Posts by Arty Effem

So all one had to do was send an unvalidated text? All he has done is to expose widespread gullibility.

It must be bugged.

The first rule of writing an AI simulation: Simulated beings must not develop the suspicion that they're simulated.

No results from those who contacted their manager after presumably getting the email in error.

If you can count up to three and think you received this email in error, ask yourself how it could have happened given that we use one of those computer thingies to record your clocking in/out.

Is there no-one left to tell them that the IPs could be from zombie machines, whose owners are oblivious to the activity?

When there's no proper outlet for one's talent...

This is the result of IT employers asking the wrong questions in interviews.

Risk Assessment

I'm just trying to assess the risk of someone transferring the data to a memory stick, then flying it across the border with an autonomous drone or similar. I'll do the same for radio and satellite links.

Those of us who don't suffer from Chrome, will continue performing the conversion mentally and on the fly.

I think I've analysed the problem: they should have mounted it on the end of a long wooden stick.

Prior to the ATX standard, many will recall that AT motherboards received power from two separate connectors, fitting adjacent to each other onto a single row of pins on the board. Unfortunately, it was possible (and common) to connect these incorrectly, thereby trashing the MB along with the components connected to it.

Someone who had done just this, asked me if I knew of any place that had a 'motherboard repair service'. In these situations one endeavours to keep a straight face, so I thought for a moment then replied: 'Actually all computer dealers provide this service; you just give them the spec of the equipment you've destroyed, and they'll cheerfully sell you replacements.'

There are some looks one never forgets.

Vacuum cleaners don't work in space.

What they won't mention...

If the objective of all this is to reduce pollution, let's remember that it takes more energy/pollution to create a car, than that car could ever cause during its lifetime.

If there were any experts on this subject, an inquiry wouldn't be needed in the first place.

That should put a huge crimp on Zuck's travel plans.

"strapped to one of the wheel's spokes"

One has to wonder how well it would withstand the g forces.

Estimating Popularity

"It's very hard to estimate the relative popularity of Linux distributions. Aside from a couple of paid enterprise distros, they're all free downloads without serial numbers, activation nor any other tracking mechanisms"

I'm sure I remember reading on this site that each copy of Firefox has it's own unique serial number. Given the relationship with Mozilla, that could be a tracking mechanism.

"probing distant radio waves?"

How is it possible to probe distant radio waves? Surely they have to reach your antenna first.

At another level, that ruling could make Facebook liable for everything appearing anywhere on its site, regardless of its source.

So 2.4 billion a year in damage, but the system will save only 0.35 Billion. Presumably most of the damage has other causes.

"Take that man's name, sergeant!" x 1182

"It was free and always would have been!"

Vetting Mechanisms?

""The information age has matured to the point where it's very difficult for people to represent themselves as something they're not," he said, pointing to sites like LinkedIn and GitHub as vetting mechanisms."

So they're vetting people via LinkedIn; a site that could have been designed for the purpose of fooling recruiters.

Sounds like a Year 9 programming test. Time allowed 90 minutes.

"It's surprising just how many things can be fixed with a bit of a jiggle."

Jiggle [verb]. to toggle an intermittent fault.