Posts by DZ-Jay

US expat casts ballot from Vienna, wonders if anyone got it

@MichaelG

>> "If that is the case, then primary elections should be regulated in the same way as government elections."

You still do not seem to get it. Primary elections are not government elections, and should not be regulated as such. This is because primary elections are private elections by private entities. The Democratic Party is not a government institution, but a private organization and therefore have the right to choose whomever they please as their candidate, in whichever way they deem fit. The same for any other party.

This is a right endowed by the First Ammendment of the U.S. Constitution: the people have the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech. As I mentioned in another post this is no different than you getting together with a bunch of friends and deciding to pick your own candidate for President (after all, anybody who fits the requirements can run). The government cannot tell you who to choose for your candidate nor how to choose him; you may want to choose yourself as a candidate (as independent candidates do) and nobody can tell you otherwise as long as you comply with the requirements. A political party is no more than a (possibly large) group of people that organize to choose and support a candidate for an office -- its like a big club.

Sure, some large political parties may have become corrupt during the years, but regulating them is tricky since any law that affects private entities making private decisions will necessarily affect you and I and any individual citizen.

-dZ.

@mr.K

"The answer is that this isn't really a democratic election as I see it. It is two separate private election within two different organizations, both independent from the government. If I am right about this they can do whatever they want"

You are right, it is a private election by what are essentially private organizations, and therefore they can do whatever they want. However, the problem is -- as mentioned in the article -- that if no large problems are reported, the manufacturer of the system (or even the Democratic Party itself) will pressumably regard this as incontrovertible proof that fully electronic, Internet-based voting is safe and effective, and thus push for its use in real democratic (i.e. governmental) elections.

But you are right, people in the United States tend to forget that primaries are mainly a private contest within an organization to pick their candidate. It's akin to us getting together to form a party and deciding to flip coins or play rock-paper-scissors to nominate our candidate. This is why there are no Federal laws controlling Primary contests (which is good).

-dZ.

Nintendo patent profers wacky Wii add-ons

@Steven Hunter

I've seen those projects and they are extremely cool -- especially the HeadTracking 3-D thing.

It really is hard to believe that after exploring such creative uses of the Wii control, to the point of verging on the ridiculous, Nintendo never even thought of simply reversing the use of the remote and the sensor bar. Such a simple change in concept, yet so effective.

I really wish they build some games using that head tracking concept in the future!

-dZ.

Pod slurping licks a*se antlers to claim Oz word of the year

@Gilleain Torrance

And thus we get AmanFromMars.

-dZ.

FTC and DoJ will fight for the right to rule on YaMicrohoosoft!

New! Headline! Format!

I propose that the new headline format be the same as the old headline format. However, I further propose that the resulting merged company be addressed as "Mycrohooft"

-dZ.

US navy electro-cannon test successful

I claim prior art

Rail Guns are so... last version.

http://www.us.playstation.com/PS2/Games/Ratchet_and_Clank_Going_Commando/PUGG/weapons.htm

Now, Plasma guns: *those* are cool.

-dZ.

'Facebook fatigue' kicks in as people tire of social networks

Check out my profile... Bitch! (hum please?)

I think that would have been a better title for this story.

-dZ.

US military prepares for plummeting spy satellite

Time to round up the cowboys!

Call Clint Eastwood and the rest of the gang; after all, they design this baby, they're the only ones who can fix it before it crashes, no?

We're also not supposed to know that its an old, cold-war era orbitting missile launching installation, but I think the cat's out of the bag now.

-dZ.

Bond stamps mark Fleming centenary

So what's the problem?

As I understood it, he got the glamorous women, which is what counts, no?

-dZ.

The art of software murder

@Stephen (RE: TextPad)

Stephen, give EditPlus a look (http://www.editplus.com). Its been my text editor of choice for the past, oh, 10 years or so. Since then, the developer has added some nifty features, while keeping the original core application small, simple, efficient, and nimble.

One of the main reasons I continue using it (even after trying many others which may be arguably better) is because of the developer's philosophy of rejecting the feature-du-jour of other text editors in exchange for speed and core functionality.

That said, it still has syntax highlighting, auto-completion, external user-tool/filter support, mulit-file search and replace, and even simple code-folding.

I'm not associated with the developer in any way; I am just very excited about the product.

-dZ.

Apple keeps critical security fixes to itself

Nothing to see here..

I fired up System Update and I get the following (as others have also pointed out):

-------

QuickTime 7.3.1 addresses security issues.

This update is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users.

or detailed information on this update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798.

-------

Note the "addresses security issues" notice. I'm guessing that means that the application contains security vulnerabilities that are patched by this update. I'm also inclined to think that stating "this update is recommended" suggests that they are pretty important vulnerabilities.

Perhaps you were expecting something like this:

-------

QuickTime 7.3.1

<H1><FONT COLOR="red"><BLINK>WARNING!!!!!!!</BLINK></FONT></H1>

<FONT SIZE="24" COLOR="red"><B>addresses security issues!!!!!!!!!!!!!111one</B></FONT>

<B>This update is <U>HIGHLY</U> recommended for all QuickTime 7 users!!!!!!!!!!!11</B>

-------

Exclamation points tend to do the trick, right?

-dZ.

Larry Page to wed on Branson's luuurv island

Typo

>> Larry Page, the multi-gazillionaire co-founder of evil^H^H^H^H search empire Google

There, fixed it for you.

-dZ.

Microsoft accuses kids of bullying Santa into sex chat

Typo

>> Larry Page, the multi-gazillionaire co-founder of evil^H^H^H^H search empire Google

There, fixed it for you.

-dZ.

Is Apple coding Leopard to run Windows apps natively?

@amanfromMars

Ok, that's it! Where's the real amanfromMars, and what have you done with him??!

-dZ.

We know security and usability are orthogonal - do you?

You still don't get it

>> "Why we chose to represent it that way is because many developers, users, and administrators don't see it any other way."

This is not very accurate. You still do not seem to get the root of the problem, which makes you, sadly, a part of it.

First, only idiot developers see both concepts as a dichotomy; those without the necessary experience, or inclination to design their applications correctly. And that is the _very_ reason why propagating such fallacies is so wrong and even counter-productive: anybody in a position to offer recommendations or suggestions to the developer community should aim at knocking them over the head with a clue stick, rather than telling them what they want to hear, or are used to hearing.

Second, users -- and to a lesser degree, administrators -- being significantly removed from the underlying implementation of their solutions, really _do_not_ care nor understand why usability and security should be mutually exclusive. In my experience, they want to do their jobs and the software should allow them. And moreover, they are of the mind that they should feel confident that whatever they are doing with the software will not result on their computers being infected with malicious software, or any other negative effects. And they are vocal about this: why should their activities with the software be insecure? why do they have to think about security when the software should be in control of it? and more importantly, why should the software impede their work in doing what software should do in the first place?

If more developers payed attention to their users, or at least took some time to understand the implications of the use of their applications, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

-dZ.

Of opposable thumbs and software engineering

Re: Video adverts

Firefox is your friend. Adblock will set you free.

Seriously; I've no idea what are these adverts of which speak.

-dZ.

Google phone, Google phone OS, Google apps – or just Google Ads

Lessons in computer history.

Wow, I had no idea. I did not know that Microsoft invented the multi-tasking OS, the graphical user interface, and single handedly popularized the Operating System with Windows -- all circa 1981!

I also didn't know that IBM invented the concept of a common look-and-feel for all applications on a system, in 1987 no less. And just in time too: it must have been hell trying to figure out all those different and inconsistent widgets on the Apple Lisa and Macintosh, the Xerox Alto, and even on those early machines running Windows .05, popularized back in the early 1980s. I heard that when Doug Engelbart copied the idea of the mouse from Bill Gates, he couldn't even tell where he was clicking on! Thank goodness for IBM and SAA.

I guess I should have retrieved the latest revision of Computing History from the Truthiness repository, in order to keep up to date. Damn those concrete, hard-written, books!

-dZ.

Universal recruits enemies for Total war on iTunes

Free, as in beer.

What the labels are proposing is offering music for free (as in -beer, not as in -speech). That is, the end-user will not have to pay directly for the downloads -- yet, they still won't have any control over the music files, just the ability to listen to it in the player to which they downloaded it (perhaps even for a limited time, who knows).

It is obvious that they still don't "get it": most users who download music are not doing it because they refuse to pay any money for it, but because they can do whatever they want with the files, and play them, freely, anywhere and anyway they want. This is the reason why CD sales still exist: people still see the value of paying for music, they just want to be able to share it and copy it, and play it in their various devices -- in essence, they want to *own* the files, and feel some sort of entitlement towards their use.

Maintaining the price of CDs high (or deluting them with crap to make a buck) does not attract many people. And offering DRM-laden music files gratis may not be enough to bring the customers back.

-dZ.

Binary interfaces in component development

Blaming the arrows for your bad aim?

Very interesting article. I only have two comments, which have already been said by others:

First, and this is not the first article with this flaw, please stop relying on screen shots to show code samples; just paste the darn code or, if you must, link to a larger image. As they are, I cannot ready any of the code in them, which significantly lessens the value of the article.

And second, I must side with Kristian Walsh in this case: The issues you presented stem from a misunderstanding of the C/C++ preprocessor, not from a flaw in the platform nor language used. To be sure, there are limitations of C++ that prevent the elegant implementation of certain modern design patterns, but this is because the abstractions do not map directly to language constructs. This does not mean that implementing, say, a Singleton is not possible, safe, or reliable in C++, but that you may not be able to use the same high-level abstractions you use in Java.

Declaring static objects in header files, whether class templates or otherwise, is just an accident waiting to happen. And again, much less an issue with the compiler or linker than a stretch beyong the scope and intent of the preprocessor. This important point seems to be alluded to rather indirectly in your conclusion, yet does not seem to be an obvious part of your lessons learned.

Cheers!

-dZ.

Google to save mankind through DoubleClick deal

Re: Free speech is correct

@David:

No, the fact that Google enables bloggers to put food on the table does not in itself promote free speech. I agree that, as a side effect, it seems to enable it, but it does not promote it. As a matter of fact, it does the exact opposite. To illustrate this point, consider an extreme example: A tyrannical government that prescribes free speech by fiat (as opposed to accept it by human right). Such government will seem to promote free speech, but by retaining control to the enabling statutes, it virtually guarantees that the so-called free speech will adhere to its standards.

Likewise, if Google enables free speech by recompensing those using its technology, and retains control of how the deals are brokered, then it can at any time withdraw support to any customer who does not conform to its purposes. And therefore, it is in the best interest of the bloggers and users of Google's technology then to follow Google's recommendations, suggestions, policies, or points of view, and to keep in line with its principles -- perhaps even at the cost of their own freedom of speech.

To trust a major corporation to actively ignore or forsake such potentially lucrative power at any time in the future, is foolish at best.

-dZ.

Enraged bee bursts Taiwanese woman's breast implant

A headline to match the tagline

It was an inspired tagline, no doubt about it, and well deserving of all the praises in here. However, I still think the headline could have used a bit of thought to match the tagline's impact. Perhaps something like:

Boob bursting bee on biking blunder.

-dZ.

Google pinches fewer pennies in video shutdown

Re: So the new logo is . .

Actually, the new slogan is the same as before, but with a new phrase tagged on: "Stupidity is not evil, so we're OK."

-dZ.

Republicans hammer Brit artist's Bush

Oh, now I see it!

>> I am actually quite digusted at that picture and this is from a Brit, there is a picture on his ear of a woman giving a blowjob for god sakes.

I really couldn't make out any bits, so thanks for pointing that one out; I see it.

Nice overall picture, though. I agree with the above: I'd call it a "cunning stunt".

Viewer: "What is it?"

Artist: "Its a picture of Bush"

Viewer: "What's your medium?"

Artist: "Bush."

Viewer: "No, I mean, what is it made out of?"

Artist: "Bush. Lots of 'em."

Viewer: "Ah."

-dZ.

iPhone sparks counter measures from Verizon, RealNetworks and MTV

Where's the IT angle?

Another iPhone article, really?? Funny, I didn't see any mention of Paris Hilton.

Cheers!

-dZ.

Natalie Portman: Attack of the Film Fans

Only first?

I would have imagined that Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen should secured at least the top three slots. I personally thought it was that bad.

-dZ.

Disability question turns on employee's abilities

A slippery slope

So what stops him from claiming "disability" by stating that, since he is not a savant or otherwise gifted person, his memory retention, and therefore by extension, his ability to secure a perfect score on these tests, is impared. If you are going to compare something as unquantifiable as "individual potential" of performance, where do you draw the line?

I am therefore going to request that my employer pay me the same performance bonus it offers our sales people based on their deals. The fact that I haven't sold any products (because I am a developer, not a salesperson), is strictly due to my inability to sell and lack of experience in the field, and ergo a disability. I am sure that if I had the same charisma, training, and experience as my counterparts in the sales department, I would be making the same sales, therefore I deserve the compensation I have been deprived of all these years due to my disability.

Right-o.

-dZ.

The terrorists I party with

Thank you, Mr. Green.

Dear Mr. Green:

Regarding your recent article on fear and terrorism, I would like to extend my most sincerest gratitude. I applaude your words, as I read every one of them with the personal conviction that nothing could be closer to the truth. I am an American -- a fact for which I sometimes feel shame, especially when considering our standing (or posturing, as some would say) amongst the rest of the world -- and I completely agree wholeheartedly with your comments. My only regret is that your words, though ringing true as they are, will most likely fall unheard by those most in need of heeding them. However, my spirits are refreshingly lifted as I consider that, just when I thought I was perhaps alone in my views of the situation, only to learned that there are still other sane and rational people unwilling to give in to such transparent bunk, indeed, some of them members of the press itself; there may be many others who share our conviction.

Although I haven't high hopes of things changing radically and miraculously in any timely manner, I do sincerely feel that perhaps we're not as doomed as it seems. And to this end I'll do my part; just as you do yours by voicing your opinions and injecting some rational words into the public sphere, I too will do what I can to spread the truth. Having my thoughts expressed in such eloquent and consice manner as in your text, helps greatly in this regard, and for this I am immensely greateful.

Thank you and cheers,

-dZ. - FL, USA

Cat senses impending death

There's a very easy biochemical explanation

Dying old people smell like tuna. Doh.

-dZ.

The search for alien life

RE: non-Darwinian life ....

I believe that when they say "Darwinian" life, they actually mean carbon-based. The reasoning is pretty straightforward: Evolution does not cause organic changes nilly-willy, but depends on genetic mutations, i.e. alterations of the DNA sequence. This DNA in turn is composed of proteins arranged in particular combinations; and these proteins are by necessity (at least for our current definition of organic life) based on carbon molecules.

As you correctly alluded in your comment, Darwin's postulates did not really include any of these bio-chemical intricacies; however, through observation and empirical data, it has become the natural extension of the Theory of Evolution. Ergo, it seems appropriate to refer to carbon-based lifeforms as "Darwinian", meaning that they are subject to the evolutionary process.

Cheers!

-dZ.

Curry may combat Alzheimer's

What about me?

I wonder if it is still effective if I eat a nice and strong Madras or Vindaloo while not being British or even remotely Eastern?

-dZ.

Brit fumes over Wikipedia, lava lamps

Er... Lava Lamps?

Seriously, lava lamps? I fail to understand the passionate fight to remove the shackles of censorship and enlighten the masses with access to an article on, I'm sorry, lava lamps?

Plain chocolate could help your heart

Re: It may be called chocolate...

CharleyBoy,

Actually, the original food, as prepared by the Aztecs and other Meso-American indians, from where the Europeans even got the name Xocoatl, was a pretty bitter concoction of mostly pure cacao beans. I know that the EU members have some dispute over what exactly constitutes a modern chocolate product, but this is intended for market and trade controls, and has no bearing on the actual definition and etymology of the word.

In my own personal opinion, higher grade and darker chocolate is immensely superior to the "common" kind. And I even appreciate superbly exotic twists on the original version, flavored with chili and other herbs and spices.

Web users get a finger language class

So the blame is on the people?

Quote: "Tony Best, Sense's CEO, said that the blocking factor is that most people simply don't know how to communicate with someone who is both deaf and blind."

So, apparently it is not that the lack of two of the most important senses prevent them from properly experiencing and interacting with the world around them, but that the world around them irrationally insists on a dependance on all human senses for its appreciation.

Though I agree that expanding one's horizons in order to communicate with the deaf-blind is never a bad idea, proposing that the perception of their inability to function properly in our world is false because it is the world that is not properly adapted to their state, is a bit of a stretch.

-dZ.

Macs are more secure: official

Re: Macs more secure

"Why make a virus for a Mac which affects one person, when you can make a virus for Windows that affects 10 people?"

Of course! I totally agree. This is precisely the reason why the Apache web server suffers from such an extensive array of vulnerabilities, as opposed to the significantly more secure IIS web server. Everybody knows that since IIS has a smaller market share, it is the safest and more secure product.

And those who think that bad and insecure coding practices, marketing-slanted compromises, and an obsessive focus on simplicity of use and backwards compatibility at all costs, without regard to real-world scenarios, are just irrational idiots.

Right.

-dZ.

Gambling and prediction markets gamble on growth

Very interesting article

I congratulate Mr. Hansen on a very interesting, consice and informative interesting article. Although it is my opinion that most of The Register's articles follow some high standards, this one stands higher by approaching in a very lay manner a highly complex subject, without loosing its focus or significance.

I also thank Mr. Nelson for his comment, which coalesces a fringe dimension of the story. I say coalesce instead of add, because once his point is taken, you can see it superficially alluded at by the main spirit of Mr. Hansen's article: From his description of Steven Levitt's talk, to the mention of the presentation on William Hill, the subcontext appears to suggest, as Mr. Nelson has, that grand theories of market analysis are of questionable value.

-dZ.

Defective automatic trousers hurl pilot from plane

If not caused by AI, then... by whom?

If there is no reason to suspect a self-aware machine, has any body looked into the possibility of an evil penguin provoking the incident by remote control?

-dZ.

NASA gunman: police blame work grudge

Was it worth it?

But what I'd like to know is if the incident actually improved the employees performance review? "Goal driven", "able to perform under pressure", and all that.

-dZ.

Dell offers XP again amidst Vista complaints

This is mainly a marketing strategy

Hello:

The company I work for recently ordered a Dell Laptop for me to use on the road. Due to our develoment environment, it had to include WindowsXP, as all our development tools (and indeed, our production software) require it. We placed the order via their online store, as a business purchase, and made sure to select XP as the operating system.

The order confirmation e-mail we received confirmed the requirements as ordered; the online purchase tracking system reassures us that XP was included; and even the shipping manifest mentioned it. However, when we booted the machine, sure enough, there was no XP, only Vista.

When confronted, the Dell representatives made up excuses, but wouldn't solve the issue in a satisfactory and quick manner. We settled for wiping the machine and installing XP ourselves.

-dZ.