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Comment Return isn't always return (or enter) (Score 1) 306

As a point of historical interest, IBM mainframe and midrange (S/34, S/36 etc) systems had a similar physical but different functional layout for their terminal keyboards again.
The "big" return key on most PC keyboards was "Field Exit" (sometimes shown as "Fld Exit") and on data entry screens it left the current entry field and moved to the next data entry field, similar to how "Tab" is often used on screen forms these days.

The "Enter" (or sometimes "Send") key is where the right-hand control key is on most modern keyboards.
This key was what actually sent the completed inputs on the terminal screen back to the main processing unit for actual processing; everything up until then (such as field formats, basic content validation (eg numbers vs letters), cursor management etc) was managed locally by the 3270 terminal.

Comment This is not atypical behaviour from Apple (Score 1) 159

Whilst I'm irritated by Apple going outside the CA/B committee's decision not to shorten TLS certificates to 13 months, I'm also not surprised.
This is the sort of behaviour we can (and should) expect from arrogant, behemoth organisations such as Apple, Google and so forth.

However, speaking from my systems administration background, this is not necessarily a bad thing (potentially increased certificate costs aside).
It's a lot easier for an organisation to schedule certificate renewal processes for their web servers annually, including automating the CSR creation, submission, cert retrieval and web service update/restart.
Certificate vendors don't necessarily lose out either, as having client organisations renew (and pay for) certificates annually actually stabilises or regularises their certificate income per client, rather than experiencing the peaks and troughs endemic to longer periods between renewals.

The reasons why Apple has decided to go this route and force the issue are quite valid and not unreasonable.
The method they have chosen is not.

Comment That's actually almost an endorsement FOR Sanders! (Score 1) 459

This is tantamount to a ringing endorsement for Sanders, given the identified and confirmed malfeasance of tech organisations such as Facebook, Amazon, Apple inter alia by virtue of management policies, whether overt or implied.

As a somewhat disinterested Aussie observer, I suspect that US politics will almost have to lurch severely to the Left just to counter the current imbalance to the Far Right.
Hopefully once the political temblors have subsided, a sensible, stable, moderate government can come to power.

It would be nice to see America become the beacon for what's good about people again, rather than the pariah it's become on the world stage.
Not that America's the only pariah state right now. My own country has its issues too.

Comment Re:Sorry No. (Score 1) 171

One thing that still needs to be considered when drawing fibre through electrical conduit is how much clearance there is within the conduit along with the bend-radius of any elbow joints.
Because electrical cable gets warm when electricity flows, there needs to be a certain amount of "free" air around it to help allow heat dissipation.
20mm (OD) conduit (approximately 0.75" for the Americans) can effectively carry only one run of 2.5 sqmm 3 core flat flex (13mm wide x 7mm thick) because the conduit is only 14-15mm ID. (OD=Outer Diameter, ID=Inner Diameter). Trying to run another cable through the remaining space would be difficult (especially negotiating any bends/corners), and would effectively also de-rate the electrical cable as it's now got more material in physical contact, let alone the stress you'd be putting on the fibre cable. You'd have less trouble if the conduit was 25mm (approximately 1") or 32mm (approximately 1.25").
Still, if any of the elbows have too tight a bend radius, then that itself will place strain on the fibre cable to the point where it may no longer be within spec.

Comment Re:What's the big problem? (Score 1) 675

I don't understand any of the arguments for why the US didn't go with chip and pin. I've heard that people aren't used to it, and that they're used to signatures, but those are useless arguments IMO.

Well, what does one expect from a nation whose civilian population still uses English/Imperial measurements when most of the world is using metric?
As extra support for the argument consider the current GOP presidential nominee.

Comment Opinions are like arseholes - everybody has one... (Score 1) 371

...and often produce or involve the same resultant matter.

If I state that I believe someone to be a lying, thieving, useless-as-tits-on-a-bull, scum-of-the-earth dirtbag, then that's MY opinion (to which I'm entitled).
However if I state that someone IS a lying, ..... dirtbag without supporting evidence, then that becomes potential slander (if verbal) or libel (if published) and can thus be contested by the offended party.

So the question comes down to whether was he expressing an opinion, or was he making a statement of so-called "fact"?
If the former, then the involvement of the police is an infringement on free-speech and the right to express and honestly held belief, opinion or conviction.
If the latter, then it could be libellous (as it was written rather than verbal), and the offended party or parties can bring action against the author.

I don't believe however that either situation warranted the involvement of the police charging with disorderly conduct.

Please note, the above is MY opinion, to which I'm entitled.

Comment Re:My school prayer (Score 1) 735

I went to an Anglican (ie Church of England) school in Australia.
In our Theology classes (which we called "Divinity"), we studied not just the Christian ethos & mythos, but other religions too (and not just those of the Judeo-Christian tradition).
One thing my teacher (who was an ordained minister) emphasised that the Bible was "God's Word, as recorded by humans", and that whilst the spirit of the New Testament in particular should be followed, the Bible should not be taken literally, as humans were fallible, and that the stories had been translated from ancient, dead languages such as Aramaic, through Latin and Ancient Greek, through to more modern languages via French & Italian.

The translations can't be proven accurate as cultural and political agendas would have compromised the translations.
So, don't trust the Book as it is written. It's a re-hashed, much translated, much edited collection of stories that defined and refined various ancient cultures.

For those of you with the brains to think for yourselves, remember that not everything that is attributed to the Bible is actually contained therein.

Here's one example:
The mainstream Christian Churches state that marriage is a state of "Holy Union between one man and one woman", and many people say that's how it is in the Bible.
Bollocks!
The Bible is full of examples of polygamous marriages, and there is no injunction against having more than one wife for a man.

Nor is there a requirement in the Bible for men (or women) of religion to remain celibate.
The Roman Catholic edict for chastity & celibacy in its religious hierarchy is simply a way for the Church to control its employees (because that's what its priests and nuns are) and ensure that no assets can be passed out of its control via inheritance!

People often refer to the greedy cults and pseudo-Christian churches in America's "Bible Belt" (and they're correct to do so), but one of the greediest and morally bankrupt organisations has to be the Roman Catholic Church. Consider all their wealth, and then consider the abject poverty found in the developing nations in Africa. If the RC Church truly believed their own propaganda, the terrible conditions in Africa and elsewhere could be improved immeasurably.

Please note: In the above, I am referring to organised religions, not an individual's personal (and private) Faith. True Faith is internal and sacred, everything else is marketing.

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