own laboratory,
And only those resistant to the super bug will survive; evolution in practice. Stupid thing is that religious fundamentalists will be convinced it is punishment from god and that they survived simply because they were true believers.
I feel it is important to state that P2P isn't just used for the illegal sharing of music.
An attack on P2P itself would be oppressive and overkill by several degrees. However just targeting the illegal file sharing is not; unless the methods used are oppressive and over the top.
That being said I feel that individual freedom should always be weighted more heavily than corporate interests. Even if this means that minor forms of criminal behavior have to be tolerated.
Quick, someone point out that I fail at accuracy. :P
By the new, or possible very very old) standard; debate with continued and updated reference to facts and data for accuracy, transparency and objectivity is by definition unpatriotic and counterproductive to society.
"Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither." -Benjamin Franklin
Well if he manages to build, or at least take several steps towards, a solid online system that lets citizens actively participate in their democratic system; I reckon that is a good thing. Hopefully this system will be free, uncensored and provide oversight over the decisions made.
Great fun, if a bit too short. Personally I would have wished for more complex gameplay when it came to clues (like in Discworld Noir if anyone have tried that). Looking for clues and combining them in various ways to advance the case. Of course that's just me. However, if the developers see a steady inflow of cash from this game and upcoming episodes then it stands to reason that the amount of content should increase (one would hope). Especially seeing as they now have an existing engine/platform for witch to great new modules.
That being said I found the game witty and highly entertaining; with very few drawbacks. Though on notable drawback for me was the fact that each time you traveled to Pelican Bay you got to hear the same piece of music; and that got annoying fairly quick.
I wonder if the average age of IT workers have increased. This is just idle speculation on my part, but seems to me that in the early nineties there was a bit of a boom when it came to people going for an IT related education. Perhaps one of the factors is that a large group of the people working with IT is aging and thus the average age increases. Of course I have no doubt that unhealthy eating habits plays it's part; just how much worse is it for IT workers than people in general. Seems to me that spending time and capacity understanding what is good for your body and trying to act upon that information; is something most people could benefit from; not just IT workers.
Blizzard are considering the future and managing their resources based upon that. Some of the profit from WoW goes to maintenance, some to developing new patches and content; and some undoubtedly goes to future projects (World of Starcraft/The New World of Warcraft, or whatever they have up their sleeve). Also they are considering how to keep the larges majority of their players from changing to Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, Generic New RPG/FPS/RTS/BIG-BROTHER-STYLE - MMO. New products will continue to hit the market and as they learn and improve in quality serious challengers to the dominance of Blizzard will arrive.
I think Blizzard are willing to risk alienating one group of their players if it means holding upon another; if indeed those are mutually exclusive. Whatever happens I am sure in the end serious competition will force Blizzard to improve or die.
I think the general point is that the software people chose to cover their needs should be chosen based on facts and features.