10 November 2007, 21:57 UTCFaulty by design
Nobody is probably surprised anymore that appliances switched off by solid-state switch still keep sucking power from the wall sockets.
What is mind boggling is that apparently same inefficient system is often used for battery powered gadgets. The perfect example are UHF Walkie-Talkies. I use my set occasionally for reversing of car and I found out that unless I wish to replace it's three AAA batteries every time I have to put strip of paper between one battery and spring its contact. It works perfectly (patented in all technologically backward countries!) but you feel pretty silly doing it. And Walkie-Talkies are not fully ready for instant use, you have to "arm" them by removing papers.
To get Walkie-Talkies with the proper switch - which do not need paper nappies to be long term ready - you have to choose costly, high-powered ones. Cheap ones, sufficient for most situations are invariably with battery flattening solid-state switch.
Even quite costly gadgets may have this problem. My hand held VHF Marine Radio costing more than most UHF Walkie-Talkies has also solid-state switch. There is no access to the contacts in this case so I have to remove rechargeable battery pack thus making the set no longer sealed. For unit which is for many people important safety device this is IMHO inexcusable.
4 November 2007, 1:43 UTCTwo basic ways how to work on computer
There are IMHO two basic approaches to work on computer. I would call one of them program centric and the other data centric.
Most of my work on computer is data related (photos, diaries, various text documents, drawings...) - and I wish to keep these data forever, certainly over number of SW generations. To do it I keep all my data in single storage area, in format, which is open, widely used and compatible with number of SW packages. (BTW it sits currently on USB HDD, so I can just carry it to another machine.) And I need full control over fate of my data.
Program centric software is centred around programs and data are basically treated as property of program. Typically you "import" your photos by program, it is stored in some database and used as required. Quite often you have no choice of editor from that point. That may be OK for time being - until you need to do something your editor does not offer. Or until supplier of that program disappears or decides to radically change style and you are no longer happy with it. Or until you decide to migrate to different system for whatever reason.
FOSS software exemplified by Linux is perfect tool for data centric system. OS X and Windows prefer program centric approach. Partly because suppliers of program do not cooperate as well as authors of GPL SW, partly in full knowledge that program centric system tends to "lock in" users.
That is why I use almost exclusively Linux.
31 October 2007, 23:17 UTCWhy should a Company prefer FOSS ?
In no particular order:
- little danger of enforced obsolescence of file formats
- no risk of data being infected with third party copyright
- high security from malware
- availability to export/save as pdf from any program
- no need to trace licences and observe arcane licencing requirements
- no problem with duplicating of machines - no need to wait for additional licences
- little risk of unauthorised copies of SW run by employees at work
- ability of employees to run identical software at home for evaluation / training purposes
11 September 2007, 0:57 UTCGlobal warming or ice age ?
- there is no scientific proof that there is a significant long-term change of climate under way
- even if there is there is no scientific proof that human activity has any a significant impact
- even if it would be desirable to adjust CO2 production it cannot be done sufficiently without tragic impact on all nations and without widespread conflicts. CO2 production will be curtailed by lack of fossil fuels anyway
- it seems to be certain that Earth is heading for another ice age in the near future (on climatic time scale)
To squander billions to fight "global warming" is under circumstances sheer lunacy. To request it is a witch-hunt...
15 November 2006, 9:19 UTCSunset on weird planet
Can you imagine to spend one whole incarnation on the planet, which is so close to it's star, that the star is actually visible like a small, enormously bright disc, slowly moving across sky? You cannot look on the star most of day of course - it is too brigt for it. For a few minutes only during sunset you can watch this huge cosmical body, keeping by life of all planet going by its constant flood of energy.
I was watching this miracle other day. The disc of star, coloured red by atmosphere, was slowly descending to the nearby forest, almost touching large steel structures which most sophisticated species among planet inhabitants use to supply well controlled stream of energy to every place where they live. (Even this stream of energy originated from the mighty star.)
How strange and awe inspiring show, one of many which inhabitants of the planet encounter all the time. If I would be living in less interesting place I would probably dream about at least a few days in such vibrating place. May be even whole incarnation... but I do not know, I may be too scared to pray for it!
23 November 2005, 4:33 UTCRight to live
Fight over RU-486 is here again. This continuous effort to make abortion as easy and convenient as scientifically possible is rather depressing chapter of mixed story of our civilisation.
The genome of new individual is completely defined when meiosis - merging of male and female cells - is finished. It is a moment when soul joins so far very small cluster of life, single cell, to form human being. Surely that is the moment when new individual gains moral right to be treated as a human.
It is very difficult to decide when it is morally acceptable to destroy this budding human. Certainly in exceptional cases only. Abortions should form part of statistic about life expectancy etc. We may be surprised - first few months are probably most dangerous time during existence of individual. If one survives them he is likely to live almost century. And we may be surprised to find out who is the most dangerous enemy. It seems obvious that numbers are way too high and that society should do its best to lift its game.
That said, there seems to be little in favour of making abortion more difficult and dangerous than necessary. Perhaps we should go ahead with RU-486 but we should also search earth and sky for new ways how to limit numbers of abortion. With dignity for both mother and child.
23 November 2005, 0:29 UTCFreedom in digital age
There was always conflict between strong players (large concerns, monopolies) and small players (small business and individuals). The difference is that with onset of digital age lines of conflict become less obvious as they are hidden in technical specifications, in new complex laws and in small print of licencing conditions and contracts.
Sony CD malware story shows that my so far somewhat uncertain worries are fairly accurate: it is already impacting on millions of computer users worldwide. Yellow dots markings, printed secretly by most colour laser jets on all pages to allow fingerprinting of documents are another example. In both cases customer purchased goods (printer or music) but was secretly presented with underhand features - features which he would most certainly refuse if he had an opportunity to negotiate.
The situation with "Sony CD malware" as it stands presently suggests that at least 1/2 million of computers worldwide - probably a multiple of this number - was infected by hidden software, which forms secret part of content of some of Sony music CD. When CD is to be played on PC this malware is secretly installed. Impact on users varies but Sony CD malware encroaches on performance and hard disk space of all computers and makes them less secure and reliable (Linux computers are not affected). It also reports on usage pattern of infected computer and opens door for more extensive interference (marketing etc.) Details of "Sony malware" story are quite interesting - and chilling.
Technicalities aside, "Sony CD malware" violates computer ownership rights of infected computers, same way like burglar violates home ownership rights of home owner. Your computer is no longer under your full control - you feel that by honestly purchasing music from Sony you unknowingly relinquished part of your ownership of the hardware you need for work and play. This is textbook example of "autonomous" activity of software - hidden, arrogant, sinister.
No single citizen can defend himself against heavy handed abuse of digital age on his/her own."Buyer beware" is no longer a simple issue - you have to understand very complex technical issues and often nobody knows except a few employees of supplier. Sony CD malware was infecting computers almost year before it was discovered by computer security specialist programmer, more or less by accident. Suppliers of virus checking software - MacAfee and others - probably knew from the beginning but no warning was issued to their paying customers!
It is totaly unacceptable that somebody sells a product - CD or anything else - to young worker or farmer or student or pensioner and uses it to gain unfair profit or obscure business advantage while interfering with enjoyment, equipment or even lifestyle of hishonest and unsuspecting customer...
And even if you can see the trap, you have often little choice. Supplier is often in position of monopoly - either he is sole supplier of given product (CD with your preferred group), or all suppliers dance to the same tune (colour laser jets and yellow dots), or the anti-customer behaviour is enforced by some standard or agreement (digital TV encoding). You may see the trap but you will either walk in or return to your pre-digital cave. If it still exists - I have not seen many vinyl records in shops recently...
There are already a number of court actions against Sony, mainly in USA but also in Italy. Many more will follow, no doubt. At the same time, court actions with neccessarily limited scope are not a real solution.
In my opinion, intrusion into personal computer and secretive manipulation of digital equipment should be treated in smilar way to phone tapping. It may be accepted if important interest of comunity is at stake, but it should be strictly prohibited by law otherwise. Any trespass should be treated as severely as if some company starts mass phone tapping for sake of its business model - legitimate or not. I feel that action should be taken here in Australia and everywhere else - in the court or in parliament - to stop suppliers behaving like a proverbial Big Brother. If there is sufficient legislative already, it should be invoked. If not, it needs to be introduced as soon as possible.
26 December 2004, 0:12 UTCChristmas
Christmas origin may be a solstice celebrations. And it may also be a Jesus Christ birthday celebration. But - what should be the true Christmas spirit? Jesus Christ response to some questioning (Matthew, Chapter 22) may help:
"Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said to him: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is: You shall love your neighbour as you love yourself."
Presents and celebrations may be a nice manifestation of love to the other people. Wise man or woman will also observe the other commandment - the one which Jesus Christ himself called "the greatest commandment".
18 December 2004, 9:38 UTCHuman life
Every human being has it's true identity in spiritual dimension. Three dimensional biological body is reflection on true spiritual identity, bodily pawn which gives true identity an opportunity to fully participate in the Great Universe Game.
The real identity, what we feel as instantly recognisable "I" or "self" and what is often called Soul is independent on biological body. The opposite is not true - biological body without soul cannot be alive. Each Soul is using number of bodies over time, changing them from time to time as required by law of space-time.
It is a very interesting and complex process when Soul chooses as a result of personal tendencies and karma/controlled fate particular biological body for its next incarnation. Both are roughly partnered by choice of parents of future baby, details are fine tuned by choice of egg and sperm for fertilization and by choice of genes during process of fertlization. When zygote - the very first cell - is created biological body is fully defined and becomes living human.
The other end is defined in a similar way: when the Soul abandons its current biological body it is no longer capable of living existence. Until than people are still living humans, even if clinically dead.
It is generally accepted, that it is wrong to kill living humans. It is not only unethical, it also brings bad karma to whoever is responsible. This rule covers all living humans, not just fully conscious adults. There are some interesting practical implications.
Fertility control which prevents fertlization - e.g. normal pill or condom - is OK. Fertility control which interferes with foetus after fertlization is finished is wrong, be it "morning after pill", IUD or most abhorrent of all - abortion.
With suicide the Soul abandons its body voluntarily. We cannot call it murder and I do not think that act itself creates significant bad karma, apart from karma related to pain of relatives and friends. OTOH there is no benefit either. Karmic forces which initiated the current incarnation remain unfulfilled and they will initiate another incarnation for the same fate until that particular lesson is learned.
17 November 2004, 6:11 UTCClimate mongering
16/11/2004. ABC News Online:
"Global warming could make Australia 'uninhabitable' ... New South Wales Premier Bob Carr says new scientific data shows global warming will have serious consequences for Australia.... global warming will affect rainfall, make weather patterns more erratic and will increase the number of days with a temperature exceeding 35 degrees.... temperature increases could make Australia less inhabitable and could also have dire global consequences.... The polar icecaps just melt away, the oceans rise, the rainforests around the globe dry out,Bangladesh floods and a lot of other extreme things happen... Now that would have us living at temperatures that human beings have never lived at."
Not really.
Not "us" - climate change is a slow process and it is unlikely that any of us will be living long enough to see if predictions of Premier Bob Carr were correct.
Nothing new for human beings either. During the Medieval Warm Period - an unusually warm period in history lasting from about the 10th century to about the 14th century - the Vikings took advantage of ice-free seas to colonise Greenland. The climate still have some catching-up to do before we fully emerge from last glacial period and from the Little Ice Age (period of cooling lasting approximately from the mid-14th to the mid-19th centuries). Aboriginals lived through this warm period here in Australia.
Human beings as species have a bit longer history and even our direct ancestors lived through at least two glacial periods and one full interglacial period. Humans have been through all this before and we keep smiling.
Rainforests were through the all of glacial cycles - we do not have to worry about them either.
Even if there may be difficult times ahead, they are unlikely to be radically different from the past glacial / interglacial cycles. There are clear indications that they are controlled by sun activity and other laws of nature and it is unlikely that we are heading for catastrophe. At any case we cannot do much about it - it is out of our control.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_age http://www.john-daly.com/hockey/hockey.htm
PS:
17/11/2004, BBC :
"Environmentalists are calling for Mount Everest to be put on a UN danger list because of global warming....The move to save the world's highest peak is part of a new campaign to force reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide..."
Unfortunately, they would have to adjust the Sun to achive anything. Fortunately, fools have no access to Sun's controls!
And Mount Everest does not care anyway....
13 November 2004, 22:30 UTCOn good and evil
12 November 2004, 21:55 UTCMotherhood
10 November 2004, 4:59 UTCPresident George W Bush has been re-elected
10 November 2004, 4:55 UTCIf you wander into these pages - Welcome!