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2651

Living Room / Re: Nonplussed - Windows 7 random BSODS

« Last post by Renegade on August 26, 2013, 11:44 AM »

Well, with the Dell that I have I found that the 32-bit system is fine, but the 64-bit OS just blows on it. It's one avenue to look into.

My biggest problem was with working with a monitor attached to the laptop - constant BSODs. It's ok without a monitor attached, but... well, it might help as a clue to whatever problem you're seeing. Not sure.

2652

Living Room / Re: Nonplussed - Windows 7 random BSODS

« Last post by Renegade on August 26, 2013, 11:26 AM »

Dell? Look into graphic cards and 64-bit compatibility. Just an observation from personal experience.

2653

Living Room / Re: The effort in xkcd comics

« Last post by Renegade on August 26, 2013, 11:25 AM »

The thing is that the biggest obstacle isn't the technical part, it's the creative part. That can take anywhere from zero time to forever. My guess is that he's done enough of this to have that creative part simply "flow" and also have that technical part also "flow".

2654

Living Room / Re: The effort in xkcd comics

« Last post by Renegade on August 26, 2013, 10:16 AM »

Well, if you look at the spiders bit, he's saving some time there with variations. But either way, that still likely took the better part of a day.

2655

Living Room / Re: Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage.

« Last post by Renegade on August 26, 2013, 09:34 AM »

An interesting article at Wired on General Keith Alexander:

http://www.wired.com...xander-cyberwar/all/

INSIDE FORT MEADE, Maryland, a top-secret city bustles. Tens of thousands of people move through more than 50 buildings—the city has its own post office, fire department, and police force. But as if designed by Kafka, it sits among a forest of trees, surrounded by electrified fences and heavily armed guards, protected by antitank barriers, monitored by sensitive motion detectors, and watched by rotating cameras. To block any telltale electromagnetic signals from escaping, the inner walls of the buildings are wrapped in protective copper shielding and the one-way windows are embedded with a fine copper mesh.

This is the undisputed domain of General Keith Alexander, a man few even in Washington would likely recognize. Never before has anyone in America’s intelligence sphere come close to his degree of power, the number of people under his command, the expanse of his rule, the length of his reign, or the depth of his secrecy. A four-star Army general, his authority extends across three domains: He is director of the world’s largest intelligence service, the National Security Agency; chief of the Central Security Service; and commander of the US Cyber Command. As such, he has his own secret military, presiding over the Navy’s 10th Fleet, the 24th Air Force, and the Second Army.

Lots more there.

It gets into Stuxnet, cyberwarfare, and some other interesting things.

The article does a pretty good job (for the purposes of this thread) of illustrating some of the scale of what is going on.

And he has the 2nd army at his immediate command - that's some pretty scary stuff there, and that's only on part of the conventional side. Armies are big. Very big.

2656

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by Renegade on August 26, 2013, 07:21 AM »

2657

Living Room / Re: Are Creative Commons Licenses Even Enforceable?

« Last post by Renegade on August 26, 2013, 06:15 AM »

Sorry. When I jumped in here it was from a recommendation in another thread. We're obviously not talking about the same things. So, no need to breed more red herrings.

2658

Living Room / Re: 23 Signs You're Secretly An Introvert

« Last post by Renegade on August 26, 2013, 12:37 AM »

Whose side are you on?  Or do we have a lot of extroverts here?

-Arizona Hot (August 25, 2013, 10:52 PM)

Don't expect the introverts to respond.

2659

Living Room / Re: Help Proofreading a submission

« Last post by Renegade on August 25, 2013, 09:42 PM »

To proof/edit I'll need to do it in MS Word. But copying & pasting isn't very hard.

2660

Living Room / Re: Help Proofreading a submission

« Last post by Renegade on August 25, 2013, 09:24 PM »

Dropping you a PM.

2661

Living Room / Re: Are Creative Commons Licenses Even Enforceable?

« Last post by Renegade on August 25, 2013, 09:09 PM »

No, you can not waive copyright. You can not waive copyright and place your works in the public domain, either. That is not a legal option available to the creator. You are stuck with your copyright, whether you want it or not.

-app103 (August 25, 2013, 03:10 PM)

Not really sure I buy it.

(Really, take the time to read the article, if you haven't yet. It raises some really good questions and makes some very good points.)

-app103 (August 25, 2013, 03:10 PM)

Still not sure I buy it.

From a purely US-centric view of law, well... whatever. As far as I can see, that's just a game of trying to predict what the courts will recognize or enforce, and not particularly interesting.

The more interesting thing seems to be the discussion about copyright/public domain/etc.

To mitigate the risk of getting this thread sent to the Basement, I'll merely post links without comment:

http://falkvinge.net...king-without-paying/

http://falkvinge.net...scussion-on-sharing/

Some interesting things on the topic there, though from a different perspective.

Once it is figured out *what* these things are, then the "legal" debates seem to make more sense (not that anything in the debate make sense - merely that red herrings are then obvious).

2662

Living Room / Re: Read all the officially and legally released NSA documents

« Last post by Renegade on August 25, 2013, 08:50 PM »

Blah. I just devolve into a blithering idiotic rant every now and then. The calmness set me off. It's like watching some guy beat the tar out of someone while he gives a sermon about non-violence, and then actually engaging in a debate on methods of non-violence while his victim starts to bleed out.

But you're bang on about more rope there. I just wish for once that prosecutors would do their jobs and stop worrying about some kid with a bag of weed or some farmer's eggs not being to their liking.

2663

Living Room / Re: Read all the officially and legally released NSA documents

« Last post by Renegade on August 25, 2013, 12:27 PM »

just a rant

Hmmm...

http://www.lawfarebl...community-documents/

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is declassifying a large group of important documents pertaining to NSA surveillance programs under Section 702 of FISA

Having read through ODNI docs and whatnot, it's just pure   nonsense. It's just spin. I'm not buying it.

I read one that denied what had already been illustrated elsewhere and then seemed to beg for money so that they could do MORE surveillance. Pfft! Yeah. Right suck my .

The ONLY value anything the ODNI releases have is to check them against other sources to find out just how much that prick is lying, or how much he is being "the least untruthful".

At this point, you pretty much have to be a complete blithering idiot to take anything from any government as true.

I would trust the Syrian or Iranian state media far more than I would the BBC or MSNBC or whatever. Cripes... North Korea probably publishes more truth than CNN now.

Now, it will be interesting to hear what you have to say after reading through the lies, but I'm not holding my breath.

How can anyone possibly trust habitual, chronic, pathological liars?

Like just how ing stupid are people?

 

2664

Living Room / Re: Ballmer Stepping Down

« Last post by Renegade on August 25, 2013, 11:38 AM »

^ Seems like the BoD is really on the ball there!

2665

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by Renegade on August 25, 2013, 11:08 AM »

Here's a comment on "support the troops".

http://cdn.iwastesom...om/8162013230556.jpg

-TaoPhoenix (August 24, 2013, 02:41 PM)

 

Here's a laugh:

http://www.realfarma...-of-backyard-hens-2/

Chickens... a gateway farm animal...

2666

Living Room / Nineteen Eighty-Four (Orwell) vs. Brave New World (Huxley)

« Last post by Renegade on August 25, 2013, 10:55 AM »

I think a lot of people here will appreciate this. (My guess is that most people have read these, or are at least fairly familiar with these classics.)

http://theliterarysn...l-vs-brave-new-world

It's all done in images/graphics, so just follow the link. It's a very good portrait of the two in contrast.

You can well imagine how "Idiocracy" is closer to the "Brave New World" picture, especially in light of the contrasts painted there.

2667

Living Room / Re: Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage.

« Last post by Renegade on August 25, 2013, 05:23 AM »

Heh Renny - if you lie hard enough, it becomes true!

-TaoPhoenix (August 24, 2013, 11:03 PM)

If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.

-Joseph Goebbels

The essential English leadership secret does not depend on particular intelligence. Rather, it depends on a remarkably stupid thick-headedness. The English follow the principle that when one lies, one should lie big, and stick to it. They keep up their lies, even at the risk of looking ridiculous.

-Joseph Goebbels

Ah! Words to murder by! 

2668

Living Room / Re: Are Creative Commons Licenses Even Enforceable?

« Last post by Renegade on August 25, 2013, 05:18 AM »

^ He's more likely to be searching for *brains* than projects.

2669

Living Room / Re: Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage.

« Last post by Renegade on August 24, 2013, 10:26 PM »

This is a collection of people lying about all this stuff. It starts with James Clapper and only gets better!

2670

Living Room / Re: Are Creative Commons Licenses Even Enforceable?

« Last post by Renegade on August 24, 2013, 10:02 PM »

^ Stone is cold dead. 

2671

Living Room / Re: Are Creative Commons Licenses Even Enforceable?

« Last post by Renegade on August 24, 2013, 09:16 PM »

Even ordinary duress isn't sufficient to invalidate a contract since certain levels of normal duress (i.e. being required to sign a promissory note or put up escrow in order to avoid legal action for defaulting on a commercial transaction) are a regular part of normal business. In short, you don't have to like it  - or even completely voluntarily sign a paper in order to enter into a valid contract. You just have to agree (even if not willingly) to the terms and do so in a legal manner. 'Undue duress' is another matter. But it has to be pretty egregious before a court will accept a claim of "undue duress" to invalidate a contract. Usually there has to be a provable threat of physical injury (i.e "Sign or we'll break your arms!") before that happens.

-40hz (August 24, 2013, 03:45 PM)

This is a serious problem. If there were justice, the courts would likely crack down on duress/coercion. Here's a simple example:

http://www.newyorker...lman?currentPage=all

They could face felony charges for “money laundering” and “child endangerment,” in which case they would go to jail and their children would be handed over to foster care. Or they could sign over their cash to the city of Tenaha, and get back on the road. “No criminal charges shall be filed,” a waiver she drafted read, “and our children shall not be turned over to CPS,” or Child Protective Services.

No physical injury is threatened there. Only kidnapping and forcible confinement.

A friend of mine from the former USSR was telling me once about how it was common in some places to get pulled over and be forced to sign over your car.

What is duress? When it is permissible to defend yourself against these kinds of things?

Keep in mind that one of the greatest weapons throughout history that has been used to murder countless millions is... wait for it... food & starvation. They are not an imminent threat by any means. By the same token, crucifixion doesn't kill you immediately - it takes a while.

What degree of duress is ok?

My guess is that duress/coercion is never ok. But, that's just me.

2672

Living Room / Re: Are Creative Commons Licenses Even Enforceable?

« Last post by Renegade on August 24, 2013, 08:23 PM »

There's also the "know what you're signing" part of a contract. Courts have sufficient respect for the individuals entering into a contract that they assume they exercised due diligence and got competent advice before signing on the dotted line. Because if you didn't, unless there's a clear violation of statute in one of the contract clauses - or the contract is deemed unenforceable or illegal, you're SOL and the contract stands. "Fairness" also doesn't factor into the picture since every contract consists of offer, tender and acceptance. So once someone makes an offer, some money is exchanged, and both parties agree and sign, it's a done deal and enforceable. 'Fair' is generally seen as what was agreed to.

-40hz (August 24, 2013, 03:45 PM)

Woohoo for that Russian fellow!

http://rt.com/busine...anks-wins-court-221/

Fairness be damned~!

Contract law in the US is pretty straight forward - and completely rational once you understand its premises.

-40hz (August 24, 2013, 03:45 PM)

Voodoo and black magic are also straight forward and rational once you understand their premises.

Yes. Literally. I mean that. I'm not kidding. You think I'm kidding, don't you? No. I'm not! Would I ever crack a joke about a serious matter? Well...

You still think I'm kidding, eh? Well, let us examine Black's Law Dictionary for the definition of "understand".



Ok, maybe I'm being a tad silly. But we're still talking about stuff that's just made up out of thin air, right? And I'm not the one who made that up! Really!

The reason the courts don't lightly allow a contract to be voided is because people need to have a high degree of confidence in them being enforceable if executed properly. That's not a big government conspiracy. That's just common sense. And what makes a lot of good business possible. Enforceable contracts go a long way towards preventing corruption and doing everything using the "who you know" and "I need a favor..." systems that are common in many places throughout the world.

-40hz (August 24, 2013, 03:45 PM)

Kind of makes me wonder how Goldman Sachs getting a "do over" for their contracts adds to the "high degree of confidence".

Ooops... Oh, I remember now... The 7 rules rule:



I get these kinds of things mixed up every now and then, y'know!

2673

Living Room / Re: Are Creative Commons Licenses Even Enforceable?

« Last post by Renegade on August 24, 2013, 07:59 PM »

If you have one weakness, it's that once in a while your affinity for rhetoric takes over your discussions. So we have to put away the "let's call the courts a gang of thugs" for a minute.

-TaoPhoenix (August 24, 2013, 02:54 PM)

But that's half the fun~!

(At least in the US) you truly cannot make a contract that knowingly violates law. By the definition of Contract itself, it ceases to exist.

-TaoPhoenix (August 24, 2013, 02:54 PM)

That's the notion that I'm trying to dispel.

You are equating a "contract" with "law".

Guns exist outside of law. You can get yourself a 3D printer, download some files off of The Pirate Bay, and print one for yourself. You can do this anywhere in the world. Even in places where it isn't legal. That doesn't negate the existence of the gun.

Same goes for drugs. You can grow pot in your house irrespective of the legality of the plant.

There is no magical power of law that can negate the existence of guns, drugs, or contracts.

Meanwhile, they don't automatically throw out random clauses without a "severability" (spelling?) clause. Otherwise the whole contract risks imploding. They do it sometimes, but it's more of a desperation move by the courts who are basically saying "the contract lawyer was sloppy so we shouldn't do this, but Bad Things happen if we don't".

-TaoPhoenix (August 24, 2013, 02:54 PM)

That is a matter of how a contract is treated by courts. I'm not disputing any of that at all. I'm not disputing any "law" or any "legality".

The strongest claim I've tried to make above was that for some radical or unknown and untested contract, knowing how a court will treat it is an unknown.

2674

Living Room / Re: Baffled: moving memory sticks from one laptop to another halves it

« Last post by Renegade on August 24, 2013, 09:53 AM »

It sounds like one of the RAM sticks (or a memory slot) is defective.

-40hz (August 24, 2013, 06:40 AM)

Well, maybe not... Just try buying new laptops until it works. (Just kidding! No. I'm not kidding. Support the economy. Just kidding! No, I didn't mean to say "don't support the economy"... oh, nevermind...)

Did you try pulling all the RAM out, then installing each stick individually to see if there's any difference between the two?

If not, try different slots for the  RAM sticks in the 8570. See if that brings you up to expected amount of RAM.

-40hz (August 24, 2013, 06:40 AM)

I've seen that work. And commonly with USB devices and ports.

2675

Living Room / Re: Internet freedoms restrained - SOPA/PIPA/OPEN/ACTA/CETA/PrECISE-related updates

« Last post by Renegade on August 24, 2013, 09:30 AM »

Here's a rant about the return of SOPA 3.0. (NSFW- Lots of cussing. Refreshingly so! )