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Comment: Re:Nope.. (Score 1) 466

by nbritton (#43684911) Attached to: Ubuntu Developing Its Own Package Format, Installer

*If* everyone picked exactly the same lib version, yes.

In practice, people aren't going to standardize on the same library version.

We have library standardization, it's called Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Ubuntu LTS. The trouble is that by the time we standardize, the kernel and libraries are already antiquated. Linux is the largest software development project in the world and a very fast moving target. It may end up being better to let the application owners manage this, it works well for Mac OS X. I think if it makes it easier for normal people to install an application it's a huge win for usability. I don't see any reason why you can't implement both static bundling and shared libraries in parallel on a system; perhaps just have core library services like libcrytpo shared, much like the core services available in Mac OS X.

Comment: Re:It's a 3D printed gun shape (Score 1) 712

by nbritton (#43629195) Attached to: Defense Distributed Has 3D-Printed an Entire Gun

Frankly it is very trivial as you say. Honestly a pipe is all you need to make a zip gun, I remember as a kid taking a 12 gauge shotgun shell, sticking it into a pipe, and then whacking the percussion cap with a nail and hammer. You might crack or split the pipe, but it will work none the less.

Comment: IBM Employee Legal Services, Inc. (Score 1) 103

by nbritton (#43382729) Attached to: Judge Denies Class Action Status In Tech Workers' Lawsuit

The system doesn't have to be like this, we can restructure the game to reward cooperative behavior between the parties using game theory. See my sight for details on a new ADR process that utilizes these insights. We're just getting started, donations and other assistance is appreciated.

http://ibmemployeelegalservices.com/

Nikolas J. Britton
Executive Director
IBM Employee Legal Services, Inc.
nbritto@ibmemployeelegalservices.com

(563) 564-3546
8760A Research Blvd #151
Austin, TX 78758-6420

Comment: Solution to the Two Party System Dilemma (Score 1) 707

by nbritton (#41884759) Attached to: In the 2012 U.S. presidential election:

I've always wanted to vote for alternative or underdog candidates, such as the Libertarian party, but typically what happens is the two primary candidates are so neck and neck that taking votes away from one primary candidate, by selecting an underdog candidate on principle even though you know they won't win, would push the other primary candidate, who you despise, over the top.

I was thinking, a solution to this dilemma would be to vote twice, or more specifically a secondary vote. Basically you would mark a primary and secondary choice on the ballet, and if the candidate you selected with your primary vote looses, your vote would then rollover to whichever secondary candidate you selected. For example, my ballet would look like this:

(P)(S):
(_)(X) - Obama
(_)(_) - Golden Tablet Boy
(X)(_) - Ron Paul

Would it take an amendment to the constitution, or just an act of congress, to do this?

Comment: LVDS standards - I can't believe no one mentioned. (Score 1) 661

by nbritton (#41843853) Attached to: Linus Torvalds Advocates For 2560x1600 Standard Laptop Displays

Hey everyone, the reason for this is real simple. LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) is limited to a maximum resolution of 1400 × 1050 @ 60Hz. Almost all of the laptop panels today interface with the chipset (i.g. Intel 4500MHD) using LVDS. It saves cost, the fact of the matter is that basically all LCD panels made today are driven using LVDS circuitry. HDMI, DVI, RGB, Component , S-Video, RCA, or whatever are merely device to device interconnects. Even TV's are driven internally using LVDS, it's just that they only need to run at 1080p @ 30 Hz; Linus is effectively asking for 1600p @ 60 Hz. That's well beyond the capabilities of an off the shelf commodity LVDS panel.

Manufactures are listening Linus, and have created a new standard called Embedded DisplayPort (eDB). This is what's driving the panel in the new MacBook Pro actually, and now that Intel's new chipset lines support this technology we simply have to wait for economies of scale to bring the prices down on eDB panels. I'll bet at least half the new laptops sold with have eDB panels in them by this time next year... This would really make retailers happy for Christmas shopping.

Comment: Re:Sorry, but a legal solution is what the govt wa (Score 1) 687

by nbritton (#41576119) Attached to: Laser Strikes On Aircraft Becoming Epidemic

If you can prove intent, then yes it should be tried as attempted murder. At a minimum, shining a high powered laser at anyone, regardless of where they are at, is battery. Attempting to blind them with it would be mayhem. Also simple assault for every person in the plane, paticularly if they were not directly exposed to the beam. Mayhem being a felony, and the multiple counts of simple assult and battery cumulating into felony aggravated charge, you can be sure the offender will do time. Pretty much any laser can cause permanent damage to the eyes, and the label on the device says it can cause harm... really it is akin to discharging a weapon.

Comment: Check the laws in your state first (Score 1) 66

by nbritton (#41513099) Attached to: RockBox + Refurbished MP3 Players = Crowdsourced Audio Capture

In Illinois, the law, under strict interpretation, requires the consent of all parties before you can eletronically record or intercept any conversation, it could be pursued as a felony offense otherwise... although current opinion is this only applies to recording conversations that you could not otherwise naturally hear with your ears.

Anyhow, check and know the recording laws in your area beforehand.

Comment: Randomized SSN Theft (Score 1) 244

by nbritton (#41478091) Attached to: Regarding Identity Theft:

When I setup service with Sprint, the lady said I already had an active account when she plugged in my SSN. Another customer had appreantly been using it, thankfully whoever it was always paid their bill. Sprint had their fraud team investigate and deactivate that other account. I wonder how meny other companies are using my SSN in their customer accounting system, what's to stop someone from from giving a random SSN on an application if the company never verifies?

Comment: Re:They don't need a plan (Score 0, Flamebait) 301

by nbritton (#41112819) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: Best Use For an Old Smartphone?

Spousal abuse, you mean when your spouse calls the police to abuse you? Maybe we should designate a new number, say 811, for marital emergencies. Then when a spouse calls it, the counselor can tell the other spouse to run away and never look back. I think this service would be a better use of our tax dollars. In fact, maybe a surcharge should be collected with a marriage license to finance a national marital emergencies services system, MESS for short... 1-800-AHH-MESS.

Comment: Re:Salaries (Score 1) 886

by nbritton (#40167907) Attached to: IT Positions Some of the Toughest Jobs To Fill In US

I know this was ment to be a joke, but I would really love to see all of our collective social protocols documented within RFCs. Then possibly developing alternative protocols that are more effectent or less susceptible to malicious manipulation, such as social engeering attacks, blind obedience, etc. At the very least it would be an interesting psychology project.

Comment: Re:This really is a bizare course of action for Or (Score 2) 175

by nbritton (#39700531) Attached to: Oracle and Google To Finally Enter Courtroom

Oracle does a lot of stupid things, they're your typically corporation who would shoot themselves in the foot if it had an immediate benefit. Everyone in the company is driven hard by what I've heard is a tyrannical executive team, from my vantage point they have a case of PRS (performance review syndrome).

Not knowing otherwise, I'd say they bought Sun just to destroy it. First they kill OpenOffice, then Solaris, then ZFS, and now their working on Java. Very short sighted, but in my opinion not has bad as IBM's failure to see the value in Sun and more importantly the implications of a merger with one of our largest competitors.

Comment: Re:A great band-aid solution (Score 4, Insightful) 237

by nbritton (#39692963) Attached to: Treating Depression With Electrodes Inside the Brain

A band-aid solution? After that comment, I'll presume that you aren't a depression sufferer of 40 years and multiple failed suicide attempts.

Well, let's be honest. It would only take one successful attempt and you wouldn't have 40 years of depression.

As someone afflicted with bipolar disorder, I got a nice chuckle out of that comment. It's true, suicide is very easy if you don't care about having an open casket or being in pain before you pass. I don't think anyone ever actually wants to die though, in my experience it's a means to an end. Going through these turbulent states is literally hellish torture; one resorts to suicide as a way to end that. I'd hazard to guess that I have PTSD just from that torture, and the act of trying to kill yourself is just as traumatizing. Gabbing a shank into your vain so you can bleed out to end the torture is not something most people will ever experience or relate with. I cried for hours because I thought I was never going to see my family or friends again, and the burden I would cause them in the aftermath; the pain was too much to bare though. In retrospect, I'm thankful that the nurse made rounds sooner than expected, because Lithium was able to calm the storm a few days after that. I had not been on Lithium prior to that, I have to say it's a truly remarkable drug... err.. element.

Life is like an onion: you peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep. -- Carl Sandburg

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