Slashback: Heat, Thought, Time 204
It's the incredible edible, heavy-investment waffle double gainer! steevo.com writes: "Intel has decided to stay with Rambus. Say it ain't so! Details are at C-NET.
Time was when ... wilkinsm writes: "When I tuned my shortwave to 5 Mhz today, I learned that NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) is currently doing a open survey on the time and frequency user community. I encourage all of you unix admins that use the network time protocol to show your support and fill the online survey out."
Has the code been tossed out with the bathwater? nonAI writes: "The Israeli company, which promoted a competition against an AI, closed its gates, as reported by an Israeli economic magazine (sorry, babelfish doesn't help). That's the end for the Child Machine HAL."
Now imagine you know of a freewheeling, opinionated discussion board ... Wael Islam, a member and volunteer with IslamWay.com, writes with some words on the objections B'nai Brith Canada raised to postings on IslamWay's message boards.
"In IslamWay.com discussion board we've more than 4000 Member and at the time of the media attack there was more than 28,000 posts!! Bnai Brith didn't only take one of the posts, but even took a statement out of context to prove that IslamWay.com is a terrorist website! ...
... The discussion post was between two people who were fighting each others by words, one called the other one that you are a hypocrite, so the other one was very angry so he told him - I'm just giving the meaning- : Let's see who is the hypocrite, Come with me to Afghanistan and let's train ourselves there .. so the person meant that army exercises will be a way to prove who is the coward and who is the brave!"
The people who attacked IslamWay.com based on the Discussion Board post didn't clarify that it was mentioned in the discussion board, and they just said a post on IslamWay.com."
Of course, we could require that all public communications be approved in advance, licensed, and inoffensive.
Please resume watching your educational audio-visual materials. echoSpades writes: "I guess I wasn't the only one to be annoyed with Apple's DVD playback. Apple's website has a small text link to info about a class action suit against them: 'There is a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit against Apple Computer, Inc. involving issues with DVD playback in earlier models of the Apple iMac DV, iMac DV SE and Power Mac G4 computers."
Already fixed... (Score:5, Interesting)
This software was available as a free download. I believe it was even included with the Software Update control panel (so that with minimum user input, it would update itself), also as a free download.
So now Apple settles this lawsuit, and they have to provide the software for free (been there, done that, now they just have to provide the CD) and provide support on the update.
It seems that the only real winners in this lawsuit are the lawyers. Apparently they get a cut based on possible takers. So they figure there are 100,000 people effected by the bum software. They figure that 20,000 might take Apple up on their over-priced offers. They get a cut of those 20,000 people's purchases, even if they do not actually buy the items in question.
Strange...
Anyway, this just shows commercial software places "Do not 'Release early, release often.'" - you might get sued if it is too buggy, even if you provide free updates.
All part of the master plan... (Score:2, Interesting)
Regarding IslamWay (Score:4, Interesting)
This leads me to two questions:
1) From all that we have seen on the news lately with Islamic scholars, Islam means peace and the Q'uran teaches that a Muslim should respect his Christian and Jewish brothers and love them since we all come from the same God. It goes back to Islam teaching that Abraham and Jesus were in the same vein as Muhammed as prophets. Why is then that there is such a thread of hate when it comes to Muslims and Jews? I understand the biblical aspect of the conflict (It goes back to Cain and Able if I remember my studies). But sitting that aside, why the hate?
2) Again, on the news, we keep hearing that true Islam does not teach Jihaad but the concept had to come from somewhere, correct? I can't find any unbiased reporting and I don't have a copy of the Quran here with me to check myself. If Jihaad is indeed mentioned in the Quran, what are the circumstances surrounding it and what are the justifications.
I understand that many Muslims are saying that Bin Laden has hijacked TRUE Islam but where did he get the ideas for Jihaad? Where did this all start? (not his hatred of the US but the concept of a holy war at all costs.
Further more, I've read all the passages about killing innocents and how it is forbidden but if a Jihaad is allowed does that bypass that rule?
I guess this is really a question for someone versed in Islamic apolegetics but it can't hurt to ask.
And no one post any bullshit condeming all religions and the typical comments we get on slashdot about religious people being sheep. It doesn't float.
Re:Regarding IslamWay (Score:4, Interesting)
It goes back to ancient Rome. When Rome uprooted the Jews for defying them (though I can't remember WHY), they let the Arabs move in. Starting around WWII (I believe), Zionism, or the desire for a Jewish homeland started to grow. The Allies (mainly England) said they would support Zionism for their support in WWII, but later gave the issue to the UN. The UN created Israel (sp?), uprooting the Arabs. Who had the right to the land? Both.
2) Again, on the news, we keep hearing that true Islam does not teach Jihaad but the concept had to come from somewhere, correct? I can't find any unbiased reporting and I don't have a copy of the Quran here with me to check myself. If Jihaad is indeed mentioned in the Quran, what are the circumstances surrounding it and what are the justifications.
Could this be the equivalent of the Crusades in the middle ages?
I understand that many Muslims are saying that Bin Laden has hijacked TRUE Islam but where did he get the ideas for Jihaad? Where did this all start? (not his hatred of the US but the concept of a holy war at all costs.
Further more, I've read all the passages about killing innocents and how it is forbidden but if a Jihaad is allowed does that bypass that rule?
This is a question that is NEVER taught in schools, but should be. Any "holy" war is a economic war being excused for religious reasons. This is used to encite the people to fight. During any "holy" war you will hear a protest, "Would God want us doing this?". The Jerry Falwells of the world use the Bible to push their opinion; why can't the economy?
Another level to look at it is this:The US, with their powerful economy and military, are the "Great Satan," because they deny, through not passing an "equal" share of the money (namely, that which would make the US and Arabs equally economically powerful).
I'm a senior this year, yet I have never had a social studies teacher come out and say "God is their excuse for war".
BTW, hate to say it, but all religions are the same. I believe in a God, but have yet to find a religion which I don't take exception with for some supposedly moral practice. God and religion are two seperate things, and if and when everyone realizes this, the world will be a better place.
Foresight Standards (Score:2, Interesting)
Guess what Bushie baby, from now it's foreign affairs morning, foreign affairs noon and foreign night, except for a few panic-stricken moments that will involve domestic security!
By the way, would any Republicans reading this care to expound at length on the wisdom of airline de-regulation. Include in your discussion an explanation of how bankrupt airlines can compete fairly or at all. Include a paragraph on the security efforts that nearly bankrupt airlines are likely to be willing to pay for! Discuss the cost of bailing out bankrupt airlines and the tax increases that will be required. Oh well, there is a precedent for that isn't there?
Re:Regarding IslamWay (Score:5, Interesting)
I am getting my information out of a book called "Teach Yourself Islam", written by Ruqaiyyah Maqsood. It is a beginners guide to Islam and the Muslim way of life.
Actually, I think you're thinking of Isaac and Ishmail. From TY Islam:
TY Islam regarding Jihad:
It seems to me that the concept of jihad has been completely twisted by extremists to serve their ends. The only conflict that truely fits the description of jahad is the Afghan war against the Soviet invasion.
Muslims & the innocents (Score:3, Interesting)
Of course, we should recognize the Copts were not innocent in the eyes of Mohammed, since they failed to convert. Nor can we be.
Dan Rather was just on Letterman crying about how this isn't about Islam, but just "pure evil that can't be explained." Since I doubt anyone reading
They hate us because we have good lives here, now; not in a worker's utopia beyond the fall of capitalism, and not in a Muslim heaven beyond the end of life. We are not as harsh as their prophet; their choice is not to convert or be killed. But their choice is certainly to cease attacking us or be killed, because if they come after us they will find themselves like the army chasing Moses. Self-defense is not genocide. If they're there when the Red Sea closes, it's their own damn fault.
Re:Canadian Parliament says no liberty crackdown (Score:3, Interesting)
People always seem to equate one with the other. One cannot have freedoms unless no one else knows about them. That seems rather silly to me. I don't care if the government knows where I go to school, where I work, where I like to have lunch. If they didn't have it in a database and they needed it, they could send a 'covert (female) agent' to chat me up on the bus, and I'd probably tell her whatever she wanted to know anyway. I can't cheat on my taxes, I can't murder someone with a (legal)
We have freedoms and then some. The government knows about us as much as it needs to to accomplish what it needs to do. If I get fired, they know enough to help me out until I can find a new job, by paying me what my old wage was. If I get sick, they know enough to find my doctor and get me the medical treatment I need without giving me drugs I'm allergic to.
The government keeps track of us, sure, but they manage every aspect of our lives, from public transportation to food safety to representing my interests around the world. If you can't trust them with a little statistical data, who can you trust? This is my criticism of American governments - so many Americans I talk to are proud of their country, their politics, their government, yet if you asked them, they'd express the same sentiments you do - the government wants to control our lives, or something.
Personally, I trust them, and I know they're accountable for what they do. Until they give me a reason to distrust them, then I won't. How could I?
--Dan
Submitted for you consideration: (Score:2, Interesting)
2. bin Laden is the head of a very sophisticated terrorist organization with contacts all over the world.
3. bin Laden probably uses highly sophisticated communication equipment to keep in contact with his network
4. bin Laden has eluded caputure for the last 10 years.
5. bin Laden is the prime suspect in the greatest acts of terrorism in history.
and finally
6. bin Laden is using a public web site that even my grandmother could monitor to recruit members to his cause.
Point 6 doesn't quit fit.
Talk about one sided (Score:3, Interesting)
Starts in 1948, long after the Jews had been kicked out of their homeland in the first place (makes it look like they just came into a foreign land and took it)
"U.S. blocks Sadat's efforts to reach a peace agreement with Egypt." Completely forgetting Carter at Camp David. Of course, no mention of the peace deal with Arafat.
The dam? Hmmm, you deal with my enemy, should I keep giving you money?
About the airliner, let's just say there are a lot of questions out on that one that make it look like a provoked incident by Iran. The ship was threatened militarily from sea and air, putting it into defensive mode, and Iran sent that airliner straight at the ship it the middle of it all.
"U.S.-backed rebels in Afghanistan fire on civilian airliner," like we're responsible for a rebel with an itchy trigger finger on his Stinger. These people were fighting for their freedom, we helped.
"U.S. rejects any diplomatic settlement of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. (for example, rebuffing any attempt to link the two regional occupations, of Kuwait and of Palestine)" And why should we have accepted? They invaded and refused to get out, end of story. To fall to a tactic like that would be essentially giving into terrorism in that all someone has to do to get their way is invade a country and negotiate from there.
"Washington makes it known that the sanctions would remain as long as Saddam remains in power." Okay, let him stop his weapons program and cooperate fully and see what happens.
Re:Regarding IslamWay (Score:1, Interesting)
2. about the jihad (aka the attack), they did it for solidarity, for their brothers in palestine got killed on their own land. on the other hand, i'm a muslim, if i should find the terrorists, i'd have to kill them according to islam. even in true holy war, killing women and kids is something you could loose your head on.
mind you, i say it again, i'm a muslim, and i have no sympathy for the action. in fact, i mustn't agree to people who object on dead sentence on the terrorist.
if you're against the israeli for killing palestinian, then we're on the same neutral ground.
Re:HAL is alive (Score:2, Interesting)
-- Ben Goertzel