The crux of the case will lie in proving that there is a causal link between the lack of laws requiring ISPs to block websites, and the damages claimed. The precedent is Francovich v. Italy. However, given that the judge in a ruling against British Telecom forcing them to use Cleanfeed to block access to websites like Newzbin and TPB acknowledge that tools to circumvent the system were available. And, in fact, Newzbin has released a client allowing access to their website despite the Cleanfeed block. The same software allows access to TPB. It relies on both encryption and the TOR network. Newzbin told BBC news that 93.5% of UK users have downloaded their Cleanfeed circumvention software. This flies in the face of the judge's comment that "Even assuming that they all have the ability to acquire [the means to circumvent Cleanfeed], it does not follow that they will all wish to expend the time and effort required."
93.5% of UK Newzbin users may not be "all" people in the UK who want to use file sharing networks, but it certainly means that establishing the causal link between lack of ISP blocking remedies and damages from file sharing will be difficult. People want access to those files, and Cleanfeed has proven largely ineffective at stopping two of the main sites involved in sharing. It should also be noted that these sites are not the actual hosters of the allegedly damaging files; they are merely portals to peer-to-peer networks that have other access methods available (e.g. DHT on BitTorrent). Again, the claim that blocking these websites would prevent financial damage is rather dubious.
I suspect we'll take the coward's way out and shut down processing for a minute before until a minute after and resync the clocks in the interim.
This was how I figured transaction processing would be handled. It sucks that you have to pay high-priced consultants to get that answer; plenty of people would give it to you for free.
That will, of course, be charged to our SLA downtime
I didn't consider this aspect. Thinking about it makes me realize just how stupid a leap second is. A lot of transaction processing requires >99.999% uptime, and even that two minutes (assuming everything goes perfectly smoothly) is expensive. Couldn't they be accumulated and have an extra leap year once every 86400 years?
Ugh. You have reminded me why I left Perl behind for a language that has strict typing.
sec += (mon == 5 && mday == 30 ? 1 : 0);
OR the electricity for a dedicated rig for it either
Don't spend it all in one place. The dedicated rig does other useful stuff that I wouldn't want bogging down my desktop.
I've actually passed English courses in college while earning 2 degrees no less (A grades usually) - have you??
Yep. This is, after all, a "News for Nerds" site. You're not the only genius here. And the rest of us don't tend to use terms like "superior technical firepower" and go off on rants about things that represent a minute portion of IT.
I know DAMN WELL I do, & it kicks the trolls asses SO BADLY, that when I challenge them to disprove my technical points I posted on ANYTHING I POSTED?
I'm not trying to disprove your technical points; I'm saying that people aren't listening to you because of the way you present your argument. I'm happy with what I've got, you're happy with what you've got.
talk about obvious, playing "pretend english professor on
This borders on delusional. I don't know how your mind got from a sincere comment on how I felt your writing represented yourself to making assumptions about the purpose of my post. The purpose of my post was to say that the content of your original post had technical merit. It still does. I just choose not to go down that road. If that requires you to tear apart my post looking for flaws not related to the original discussion, well, it's no wonder no one bothers to have a discussion with you based on technical merits.
You, my friend, take crazy to a whole new level. Why be brief when you can be loquacious?
What you want is for someone to kiss your ass and say things delicately to suit your tastes, to mince words and be diplomatic to avoid your ire.
What you want is a people-pleaser who cares about your approval.
You claim to know an awful lot about me. It seems your megalomania gives you deep insight into the thoughts of others. Unfortunately, you are as wrong as you are insane.
Wow, for the guy who thinks that in response to being offended, that one should suck it up and move on, you are not very good at it.
I have to agree with the AC on this one: a pompous, self-righteous fuckwit. Try taking your own advice and grow a pair.
I tell them to turn to the study of mathematics, for it is only there that they might escape the lusts of the flesh. -- Thomas Mann, "The Magic Mountain"