Hmmm...If I could read the cited article I might be able to better respond. Here in the US we have lots of uptight folks who PROPOSE legislation. That doesn't mean it will get enacted. On the face of it, this seems to be a big nothing unless the government is signing on. I can't imagine that Norwegian big business would allow this to pass considering the ramifications. With big business controlling the government this would obviously never happen. Comparing Norway to China? How about apples and oranges?
If you put yourself out there as a reporter of news, even with providing your own opinion/slant, you take the same risks as a reporter.
If you write an opinion or editorial piece and REPORT news in some way that is of interest to the justice system, the justice system has the right to ask more details of you in the course of the investigation of a crime. You as a (US) citizen can tell them what they want to know as a tool for their investigation or tell them to fuck off. Reporters have faced this issue for a long time. Just because you label yourself as a "blogger" instead of a reporter does not exclude you from a court order demanding your source. The choice is upon the individual. If I video a crime in front of my house and report it in any kind of mass media, I fully expect the cops to want all information I can provide in the pursuit of their investigation and for them to get a court order requiring me to provide that information. I can give them what they want or face a contempt of court charge for not supplying what the court ordered.
I was in 100% agreement with your post until the last sentence and I can only argue a little on that point...
"As usual, compatibility issues have more to do with 3rd party incompetence than with the quality of Microsoft's OS."
I'm not sure that incompetence is the correct term. The problem as I see it seems to be a lack of cooperation between the third party apps companies and Microsoft. Who is really to blame? I'm not sure either is completely guilty. More likely they are both failing. Microsoft and the apps creators are not working closely enough. Microsoft, as a smart business PARTNER should be helping folks get their shit together PRIOR to the release of their newest OS. The folks who need Microsoft's help need to be demanding it, not sitting on their butts.
That is ironic. Having previously worked for a law firm I used it in what I understand to be the modern and legal context. I will accede to your point of order and gladly receive your attempt at grammatical correctness. However, perhaps the actual grammatical correctness is held in the modern context due to the original context having gone by the wayside? I say that with smiles...it is very much appreciated that your reply had humor and education as its base. I unfortunately tend to be less than nice when posting grammar Nazi comments. Some probably very intelligent folks on Slashdot unfortunately come off as illiterate fucks due to their spelling, grammar, and usage.
"Since we are talking about wind power in this particular case, I don't know how we are conserving anything. The power is generated as long as the wind is blowing and isn't really being stored anywhere to be conserved in."
You are correct! It's not conservation in a scientific sense. It is only better utilizing and distributing the power generated. However, we need to look to these kinds of solutions in order to better increase overall utilization/optimization. Every opportunity we exploit to its fullest means less use of CO2 producing energy sources.
"This made it sound like they found a way to store power to use when the wind isn't blowing hard enough to generate the energy required by the grid. The story turns out to show us a possible different alternative: that they should instead redirect the wind that the author is trying to blow up our asses."
I can't argue that the story is severely slanted. Still, the whole idea of taking otherwise unused energy and using it to reduce the demand on the power grid is just about sheer genius. Why the hell not conserve as much as possible in every way possible? Every watt saved helps reduce the demand on non-renewable resources.
How can they legally have sex but can't legally take sexual pictures of themselves? The law is an ASS! It is ridiculous to hold them to two different standards.
As a side note, where are those pictures posted?:) Just kidding. I'm more than happy with all of the adult pr0n out there...so is my wife.
"This has nothing to do with storing power, it's simply a transfer of usage from on-peak to off-peak.
Wow."
You are 100% correct. It is not storing power. It IS more effectively utilizing generated power. Maybe it's not a big "wow" to you, but to me it's a fantastic (not so) common sense solution to better utilizing limited resources. The more we can utilize our resources as efficiently as possible, the less we need to generate/use/procure.
I don't see how this helps for anything other than transactions that are conducted in person. Great, I can get picture of the person if I have their ID card info. It certainly doesn't help phone or internet transaction security.
"1700 Pennsylvania Ave? Is that like the McDonalds next to the White House that Bill used to stop at?;)":) No the McDonalds address is 17th St. 1700 Penn is on the corner of 17th and Penn directly across from the Old Executive Building with G Street running down the side of the building parallel to Penn. Maybe you would be familiar with the Starbucks there, or perhaps, The Exchange sports bar at 1730 Penn?;)
""While I might expect a bomb to be disguised, I certainly wouldn't expect it be disguised as a cartoon figure that will DRAW attention."
I would, then I could remote-detonate it. Taking out what really matters. No, not the civilians."
No! Drawing attention means you only get the lowest common denominator...not the smart folks like us. Personally, I never follow the crowd to see what is going on. I can catch it on the news if it's important enough and damn it...I'm not a sheeple.
"BTW with this mans act, I guess slashdot is going to have to revise it's cynical attitude towards business."
Slashot's cynical attitude towards business is well founded and won't change until business becomes more altruistic. Hell, we don't if he quit on his own or was told to quit. Feel better now?
" US state and federal governments might want extreme paranoia as a means for further control of the populace
That was my point, and is the whole setting for the movie I referred to earlier. It is set in a possible future UK where the government has used contrived events to spread fear and paranoia among the population to ensure obedience. After all, a population won't revolt against a government when they think that it is the government that is the only thing standing between them and total unmitigated chaos."
I knew that was your point...and I can't argue that point except to say that I think that most of our leaders aren't smart enough to fool those of us (in the minority) who are smarter than they are and see their possible machinations. Hell, the internet may be our savior in this case. We can debunk their shit as long as we can reach the masses. Is your scenario COMPLETELY unrealistic? I don't think so. But, and this to me is a big but, there are enough of us out there with the vision, understanding, and knowledge to help dispel that kind of extreme warping of our society. Because I see your (or the movie's) vision as a possibility is why I said my tinfoil hat was getting a little tight...and damn if it isn't pinching now.
"That's a rather benign interpretation. Add a dash of cynicism, a sprinkling of conspiracy theroism and a few tinfoil hats as a garnish and you could easily conclude that the excessive terrorism threats are a way to scare populations into submitting to government control."
Well, I saw a benign interpretation for benign event. It's not like it was an unknown, bomb looking device, that had a countdown running. While I might expect a bomb to be disguised, I certainly wouldn't expect it be disguised as a cartoon figure that will DRAW attention. I also think any terrorists will choose a less attention drawing method. I certainly would. Hell, I'd stuff a bicycle frame with explosives and shrapnel and then park and lock it up in the most densely populated pedestrian traffic area I could find. Having said that, I certainly can't argue that the powers that be in the US state and federal governments might want extreme paranoia as a means for further control of the populace...ouch, I think you might have made my tinfoil hat a little tighter.
I have to agree wholeheartedly that if he was not forced to resign that he indeed took responsibility. My problem is that he took responsibility for the morons who thought that an LED cartoon character giving the finger could be a bomb. This ad campaign took place in other cities and Boston was the only one react...overreact in this way.
Having previously worked in DC at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue I've seen firsthand how the "authorities" love to play with their toys. "Look, there's a small duffel bag sitting on that newspaper box...it might be a bomb. Let's blow it up because we have the means and it's fun. Crap, it was just someone's work out clothes. Well, at least we got to close down the street, run our lights and sirens, blow something up, and get on TV".
From TFA..."Some crops, such as peas, may only survive for 20-30 years. Others, such as sunflowers and grain crops, are understood to last for many decades or even hundreds of years."
They already know the likely shelf life for most of these seeds. Out of any given sample of seeds a shrinking percentage will germinate over x years. Some seeds last better than others. That certainly doesn't negate the attempt. If even just a couple can germinate then the species can be potentially be brought back. I keep seeds from all kinds of plants from my gardens every year. I've had high percentages germinate from years old seeds and low percentages from last year's seeds. I've always been able to keep a line going even if only a couple of plants matured.
"That's why REAL plant gene banks work by growing the plants with heavy water. This drastically slows their metabolism (along with that of any bugs that might attack them), resulting in these tiny bonsai-like specimens that live very slowly - and thus very long - and eventually make seeds you can use to continue the cycle. Grow their seeds in normal water and you're back to normal plants - or gradually switch the plants over to normal water and they may revert to normal growth patterns."
Define "REAL" plant bank for us please. You say, "or gradually switch the plants over to normal water and they may revert to normal growth patterns". Let me emphasize your word "MAY". I would think a real seed bank has seeds from real plants, not plants that have been modified dramatically and may or may not germinate true.
"a lack of empathy, little ability to form friendships, one-sided conversation, intense absorption in a special interest, and clumsy movements"
"Well the empathy thing is common amongst 99% of the population? Don't trust me? Pretend to slip on a busy sidewalk and see how many people stop to see if you're ok."
Where does extreme pessimism fit in? Just because your anecdotal experiences haven't shown you a lot of empathy doesn't mean it isn't there. Your example seems a bit off the definition as far a I understand the definition. Just because someone doesn't stop doesn't mean they don't have empathy. It means that they aren't Samaritans.
I see empathy on Slashdot...but not as often as I would like. While having friendships in an online forum seems to be an oxymoron on some levels...I see some Slashdotters being friendly or at least exchanging friendly banter. The one-sided conversations have a tendency to get modded down and most of us try to avoid that. Intense absorption in a special interest is quite common for those who have very strong feelings on any given topic...politics, environmentalism, hobby, etc. Clumsy movements...physical, emotional, or bowel? Perhaps your citation from Wikipedia might be better substituted with a medical opinion.
I'll agree with your "Arrg" from the point of view that it seems some people look for any excuse to relieve themselves from the personal responsibility of being rectal orifices. I'm alshithead...I at least admit and take responsibility for being an asshole, at times. I much prefer to try and be a gentleman whenever I can. In my case it's not a syndrome as much as it's impatience and frustration with the world and some of its inhabitants.
"What the fuck, dude? Last time I checked, Bill Gates was the richest men in the world. Steve Jobs wasn't anywhere near. So considering that, I'm pretty sure that MS's philosophy is much better."
Ouch! Did I hit a sore spot? I wasn't considering from a personal wealth perspective...or even a personal success perspective.
I was talking about a perspective relating to bringing a successful computing model to the masses. While MS has greater market share, Apple seems to have a greater satisfied end user share. And, again, I'm not sure which is better.
"The point is, that supporting these users is potentially more difficult and they'll have to pay more staff just to keep track of this.
Its perfectly logical and yet another/. article that perpetuates this idea that we're all a bunch of microsoft haters. In reality, they do some stupid shit but that accounts for around 50% of the stories about them here. The rest is misguided sensationalism from eagerbeaver editors to stir flame discussion."
Wait a minute...Microsoft's main support is their "Knowledge Base" and giving credit where it is due...there's a lot of good information there. As big as they are and with the talent they have supporting Mac issues couldn't be a huge drain. You're probably right about the article perpetuating the idea that we're all MS haters. But, a lot of us have to support MS OS and apps and don't hate them (completely). Grudging admiration can be seen here and there. I can't argue about misguided sensationalism in the least...it is Slashdot, right?
"I never understood why when Apple locks you out no one really complains, but when Microsoft does it, its horrible."
Apple has forever locked out non-Apple hardware from Apple OS. That is one of the reasons that MS is a significantly larger player. MS said, "bring the hardware and we will (somewhat) embrace it". Apple's strategy has been to own both the hardware and OS. Microsoft's strategy has been to (mostly) allow all comers. I really can't say which philosophy is better. Apple and Microsoft both have their strong points...secure OS and an acceptable stable of apps vs. less security and a plethora of apps? I loved my Apple II+, and Apple Lisa, and the first Mac. I also loved my first x86 with MS-DOS and damn if W2000 wasn't a pretty solid OS compared to previous MS versions. Today, I run XP and a flavor of Linux on separate laptops. Will I go Vista...not in the foreseeable future. Will I buy a Mac...no way, too damn expensive. Will I go completely *nix?...probably.
This just in from the "cutting off your nose to spite your face" department...
What is the point from a business perspective? The result is to potentially kill off an entire (albeit smaller) market segment. Any self respecting Mac user will just chalk up another strike against MS. I see yet another nail in the coffin for MS. Until they try to embrace *nix and Mac users they are strangling their apps market by ensuring that non-Windows users will go anywhere except MS.
Those who are capable of wrecking systems thoroughly are usually also smart enough not to show signs that they are willing to do so... The ones who grumble and complain need to be shown the door before they wreak havoc or, pacify them. It's the non-complainers you need to make sure are really happy because if they're not...you could be screwed.
Of course it is! It's written by a technologically ignorant fuck. Also, it's not as if the US government has never passed ambiguous laws/rules. The burden placed on ISPs and possibly others is so onerous as to be laughable, if it wasn't so sad. To put it in a context some elected officials MIGHT understand, it's similar to telling the US government to document every work conversation for every government elected official and worker. I told my politically and technologically apathetic wife about this and she just about went through the roof just over the privacy implications. She used to work for the Department of Navy as a civilian so she already knows the bureaucratic implications better than most.
"Never been to Manhattan, eh? If drivers gave all right of way to pedestrians at all times the city would literally come to a standstill. It may work in Connecticut, but never in NYC."
Way too many times I've had to stop while having a protected turn arrow and the pedestrian has a don't walk sign. They seem to feel they have the right of way as long as they are in the crosswalk regardless of what their or the driver's traffic control device is showing. Of course, most police in metro areas ignore the pedestrian violators as well as the driving violators.
Slashdot Mirror
Hmmm...If I could read the cited article I might be able to better respond. Here in the US we have lots of uptight folks who PROPOSE legislation. That doesn't mean it will get enacted. On the face of it, this seems to be a big nothing unless the government is signing on. I can't imagine that Norwegian big business would allow this to pass considering the ramifications. With big business controlling the government this would obviously never happen. Comparing Norway to China? How about apples and oranges?
In agreement, I have to say blogger=reporter!
If you put yourself out there as a reporter of news, even with providing your own opinion/slant, you take the same risks as a reporter.
If you write an opinion or editorial piece and REPORT news in some way that is of interest to the justice system, the justice system has the right to ask more details of you in the course of the investigation of a crime. You as a (US) citizen can tell them what they want to know as a tool for their investigation or tell them to fuck off. Reporters have faced this issue for a long time. Just because you label yourself as a "blogger" instead of a reporter does not exclude you from a court order demanding your source. The choice is upon the individual. If I video a crime in front of my house and report it in any kind of mass media, I fully expect the cops to want all information I can provide in the pursuit of their investigation and for them to get a court order requiring me to provide that information. I can give them what they want or face a contempt of court charge for not supplying what the court ordered.
I was in 100% agreement with your post until the last sentence and I can only argue a little on that point...
"As usual, compatibility issues have more to do with 3rd party incompetence than with the quality of Microsoft's OS."
I'm not sure that incompetence is the correct term. The problem as I see it seems to be a lack of cooperation between the third party apps companies and Microsoft. Who is really to blame? I'm not sure either is completely guilty. More likely they are both failing. Microsoft and the apps creators are not working closely enough. Microsoft, as a smart business PARTNER should be helping folks get their shit together PRIOR to the release of their newest OS. The folks who need Microsoft's help need to be demanding it, not sitting on their butts.
That is ironic. Having previously worked for a law firm I used it in what I understand to be the modern and legal context. I will accede to your point of order and gladly receive your attempt at grammatical correctness. However, perhaps the actual grammatical correctness is held in the modern context due to the original context having gone by the wayside? I say that with smiles...it is very much appreciated that your reply had humor and education as its base. I unfortunately tend to be less than nice when posting grammar Nazi comments. Some probably very intelligent folks on Slashdot unfortunately come off as illiterate fucks due to their spelling, grammar, and usage.
"Since we are talking about wind power in this particular case, I don't know how we are conserving anything. The power is generated as long as the wind is blowing and isn't really being stored anywhere to be conserved in."
You are correct! It's not conservation in a scientific sense. It is only better utilizing and distributing the power generated. However, we need to look to these kinds of solutions in order to better increase overall utilization/optimization. Every opportunity we exploit to its fullest means less use of CO2 producing energy sources.
"This made it sound like they found a way to store power to use when the wind isn't blowing hard enough to generate the energy required by the grid. The story turns out to show us a possible different alternative: that they should instead redirect the wind that the author is trying to blow up our asses."
I can't argue that the story is severely slanted. Still, the whole idea of taking otherwise unused energy and using it to reduce the demand on the power grid is just about sheer genius. Why the hell not conserve as much as possible in every way possible? Every watt saved helps reduce the demand on non-renewable resources.
How can they legally have sex but can't legally take sexual pictures of themselves? The law is an ASS! It is ridiculous to hold them to two different standards.
:) Just kidding. I'm more than happy with all of the adult pr0n out there...so is my wife.
As a side note, where are those pictures posted?
"This has nothing to do with storing power, it's simply a transfer of usage from on-peak to off-peak.
Wow."
You are 100% correct. It is not storing power. It IS more effectively utilizing generated power. Maybe it's not a big "wow" to you, but to me it's a fantastic (not so) common sense solution to better utilizing limited resources. The more we can utilize our resources as efficiently as possible, the less we need to generate/use/procure.
I don't see how this helps for anything other than transactions that are conducted in person. Great, I can get picture of the person if I have their ID card info. It certainly doesn't help phone or internet transaction security.
"1700 Pennsylvania Ave? Is that like the McDonalds next to the White House that Bill used to stop at? ;)" :) No the McDonalds address is 17th St. 1700 Penn is on the corner of 17th and Penn directly across from the Old Executive Building with G Street running down the side of the building parallel to Penn. Maybe you would be familiar with the Starbucks there, or perhaps, The Exchange sports bar at 1730 Penn? ;)
""While I might expect a bomb to be disguised, I certainly wouldn't expect it be disguised as a cartoon figure that will DRAW attention."
I would, then I could remote-detonate it. Taking out what really matters. No, not the civilians."
No! Drawing attention means you only get the lowest common denominator...not the smart folks like us. Personally, I never follow the crowd to see what is going on. I can catch it on the news if it's important enough and damn it...I'm not a sheeple.
"BTW with this mans act, I guess slashdot is going to have to revise it's cynical attitude towards business."
Slashot's cynical attitude towards business is well founded and won't change until business becomes more altruistic. Hell, we don't if he quit on his own or was told to quit. Feel better now?
" US state and federal governments might want extreme paranoia as a means for further control of the populace
That was my point, and is the whole setting for the movie I referred to earlier. It is set in a possible future UK where the government has used contrived events to spread fear and paranoia among the population to ensure obedience. After all, a population won't revolt against a government when they think that it is the government that is the only thing standing between them and total unmitigated chaos."
I knew that was your point...and I can't argue that point except to say that I think that most of our leaders aren't smart enough to fool those of us (in the minority) who are smarter than they are and see their possible machinations. Hell, the internet may be our savior in this case. We can debunk their shit as long as we can reach the masses. Is your scenario COMPLETELY unrealistic? I don't think so. But, and this to me is a big but, there are enough of us out there with the vision, understanding, and knowledge to help dispel that kind of extreme warping of our society. Because I see your (or the movie's) vision as a possibility is why I said my tinfoil hat was getting a little tight...and damn if it isn't pinching now.
"That's a rather benign interpretation. Add a dash of cynicism, a sprinkling of conspiracy theroism and a few tinfoil hats as a garnish and you could easily conclude that the excessive terrorism threats are a way to scare populations into submitting to government control."
Well, I saw a benign interpretation for benign event. It's not like it was an unknown, bomb looking device, that had a countdown running. While I might expect a bomb to be disguised, I certainly wouldn't expect it be disguised as a cartoon figure that will DRAW attention. I also think any terrorists will choose a less attention drawing method. I certainly would. Hell, I'd stuff a bicycle frame with explosives and shrapnel and then park and lock it up in the most densely populated pedestrian traffic area I could find. Having said that, I certainly can't argue that the powers that be in the US state and federal governments might want extreme paranoia as a means for further control of the populace...ouch, I think you might have made my tinfoil hat a little tighter.
I have to agree wholeheartedly that if he was not forced to resign that he indeed took responsibility. My problem is that he took responsibility for the morons who thought that an LED cartoon character giving the finger could be a bomb. This ad campaign took place in other cities and Boston was the only one react...overreact in this way.
Having previously worked in DC at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue I've seen firsthand how the "authorities" love to play with their toys. "Look, there's a small duffel bag sitting on that newspaper box...it might be a bomb. Let's blow it up because we have the means and it's fun. Crap, it was just someone's work out clothes. Well, at least we got to close down the street, run our lights and sirens, blow something up, and get on TV".
From TFA..."Some crops, such as peas, may only survive for 20-30 years. Others, such as sunflowers and grain crops, are understood to last for many decades or even hundreds of years."
They already know the likely shelf life for most of these seeds. Out of any given sample of seeds a shrinking percentage will germinate over x years. Some seeds last better than others. That certainly doesn't negate the attempt. If even just a couple can germinate then the species can be potentially be brought back. I keep seeds from all kinds of plants from my gardens every year. I've had high percentages germinate from years old seeds and low percentages from last year's seeds. I've always been able to keep a line going even if only a couple of plants matured.
"That's why REAL plant gene banks work by growing the plants with heavy water. This drastically slows their metabolism (along with that of any bugs that might attack them), resulting in these tiny bonsai-like specimens that live very slowly - and thus very long - and eventually make seeds you can use to continue the cycle. Grow their seeds in normal water and you're back to normal plants - or gradually switch the plants over to normal water and they may revert to normal growth patterns."
Define "REAL" plant bank for us please. You say, "or gradually switch the plants over to normal water and they may revert to normal growth patterns". Let me emphasize your word "MAY". I would think a real seed bank has seeds from real plants, not plants that have been modified dramatically and may or may not germinate true.
"a lack of empathy, little ability to form friendships, one-sided conversation, intense absorption in a special interest, and clumsy movements"
"Well the empathy thing is common amongst 99% of the population? Don't trust me? Pretend to slip on a busy sidewalk and see how many people stop to see if you're ok."
Where does extreme pessimism fit in? Just because your anecdotal experiences haven't shown you a lot of empathy doesn't mean it isn't there. Your example seems a bit off the definition as far a I understand the definition. Just because someone doesn't stop doesn't mean they don't have empathy. It means that they aren't Samaritans.
I see empathy on Slashdot...but not as often as I would like. While having friendships in an online forum seems to be an oxymoron on some levels...I see some Slashdotters being friendly or at least exchanging friendly banter. The one-sided conversations have a tendency to get modded down and most of us try to avoid that. Intense absorption in a special interest is quite common for those who have very strong feelings on any given topic...politics, environmentalism, hobby, etc. Clumsy movements...physical, emotional, or bowel? Perhaps your citation from Wikipedia might be better substituted with a medical opinion.
I'll agree with your "Arrg" from the point of view that it seems some people look for any excuse to relieve themselves from the personal responsibility of being rectal orifices. I'm alshithead...I at least admit and take responsibility for being an asshole, at times. I much prefer to try and be a gentleman whenever I can. In my case it's not a syndrome as much as it's impatience and frustration with the world and some of its inhabitants.
"What the fuck, dude? Last time I checked, Bill Gates was the richest men in the world. Steve Jobs wasn't anywhere near. So considering that, I'm pretty sure that MS's philosophy is much better."
Ouch! Did I hit a sore spot? I wasn't considering from a personal wealth perspective...or even a personal success perspective.
I was talking about a perspective relating to bringing a successful computing model to the masses. While MS has greater market share, Apple seems to have a greater satisfied end user share. And, again, I'm not sure which is better.
"The point is, that supporting these users is potentially more difficult and they'll have to pay more staff just to keep track of this.
/. article that perpetuates this idea that we're all a bunch of microsoft haters. In reality, they do some stupid shit but that accounts for around 50% of the stories about them here. The rest is misguided sensationalism from eagerbeaver editors to stir flame discussion."
Its perfectly logical and yet another
Wait a minute...Microsoft's main support is their "Knowledge Base" and giving credit where it is due...there's a lot of good information there. As big as they are and with the talent they have supporting Mac issues couldn't be a huge drain. You're probably right about the article perpetuating the idea that we're all MS haters. But, a lot of us have to support MS OS and apps and don't hate them (completely). Grudging admiration can be seen here and there. I can't argue about misguided sensationalism in the least...it is Slashdot, right?
"I never understood why when Apple locks you out no one really complains, but when Microsoft does it, its horrible."
Apple has forever locked out non-Apple hardware from Apple OS. That is one of the reasons that MS is a significantly larger player. MS said, "bring the hardware and we will (somewhat) embrace it". Apple's strategy has been to own both the hardware and OS. Microsoft's strategy has been to (mostly) allow all comers. I really can't say which philosophy is better. Apple and Microsoft both have their strong points...secure OS and an acceptable stable of apps vs. less security and a plethora of apps? I loved my Apple II+, and Apple Lisa, and the first Mac. I also loved my first x86 with MS-DOS and damn if W2000 wasn't a pretty solid OS compared to previous MS versions. Today, I run XP and a flavor of Linux on separate laptops. Will I go Vista...not in the foreseeable future. Will I buy a Mac...no way, too damn expensive. Will I go completely *nix?...probably.
This just in from the "cutting off your nose to spite your face" department...
What is the point from a business perspective? The result is to potentially kill off an entire (albeit smaller) market segment. Any self respecting Mac user will just chalk up another strike against MS. I see yet another nail in the coffin for MS. Until they try to embrace *nix and Mac users they are strangling their apps market by ensuring that non-Windows users will go anywhere except MS.
Those who are capable of wrecking systems thoroughly are usually also smart enough not to show signs that they are willing to do so... The ones who grumble and complain need to be shown the door before they wreak havoc or, pacify them. It's the non-complainers you need to make sure are really happy because if they're not...you could be screwed.
"Lamar Smith's bill's language is ambiguous."
Of course it is! It's written by a technologically ignorant fuck. Also, it's not as if the US government has never passed ambiguous laws/rules. The burden placed on ISPs and possibly others is so onerous as to be laughable, if it wasn't so sad. To put it in a context some elected officials MIGHT understand, it's similar to telling the US government to document every work conversation for every government elected official and worker. I told my politically and technologically apathetic wife about this and she just about went through the roof just over the privacy implications. She used to work for the Department of Navy as a civilian so she already knows the bureaucratic implications better than most.
"Never been to Manhattan, eh? If drivers gave all right of way to pedestrians at all times the city would literally come to a standstill. It may work in Connecticut, but never in NYC."
Way too many times I've had to stop while having a protected turn arrow and the pedestrian has a don't walk sign. They seem to feel they have the right of way as long as they are in the crosswalk regardless of what their or the driver's traffic control device is showing. Of course, most police in metro areas ignore the pedestrian violators as well as the driving violators.
Where's Ms. PacMan dammit!?
Are you on the same comet with John Travolta and Tom Cruise? Oh shit, nevermind, I don't want to get sued into oblivion.
:)
Have a nice evening.