Just track users anonymously. The problem isn't that your online activities are tracked, it's that you are tracked.
If they anonymized the data, then they could target their services and your privacy would be safe. The advertisers have a simple solution, they just don't want to do it. Note how motivated Google and Facebook are to know your real identity.
Other than pointing out that I bought it (and where from, disclosing that ThinkGeek's a related company to Slashdot) and suggesting two other places to buy it, I'm not sure how much else there is for me say -- I think it was pretty darn aboveboard
I'm sorry; I didn't meant to question your ethics in this case. I meant, Slashdot could use a general statement of journalistic ethics (see my prior post for reasons).
By the 'duck' comment, I meant that it's a matter of perception. From the reader's point of view, both an honest person talking about something they like, and a sneaky blogger accepting kickbacks will profess their innocence. There is no way for you to win, so you are better off not playing -- avoid doing things that look/walk/sound like duck. That's my two cents, from someone who has never run a site like Slashdot!
The site is fantastic, by the way. Other discussion systems are only now just catching up. Thank you!
Timothy - It looks like duck, walks like a duck, and quacks just like a duck. Whatever your intent, it's a duck.
Perhaps
I don't know. I think machines are subject to the first and second laws of thermodynamics, just like mules are.
Machines don't require maintenance? Especially high-tech, cutting edge machines with lots of moving parts, used in hostile environments?
Even M-16s require maintenance. I imagine BigDog requires plenty also.
mass producing a robot is quicker and less costly than mass producing & training animals
Machines cost less than animals? How about that F-22 machine? Your car?
Those get spooked by loud noises, and are subject to SPCA and other organization complaints.
bigdog does not spook, and can be abandoned in theatre if damaged.
My solutions have been used in battle for centuries. I'm pretty sure they can be trained to not spook. And I'm also pretty sure that they can be abandoned in theater if damaged.
They have many advantages, including that they are cheap, easy to replace, infrastructure and logistics for them were worked out long ago, and they can be powered anywhere there is something green growing, or even on the troops' own supplies.
Also I wait the landborne armed drone implementation, aka ED-209
They are already intelligent drones. DARPA is bragging that BigDog can avoid obstacles and follow someone. My solutions are better. Arming them is tricky, but I bet you could do remote control steering, aiming and firing.
I'm half-kidding, but I hope it has been considered.
and Exchange backup users to move to GMail for Google Apps. In total, nothing of value is being lost, and developer resources move from maintaining the old to innovating the new.
Is that sarcastic? A business is going to dump its massive investment in messaging systems: Servers, clients, handhelds, integration with other apps and systems -- and redo it all in GMail? Nothing of value is being lost?
It's exciting to take down the old tyrant, but once the 'new' industry obtains power and wealth, they will become the new tyrants for the same reasons the old ones did: Many people will have a lot of money, their careers, and status invested in their enterprise, and being people, will do whatever they can to protect it.
We need to make changes to our legal structure, etc, now that will prevent it and keep competition open.
If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads. -- Anatole France