Playing in Second Life is a private activity, unless it is being done while AT WORK. Unless it is being done AT WORK, IBM cannot tell employees how to behave.
How on Earth are companies allowed to regulate the private lives of it's employees?
It's not like government jobs, where there is a genuine conflict of interest or national security is at stake. An example would be how Gaming Board employees aren't allowed to enter/gamble/conduct any kind of business in casinos.
Companies that do this, such as Blockbuster, and now IBM, claim that the actions of their employees reflect on the company. That may be true, albeit insignificantly, but it is going to have to be a risk that companies with employees are going to have to accept. Regulating personal and private life for the perceived "image" of a company is definitely going to far.
I don't know about other companies, but Blockbuster Video (aka "Lackluster Video), has a policy that is pretty good at punishing you for personal, non-work related indiscretions:
It is Blockbuster company policy for employees to report indiscretions that may reflect negatively upon the company. Failure to do so can resuly in 'disciplinary action' (*Not verbatim, but the best I can remember. It was really short and simple). Basically, you can be fired any kind of run-in with the law, business-related or not.
"Federal Science" is to science as "Religious Experiment" is to experiment.
Hmmmmm..... I need to add that to my new list of Government Oxymorons:
City Worker Congressional Representative Military Intelligence Protected Class Secret Service Rising Deficit Bureaucratic Efficiency Tolerant Liberal Great Depression United States Religious Experiment Federal Science
No..... It's FUELED by diesel, powered by the detonation/combustion of diesel, and expels hot gases. It's fueled by, therefore it "runs on", diesel, and not hot air.
I guess asking for a correct title is too much to ask SlashDot Authors for.
"Boeing Helping To Develop Algae-powered Jet". Ok, for those authors that don't like to use more than 2 brain cells at a time:
If it uses algae as fuel, then it is 'Algae Powered'. If it uses a fuel DERIVED FROM algae, then it is NOT 'Algae Powered'.
For example:
Diesel engines run on diesel fuel oil, regardless of the original form of the fuel. Not soybeans, bacon fat, fryer oil, or petroleum. Biodiesel, is actually diesel oil that has been manufactured out of other converted oil sources, so it is truly 'diesel fuel'. However, it is important to note that diesel engines will burn virtually any liquid fuel that will detonate under adibiatic compression (but they may not run very well, but he idea is the same), including gasoline and other hydrocarbon molecules that are not 'true' diesel molecules. 'Biodiesel' is called biodiesel because it is diesel fuel that has undergone molecular modifications that transform it from one type of molecule to another.
It's like saying that your car runs on dinosaurs and ancient plant matter. The gasoline or diesel that you are burning at contains molecules that USED TO BE part of dinosaur at SOME point in time, but combined with other 'dinosaur' molecules to form petroleum, and are now crude oil, and not dinosaurs.
But when you transform 'algae' from being algae INTO another compound, it ceases to be algae and becomes a different compound, but not algae.
Why do we investigate politicians for corruption *AFTER* they fuck things up, instead of investigating politicians for competence *BEFORE* they fuck things up?
Has anyone else noticed that copyright laws, patent laws, labor unions, the EPA, the RIAA, the MPAA, and the FCC seem to be the motivating reasons for industries to shift operations to places AWAY from U.S. over-regulation?
It may sound stupid, but regulating an industry to the degree that the aforementioned racketeers and causes have, gives PLENTY of incentive to get the hell out of the United States.
Here it is:
Copyright Laws: Good for generating income from hard work, but the broad definition and over-enforcement discourage business and creativity. Currently, any work can be copyrighted.
Trademark Laws: Abuse by companies has led to "trademarking" just about every word, including words, terms, and descriptions that are not even REMOTELY relevant to the product or name being trademarked for the sole purpose of generating income. This has allowed anybody who has enough money to cover the trademark fee and an IQ of 1 or higher to "trademark" things simply to generate money. It is the 'Perfect Job': People can make money simply by saying they own a word, regardless of the motivations. Currently, any word, term, description, color, sound, picture, symbol, domain name, name, title, compound/substance, idea, concept, belief, religion, and even gene can be trademarked by anyone, for any reason, simply because they can cover the filing fee.
Patent Laws: Also good for generating income through innovation, but the ease of patenting just about ANYTHING under the Sun and the vagueness of patents allow a single patent to cover just about anything. The definitions of 'Invention' and 'Innovation' have been so stretched and convoluted that you can now patent things you didn't even invent.
Labor Unions: Labor Unions have gone from benevolent organizations that actually did look out for the safety of the workers, citizens, and public, to political organizations that are out simply to generate profit from their member that they call 'Brothers', but actually treat like Union due-generating sheep.
For example, the current standoff between Waste Management and the Teamsters is about one thing: The right to fire unsafe workers. I'm not talking about firing people for giving the finger. I'm talking about firing someone who can flip an 830,000lb Caterpillar D9 bulldozer, or rolling an 80,000lb tractor-trailer while speeding. Currently, the penalties for those offenses are a 10 day suspension. Workers who have continuously demonstrated the lack of responsibility of operating heavy equipment take the company to court after being removed from positions where they formerly operated such equipment. Waste Management has effectively said they are done playing these games, but the Teamsters call it unfair. What? Removing someone who is reckless with a D9 dozer or tractor-trailer, and moving them to another position, is unfair? Is intimidating workers who refuse to support you unfair too? (Yes, that DOES happen.). Waste Management has even thrown increased benefits and pay raises at them, but the Teamsters care only about one thing: Union dues. It's simple: Regardless of the benefits are, or the pay a worker gets, if they get fired for being dangerous, the Union won't get money from them. And to think that the Unions formed out of the desperate need for SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS. It's ALWAYS about money.Companies are sick of getting the brunt of the Union's unchecked abuse.
Its the endless litigation for well-founded disciplinary actions, and other actions, that has companies moving overseas. Companies, big AND small are fed up with the shenanigans and games that the Unions play. YES, there ARE instances where the Unions DO have a legitimate bone to pick, as is the case with teachers, but in general, they have abused their power to the point where companies are saying "Screw this. We tired of playing games, so we'll take our business elsewhere." Some businesses have exploited this, like Nike, but largely, it is the recent exploitations and a
Being a Republican, I believe in a smaller government, and outright REFUSE to let someone compromise my rights to life, liberty, privacy, property, and pursuit of happiness. However, their are SOME "Republicans" who tend to think that being a Republican means a bigger Big Brother, and are starting to act in complete contradiction to what it truly means to be a Republican. Bush is a PRIME example.
SO, whenever someone counters my 'right to privacy' argument with "Well, what do YOU have to hide?", I always say:
"Absolutely nothing. Just because I don't want someone knowing everything about me and my habits doesn't mean that I have anything to hide.". Then I ask, "I'd like to look through your credit card statements, FasTrack statements, telephone records, bank records, internet records, computer hard drive, your house, your dresser, and the dog house. Will you let me?"
The response has ALWAYS been "No way. Why should I?"
To which I reply, "Well, what do YOU have to hide?"
I always get an irritated look after the final line. But it proves a point: Just because someone doesn't want you snooping through their life doesn't mean that they are hiding things.
It's the people doing the snooping that have things to hide.
So what? All you need for a breach in security is ONE film and ONE player.
So, crack the DRM, and then put the cracked copy up on Bittorrent. Simple. You could even post multiple copies on Bittorrent from breached or leeched WiFi to avoid anybody zeroing in on the initial source machine. Bingo. Now you will have millions of copies made from ONE cracked disc/film.
In terms of making the process available en masse, couldn't you just create a program that would automatically crack the disc? I mean, the parameters and procedures are all the same, with the values just being a little different.....
1. Slap the alarm clock off the dresser and across the room. 2. Crack open a beer while pulling up SlashDot (it IS liquid bread, is it not?). 3. Finish beer while finishing reading SlashDot. 4. Pop open a 1L Diet Coke while checking email. 5. Head to bathroom to shit, shower, and shave. 6. Get dressed. 7. Leave.
One weekends, I only do #'s 1, 2, 3, and 5.
Honestly, the article title could have been worded a bit better.....
First, the Government denies the existence of aliens in the United States.
Then, the Government says that there is a problem with aliens in the United States.
THEN, the Government continues to deny that there ever were aliens in the United States, but simultaneously continues to say that aliens are flooding into the country at a rate of millions per year.
I can see where those Roswell people may be more than a bit confused.....
Given the amount of power that media industry organizations have been given, I predict:
1. The Red Cross will copyright blood, an prohibit its usage without written consent. 2. The SAG will trademark all acting, including lying to your parents about where you were last night. 3. The MPAA will claim ownership of all video recordings. 4. The RIAA will claim ownership of all audio recordings. 5. No work, of any type, will be allowed without the explicit approval of the Teamsters. 6. No one may participate or watch baseball, despite it being the national sport, without written consent from the MLB. 7. Everyone must change their name to John or Jane Doe, becuase all other names will be trademarked. 8. Sexual intercourse will be classified as "Unauthorized Genetic Experimentation", and prosecuted as such. 9. ASCAP will copyright the concept of the "Birthday Party". 10. The AKC will trademark the term 'Dog'. 11. All colors will be trademarked. 12. All smells will be trademarked. 13. Someone will patent 'Oxygen' and all of its allotropes. 14. You will have to pay a royalty fee for waking up in the morning. 15. Languages will be copyrighted/trademarked.
I hope I die before people in the United States are forced to wear neutral gray clothing, live in neutral gray colored houses, speak in monotone voices, and communicate using hand gestures because everything else will have been copyrighted, patented, or trademarked.
I wonder why they are called 'royalties'..... Is it because the rights-holders like to feel as if they are kings over everybody else?
1. Propeller-powered tricycle. -DONE- 2. Button to order pizzas in an emergency. -DONE- 3. Empty Bathroom Stall internet alert system. -DONE- 4. Sledgehammer/Bowling Pin sharpener. 5. Validating/Confirming Scientology. 6. Wind Turbines for delivering green power to moon bases. 7. Candle powered gasoline pump, for pumping gas during power outages. 8. Knee pads so people can chew gum safely while they walk. 9. Submarine with a screen door. 10. Solar Powered flashlight. 11. Bathroom Webcams.
One would think that with the level of intellect those students have, they would be able to differentiate between an elementary school science project/unnecessarily hazardous/useless/pointless project and an innovative/useful project.
And people said I wasted my time in my middle school Spanish class drawing up a simpler, more efficient RTG.....
What? I thought the CIA definition of 'debriefing' was in reference to stripping a suspect of their rights and privacy, bending him over a chair in an interrogation room, and then fucking him over for the rest of his life.
I already have a drug to forget bad memories: It's called alcohol. It's readily available, available in all quantities, almost always inexpensive, and comes in many great easy-to-swallow flavors.
Slashdot Mirror
Locks. .....and the list goes on.....
Multi-tumbler locks.
Multi-tumbler, multi-barrel locks.
Circular-type locks.
Locks with electronic chips in the keys.
Remote-controlled locks.
Card-swipe locks.
SMART Card locks.
Security locks.
Key codes
Validation codes
PGP
DRM
WEP
Digital Watermarks
Digital Licensing
Digital Certificates
Firewalls
Gatekeepers
Secure routers
Illegal Numbers
Voice recognition
RFID
SecureID
Multi-layer encryption
Anti Virus utilities
Biometrics
They only thing you get when you build a better mousetrap is a smarter mouse.
Would this be anything like.....oh say.....CARBON PAPER?
Playing in Second Life is a private activity, unless it is being done while AT WORK. Unless it is being done AT WORK, IBM cannot tell employees how to behave.
How on Earth are companies allowed to regulate the private lives of it's employees?
It's not like government jobs, where there is a genuine conflict of interest or national security is at stake. An example would be how Gaming Board employees aren't allowed to enter/gamble/conduct any kind of business in casinos.
Companies that do this, such as Blockbuster, and now IBM, claim that the actions of their employees reflect on the company. That may be true, albeit insignificantly, but it is going to have to be a risk that companies with employees are going to have to accept. Regulating personal and private life for the perceived "image" of a company is definitely going to far.
I don't know about other companies, but Blockbuster Video (aka "Lackluster Video), has a policy that is pretty good at punishing you for personal, non-work related indiscretions:
It is Blockbuster company policy for employees to report indiscretions that may reflect negatively upon the company. Failure to do so can resuly in 'disciplinary action' (*Not verbatim, but the best I can remember. It was really short and simple). Basically, you can be fired any kind of run-in with the law, business-related or not.
I guess there really *is* no use crying over spilled milk.....
"Federal Science"?
"Federal Science" is to science as "Religious Experiment" is to experiment.
Hmmmmm..... I need to add that to my new list of Government Oxymorons:
City Worker
Congressional Representative
Military Intelligence
Protected Class
Secret Service
Rising Deficit
Bureaucratic Efficiency
Tolerant Liberal
Great Depression
United States
Religious Experiment
Federal Science
No..... It's FUELED by diesel, powered by the detonation/combustion of diesel, and expels hot gases. It's fueled by, therefore it "runs on", diesel, and not hot air.
I guess asking for a correct title is too much to ask SlashDot Authors for.
"Boeing Helping To Develop Algae-powered Jet". Ok, for those authors that don't like to use more than 2 brain cells at a time:
If it uses algae as fuel, then it is 'Algae Powered'. If it uses a fuel DERIVED FROM algae, then it is NOT 'Algae Powered'.
For example:
Diesel engines run on diesel fuel oil, regardless of the original form of the fuel. Not soybeans, bacon fat, fryer oil, or petroleum. Biodiesel, is actually diesel oil that has been manufactured out of other converted oil sources, so it is truly 'diesel fuel'. However, it is important to note that diesel engines will burn virtually any liquid fuel that will detonate under adibiatic compression (but they may not run very well, but he idea is the same), including gasoline and other hydrocarbon molecules that are not 'true' diesel molecules. 'Biodiesel' is called biodiesel because it is diesel fuel that has undergone molecular modifications that transform it from one type of molecule to another.
It's like saying that your car runs on dinosaurs and ancient plant matter. The gasoline or diesel that you are burning at contains molecules that USED TO BE part of dinosaur at SOME point in time, but combined with other 'dinosaur' molecules to form petroleum, and are now crude oil, and not dinosaurs.
But when you transform 'algae' from being algae INTO another compound, it ceases to be algae and becomes a different compound, but not algae.
If it uses data from your HDD, how can it access that data without illegally searching your computer?
I mean, if it needs information from your system, doesn't it have to have your *EXPLICIT* permission to leagally do so?
I stopped paying attention to people in the 'Real World' a long time ago. The stupidity was beginning to rub off on me.
Why do we investigate politicians for corruption *AFTER* they fuck things up, instead of investigating politicians for competence *BEFORE* they fuck things up?
Blogging is 10 years old? WTF?
Someone should smack the crap out of the idiot who made that claim. That, and never let him write another 'article' again.
The only way blogging could be 10 years old is if "Blogging" is a kid that was born 10 years ago.
*sigh* I wonder what real articles the SlashDot editors passed up for this story on a bullsh*t claim.
Sounds like PHB lingo to me.
I hereby summon Phil, The Prince Of Insufficient Light!
Has anyone else noticed that copyright laws, patent laws, labor unions, the EPA, the RIAA, the MPAA, and the FCC seem to be the motivating reasons for industries to shift operations to places AWAY from U.S. over-regulation?
It may sound stupid, but regulating an industry to the degree that the aforementioned racketeers and causes have, gives PLENTY of incentive to get the hell out of the United States.
Here it is:
Copyright Laws: Good for generating income from hard work, but the broad definition and over-enforcement discourage business and creativity. Currently, any work can be copyrighted.
Trademark Laws: Abuse by companies has led to "trademarking" just about every word, including words, terms, and descriptions that are not even REMOTELY relevant to the product or name being trademarked for the sole purpose of generating income. This has allowed anybody who has enough money to cover the trademark fee and an IQ of 1 or higher to "trademark" things simply to generate money. It is the 'Perfect Job': People can make money simply by saying they own a word, regardless of the motivations. Currently, any word, term, description, color, sound, picture, symbol, domain name, name, title, compound/substance, idea, concept, belief, religion, and even gene can be trademarked by anyone, for any reason, simply because they can cover the filing fee.
Patent Laws: Also good for generating income through innovation, but the ease of patenting just about ANYTHING under the Sun and the vagueness of patents allow a single patent to cover just about anything. The definitions of 'Invention' and 'Innovation' have been so stretched and convoluted that you can now patent things you didn't even invent.
Labor Unions: Labor Unions have gone from benevolent organizations that actually did look out for the safety of the workers, citizens, and public, to political organizations that are out simply to generate profit from their member that they call 'Brothers', but actually treat like Union due-generating sheep.
For example, the current standoff between Waste Management and the Teamsters is about one thing: The right to fire unsafe workers. I'm not talking about firing people for giving the finger. I'm talking about firing someone who can flip an 830,000lb Caterpillar D9 bulldozer, or rolling an 80,000lb tractor-trailer while speeding. Currently, the penalties for those offenses are a 10 day suspension. Workers who have continuously demonstrated the lack of responsibility of operating heavy equipment take the company to court after being removed from positions where they formerly operated such equipment. Waste Management has effectively said they are done playing these games, but the Teamsters call it unfair. What? Removing someone who is reckless with a D9 dozer or tractor-trailer, and moving them to another position, is unfair? Is intimidating workers who refuse to support you unfair too? (Yes, that DOES happen.). Waste Management has even thrown increased benefits and pay raises at them, but the Teamsters care only about one thing: Union dues. It's simple: Regardless of the benefits are, or the pay a worker gets, if they get fired for being dangerous, the Union won't get money from them. And to think that the Unions formed out of the desperate need for SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS. It's ALWAYS about money.Companies are sick of getting the brunt of the Union's unchecked abuse.
Its the endless litigation for well-founded disciplinary actions, and other actions, that has companies moving overseas. Companies, big AND small are fed up with the shenanigans and games that the Unions play. YES, there ARE instances where the Unions DO have a legitimate bone to pick, as is the case with teachers, but in general, they have abused their power to the point where companies are saying "Screw this. We tired of playing games, so we'll take our business elsewhere." Some businesses have exploited this, like Nike, but largely, it is the recent exploitations and a
Being a Republican, I believe in a smaller government, and outright REFUSE to let someone compromise my rights to life, liberty, privacy, property, and pursuit of happiness. However, their are SOME "Republicans" who tend to think that being a Republican means a bigger Big Brother, and are starting to act in complete contradiction to what it truly means to be a Republican. Bush is a PRIME example.
SO, whenever someone counters my 'right to privacy' argument with "Well, what do YOU have to hide?", I always say:
"Absolutely nothing. Just because I don't want someone knowing everything about me and my habits doesn't mean that I have anything to hide.". Then I ask, "I'd like to look through your credit card statements, FasTrack statements, telephone records, bank records, internet records, computer hard drive, your house, your dresser, and the dog house. Will you let me?"
The response has ALWAYS been "No way. Why should I?"
To which I reply, "Well, what do YOU have to hide?"
I always get an irritated look after the final line. But it proves a point: Just because someone doesn't want you snooping through their life doesn't mean that they are hiding things.
It's the people doing the snooping that have things to hide.
It will affect only ONE film and ONE player?
So what? All you need for a breach in security is ONE film and ONE player.
So, crack the DRM, and then put the cracked copy up on Bittorrent. Simple. You could even post multiple copies on Bittorrent from breached or leeched WiFi to avoid anybody zeroing in on the initial source machine. Bingo. Now you will have millions of copies made from ONE cracked disc/film.
In terms of making the process available en masse, couldn't you just create a program that would automatically crack the disc? I mean, the parameters and procedures are all the same, with the values just being a little different.....
Just my $0.02
1. Slap the alarm clock off the dresser and across the room.
2. Crack open a beer while pulling up SlashDot (it IS liquid bread, is it not?).
3. Finish beer while finishing reading SlashDot.
4. Pop open a 1L Diet Coke while checking email.
5. Head to bathroom to shit, shower, and shave.
6. Get dressed.
7. Leave.
One weekends, I only do #'s 1, 2, 3, and 5.
Honestly, the article title could have been worded a bit better.....
First, the Government denies the existence of aliens in the United States.
Then, the Government says that there is a problem with aliens in the United States.
THEN, the Government continues to deny that there ever were aliens in the United States, but simultaneously continues to say that aliens are flooding into the country at a rate of millions per year.
I can see where those Roswell people may be more than a bit confused.....
Given the amount of power that media industry organizations have been given, I predict:
1. The Red Cross will copyright blood, an prohibit its usage without written consent.
2. The SAG will trademark all acting, including lying to your parents about where you were last night.
3. The MPAA will claim ownership of all video recordings.
4. The RIAA will claim ownership of all audio recordings.
5. No work, of any type, will be allowed without the explicit approval of the Teamsters.
6. No one may participate or watch baseball, despite it being the national sport, without written consent from the MLB.
7. Everyone must change their name to John or Jane Doe, becuase all other names will be trademarked.
8. Sexual intercourse will be classified as "Unauthorized Genetic Experimentation", and prosecuted as such.
9. ASCAP will copyright the concept of the "Birthday Party".
10. The AKC will trademark the term 'Dog'.
11. All colors will be trademarked.
12. All smells will be trademarked.
13. Someone will patent 'Oxygen' and all of its allotropes.
14. You will have to pay a royalty fee for waking up in the morning.
15. Languages will be copyrighted/trademarked.
I hope I die before people in the United States are forced to wear neutral gray clothing, live in neutral gray colored houses, speak in monotone voices, and communicate using hand gestures because everything else will have been copyrighted, patented, or trademarked.
I wonder why they are called 'royalties'..... Is it because the rights-holders like to feel as if they are kings over everybody else?
SHUT UP EVERYBODY!
:)
I really don't want to see this problem on my next math exam.
The Old World had:
1. Lawsuits.
2. Taxes.
3. Life
So what does the New World have?
1. Virtual Lawsuits.
2. Virtual Taxes.
3. Virtual Life.
Kinda makes you wonder if people are really as stupid and detached from reality as they act.....
1. Propeller-powered tricycle. -DONE-
2. Button to order pizzas in an emergency. -DONE-
3. Empty Bathroom Stall internet alert system. -DONE-
4. Sledgehammer/Bowling Pin sharpener.
5. Validating/Confirming Scientology.
6. Wind Turbines for delivering green power to moon bases.
7. Candle powered gasoline pump, for pumping gas during power outages.
8. Knee pads so people can chew gum safely while they walk.
9. Submarine with a screen door.
10. Solar Powered flashlight.
11. Bathroom Webcams.
One would think that with the level of intellect those students have, they would be able to differentiate between an elementary school science project/unnecessarily hazardous/useless/pointless project and an innovative/useful project.
And people said I wasted my time in my middle school Spanish class drawing up a simpler, more efficient RTG.....
What? I thought the CIA definition of 'debriefing' was in reference to stripping a suspect of their rights and privacy, bending him over a chair in an interrogation room, and then fucking him over for the rest of his life.
The CIA must have an underwear fetish.
I already have a drug to forget bad memories: It's called alcohol. It's readily available, available in all quantities, almost always inexpensive, and comes in many great easy-to-swallow flavors.
Considering it would pretty much vaporize upon contact, yes.