Comment Re:fags (Score 0) 81
Windows is for appliance operators.
Ya see? Carries about as much cred, so why bother?
Submission + - FDA: Software Failure Behind 24% Of Medical Device Recalls (threatpost.com)
chicksdaddy writes: "Software failures were behind 24 percent of all the medical device recalls in 2011, according to data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories (OSEL).
The absence of solid architecture and "principled engineering practices" in software development affects a wide range of medical devices, with potentially life-threatening consequences, the FDA warned. In response, FDA told Threatpost that it is developing tools to disassemble and test medical device software and locate security problems and weak design."
The absence of solid architecture and "principled engineering practices" in software development affects a wide range of medical devices, with potentially life-threatening consequences, the FDA warned. In response, FDA told Threatpost that it is developing tools to disassemble and test medical device software and locate security problems and weak design."
Submission + - NASA wants to seel its cool, high-tech stuff, fast (networkworld.com)
coondoggie writes: "Looking to address harsh criticism from its own inspector general that has been painfully slow in getting important technologies out of the lab and into commercial applications, NASA today said it has opened a revamped Technology Transfer Portal which aims to streamline the way the space agency handles that business."
Comment APRS (Score 1) 296
One method - and kinda fun too - get your Technician class ham license and setup an APRS tracker. Hams have been doing this since when, 1998 or so. It's pretty much 'ancient' tech. But robust as all get-out.
Not only can you track your scooter - but you can do other things too. Better part? Once you've got it up and running - no air charges.
http://www.aprs.org/
http://www.aprs.fi/
Comment Re:Revolving Door (Score 1) 309
Na, that's the nutz way of doing things. Just makes one bloody mess for everyone else.
FCC - like most of the inner beltway dwellers - just needs a re-boot.
Comment Part 90 vs Part 97 (Score 1) 376
Amateur Radio is a Communications "Hobby". An Avocation. Not a service you can subscribe to.
You have to learn how things work, set up your rig(s), antennas and accessories, learn their strengths and weaknesses, learn what modes and bands do what and why, develop your own skills and equipment, practice then - learn more, explore and understand what and how to accomplish your goals and then, "When all else fails", you can be a real asset to user agencies and even yourself. An trained, experienced RF communicator.
But, to just go get a license and expect to be able to meet emergency needs - and worse, set yourself up as such - that's a huge stretch. Yes, there are anecdotes where a few 'n00bs' have helped - but those are the exceptions and even then, they'd have been able to offer more if their foundation was deeper and broader.
That's possibly an insight into why some (of us) hams are so "anti-emergency" appearing in their perspective. If you want an "emergency" radio - go buy one. If you want to equip your emergency service with a 'back up' system. Don't use Amateur Radio - get a backup system.
It's because hams have learned the radio art, when an emergency presents, they can meet the needs "when all else fails". But you can't be proficient in the art just because you have a license. That's just the beginning. But what a journey it is!!
You have to learn how things work, set up your rig(s), antennas and accessories, learn their strengths and weaknesses, learn what modes and bands do what and why, develop your own skills and equipment, practice then - learn more, explore and understand what and how to accomplish your goals and then, "When all else fails", you can be a real asset to user agencies and even yourself. An trained, experienced RF communicator.
But, to just go get a license and expect to be able to meet emergency needs - and worse, set yourself up as such - that's a huge stretch. Yes, there are anecdotes where a few 'n00bs' have helped - but those are the exceptions and even then, they'd have been able to offer more if their foundation was deeper and broader.
That's possibly an insight into why some (of us) hams are so "anti-emergency" appearing in their perspective. If you want an "emergency" radio - go buy one. If you want to equip your emergency service with a 'back up' system. Don't use Amateur Radio - get a backup system.
It's because hams have learned the radio art, when an emergency presents, they can meet the needs "when all else fails". But you can't be proficient in the art just because you have a license. That's just the beginning. But what a journey it is!!
Comment Re:Smart Meters, not Internet Service was Behind B (Score 1) 97
Jerry, with such an obvious "spin" statement, I have to wonder which one of the FCC's pet BPL investors you represent or work for?
From day one of this fiasco, BPL was touted as the great "last mile" technology for rural America. It was to make easy, fast and reliable Internet connectivity available to Ma and Pa Kettle. Now, that the FCC has been proven to be complicit in foisting this ineffective and flawed technology (that has been similarly abandoned by almost every other country that's tried it) on a gullible America, you have the gall to suggest "They didn't really mean that"???
Fess up - who's signing your checks? Or are you just blind to the facts due to sight-line obstruction?
The one good thing? Rule of Law still prevails in the US - even if it takes smashing it over the heads of those that are tasked to enforce it.
From day one of this fiasco, BPL was touted as the great "last mile" technology for rural America. It was to make easy, fast and reliable Internet connectivity available to Ma and Pa Kettle. Now, that the FCC has been proven to be complicit in foisting this ineffective and flawed technology (that has been similarly abandoned by almost every other country that's tried it) on a gullible America, you have the gall to suggest "They didn't really mean that"???
Fess up - who's signing your checks? Or are you just blind to the facts due to sight-line obstruction?
The one good thing? Rule of Law still prevails in the US - even if it takes smashing it over the heads of those that are tasked to enforce it.
Comment Re:What about the standard way ? (Score 1) 405
Nothing personal stim - but just asking this question shows an abysmal lack of understanding.(Maybe I missed the attendant sarcasm?)
AV software is a panacea, a vaporous comfort blanket that serves to only make the sellers money. Read the earlier comments to gain some insight into why this is so.
Then, find a local PC geek - someone who works this arena for a living, not your cousin's gamer kid - ask them to explain to you how many systems they've seen with current, up to date and active AV software from reputable vendors that have been borked beyond use by ignorant user actions.
Folks that think they're 'clean' just because their AV software dejur says they're clean are a mal-code authors wet dream.
AV software is a panacea, a vaporous comfort blanket that serves to only make the sellers money. Read the earlier comments to gain some insight into why this is so.
Then, find a local PC geek - someone who works this arena for a living, not your cousin's gamer kid - ask them to explain to you how many systems they've seen with current, up to date and active AV software from reputable vendors that have been borked beyond use by ignorant user actions.
Folks that think they're 'clean' just because their AV software dejur says they're clean are a mal-code authors wet dream.
Comment Re:Ham Radio Community is ROFLIAO (Score 1) 330
No Kidding!!
And a "tech news" site gets all wet over this? Talk about being out of step with current technologies. Real shame when a 'tech news' site looses touch with the foundations of technology. This really does make /. look - well, rather quaint.
My son was making contacts via satellite and chatting with the ISS crew years.ago. He was 8 then. Maybe I should've submitted that to /. Who thinks it would've made front page then?
This is "Entry Level" stuff for most any ham that can breathe and talk at the same time.
And a "tech news" site gets all wet over this? Talk about being out of step with current technologies. Real shame when a 'tech news' site looses touch with the foundations of technology. This really does make
My son was making contacts via satellite and chatting with the ISS crew years.ago. He was 8 then. Maybe I should've submitted that to
This is "Entry Level" stuff for most any ham that can breathe and talk at the same time.
Comment Re:If All You Have Is a Cell Phone... (Score 2, Interesting) 213
That requires a license - training - practice - effort - learning - preparation - actually doing something rather than just paying some one else take care of your needs (cell co) and then whining when their stuff breaks.
Least with my HF rigs - only infrastructure I depend on for communications are the laws of physics and the presence of time/space.
Interesting in this consumer society where paying a bill insinuates the right to whine. Kudos to those that do rather than gripe.
Least with my HF rigs - only infrastructure I depend on for communications are the laws of physics and the presence of time/space.
Interesting in this consumer society where paying a bill insinuates the right to whine. Kudos to those that do rather than gripe.
Classic Shooters Heretic and Hexen Released Under GPL 74
phanboy_iv writes "Fans of both of the Raven classics, Heretic and Hexen, have been trying for almost a decade to convince Raven Software to release engine source code for the games under the GPL, much like the DOOM engine on which both of them are based. Well, they finally did it! Source code is available at Sourceforge. Both of these games have had the source available for a while, but under a restrictive license that hindered ports and modifications. Now, thanks to dedicated fans, that's no longer a problem."
