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Here’s another example of how wrong the patent system is. We really don’t need software patents in Europe! There seems to be some hope for the situation in the States though. We need more stories like that!

Some Linux related things. I suppose “military intelligence” isn’t such an oxymoron after all, at least not in Sweden. If you want to learn Linux, here are some tips. If you are so unfortunate as to be a Linux user forced to work on Windows then here are some tips for you.

There’s always some interesting things going on in the DRM world. How’s this for a story? Large music company sticks dodgy software from small company on CDs so that their customers’ unwittingly installs said software when trying to play the CD on their computer. Then it turns out that the software is dodgy and the large company is taken to court in class action suits all over the world. Now, who’s to blame? The large company that made the amazingly bad decision to treat their customers like criminals? Not if you’re Sony! Here’s a bonus article on DRM, a bit of scare mongering surrounding Microsoft’s use of “trusted computing”. Yes, technology can be used in bad ways, but I doubt even Microsoft would be able to stick to such a bad use of technology for long. Call me an optimist! I’m hopelessly late. Here’s an excellent explanation of why DRM is so hard from a technical POV.

I’ve been hoarding links on how to opt out of the NHS database here in the UK. They could turn out to be useful.

I doubt I’ll ever need this.

Looking to become a maintainer of some free software? Look no further.

If you live in the UK and shop online you should know your rights.

A funny story about security.

How’s this for ending on a funny/happy note? It seems the RFID tags in passports can be used to crash the RFID readers.

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Over to something more serious. I want a zooming desktop that uses the power of language. Something for GNOME 3 maybe?

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The only argument I can raise against the author’s reasoning, and bear in mind that I haven’t actually read the book yet this is all based on the interview, is that it’s “how not to be part of the problem”, but it’s not “how to solve the problem”. I suppose it really highlights the difference between “do no evil” and “do good”.

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Which Programming Language are You?

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Your programmer personality type is:

   PHTB

You’re a Planner.

You may be slow, but you’ll usually find the best solution. If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.

You like coding at a High level.

The world is made up of objects and components, you should create your programs in the same way.

You work best in a Team.

A good group is better than the sum of it’s parts. The only thing better than a genius programmer is a cohesive group of genius programmers.

You are a liBeral programmer.

Programming is a complex task and you should use white space and comments as freely as possible to help simplify the task. We’re not writing on paper anymore so we can take up as much room as we need.

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I really enjoy this, rather old article on superstitions in relation to computers. I never bothered counting my superstitions on Windows, but given that I’ve given up on understanding Microsoft’s products I suspect they run in the thousands.

Every developer needs Cenqua’s Commentator. I’m getting it as soon as I’ve saved the money. It’ll be the first piece of software that I pay for myself in years. Worth every penny though.

libgfshare. Please, go off and write some cool software using it. Please! If I were a FirefoxIceWeasel user I would use the Python sidebar. It looks so useful I might look into creating one for epiphany. If you’re considering doing something cool with PDF docs, have a look at extendedPDF. I think I’ve mentioned Rob Bradford’s GConf difftool in another post, or maybe not. Anyway, I’m hoping that’s the first step towards a tool that lets you export GConf settings between machines. Are you a Python web developer, Python Paste is yet another framework.

If you still believe that “do no evil” is enough then you won’t be interested in Google Watch. I however thing they should upgrade their slogan to “do good”, so I am interested.

I found the following post funny, but I’m probably the only one. Havoc doesn’t understand why distributed VCS is better then Subversion. I suppose that’s what happens when you are a famous FLOSS person that immediately gain submit access to any project one shows an interest in. For the rest of us; thank goodness for distributed VCS.

Old news, but Firefly fans are bloody brilliant.

More old news, I don’t really see why I should worry about “identity theft” from someone rummaging through the rubbish in my wheely bins while the UK banks are so careless with client information.

With great power comes great responsibility. It’s sad when language designers don’t believe the developers deserve the responsibility. Here’s a post on the difference in attitude between C# and Python when it comes to empowering the developer.

I had fun reading about the evolution of a Haskell programmer, even though I didn’t understand all the code.

Well, I actually do believe in the cheerleader defense for wireless networks. Anyone who has looked at software security knows that plausable deniability is much easier to achieve than locking down a system. IANAL but I still believe in the phrase “beyond reasonable doubt”.

Now, I wasn’t planning on running Vista on any of my private machines. After reading this, rather long, article on Vista’s EULA I’m absolutely certain of that. I’m almost thinking Microsoft is taking a piss out of their users. However, evidence is mounting that they aren’t. I can’t help but wonder how their “de-activation” will hold up in legal systems outside of the US. I also wonder how much further this distrust-your-user craziness in EULAs can be taken before users start reacting negatively.

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If you haven’t seen DCLugi’s Snakes On A Plane auditions on YouTube you need to!

Bruce Schneier reported on this a while ago, I need to keep the link around. What to do when your neighbour is using your internet.

Our “honourable” EU politicians are finally worrying about the right things when it comes to Microsoft. Microsoft is all about lock-in, they’ll use security to achieve it if they can. Microsoft is of course responding. I wonder if they’re ever going to inhabit the same world as I am? Vista creating 100000 new jobs? Only if changing the title of a position from “Windows XP Developer/Administrator/Shithead” to “Windows Vista Developer/Administrator/Shithead” counts as “creating a new job”. I think Linux Journal is too kind when they call it Microsoft’s Masterpiece FUD. I think it only shows just how desperate Microsoft is to get Vista out the door.

Digital Rights Ireland are challenging the Data Retention Directive. I hope they are successful, I don’t there are many citizens in Europe who would be sad to see that invasive directive go away.

A good article on “open vs. closed” from the Financial Times—A closed mind about an open world. FT is increasingly “getting it”.

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud when reading this article trusted computing—Trusted computing a shield against worst attacks?. Let me see if I got it right. Phoneix Technologies, who happen to make a TPM module, pays analyst firm Trusted Strategies to have a report on digital attacks done. Then, surprisingly, the analysts come back and say that a TPM would have stopped most of those attacks. Who would ever read and put any faith in a report like this? Besides other analysts of course. I can’t help but think that the computer analyst firms are locked in a circle-jerk that’s paid for by computer companies. It is a very strange world we live in.

Thinking of writing a media app in Python? This seems like a good place to start.

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Britain has just been blessed with a system of threat levels. Bruce Schneier isn’t impressed and I can’t help but wonder what should we do now that the threat level is SEVERE?

RFID seems to be the rave at the moment for securing things, which means it’s the rave in circles that break stuff. Here’s an interesting story on how secure signal-emitting chips in car keys are. It seems the RFID in passports has been cracked as well.

To end on a lighter note, you can now get your computer to do useful stuff by hitting it.

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Mr Smith said last night the brochure was written for a Christian audience and outlined the biblical philosophy of child punishment. Many Christians did not want to see smacking banned as that would take away parental authority, but he conceded the brochure would appear as “total nonsense” to non-Christians.

I’m sure it’d appear as “total nonsense” to sensible Christians as well

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Here’s an article on Britain’s anti-terrorism policy. It pretty much confirms the worries I’ve had but haven’t been able to put my finger on.

You can always trust El Reg to report on the silliest things ever. Here’s an article on a futurologist’s prediction that men will lose out to robots. This can be shot down on so many levels it isn’t even funny. Except it is

Ending with some funny stuff. A map of the Software Wars. I’ve recently discovered Humorix, this announcement on Microsoft’s plans for a DRM-oriented language had me laughing out loud.

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They appreciate, he are futurism, aligned of the resistance?

From

Do you like your quasi-futuristic clothes, Mr. Powers?

Well, you use http://www.tashian.com/multibabel/ of course.

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Just recently I had to deal with the UPC help desk. They had made an error in the bill they sent (their billing department is infamous in the Netherlands) and I needed to make them deduct about €80. I found out that I can’t call them from the UK, probably due to the 0900 number their help desk has. After a short call to their ordering line, where I was rudely told that I had a problem and they couldn’t help me, I had no option but to use the web form. Previous experience interacting with their help desk through the web form had left me discouraged to say the least, but I had no choice. Pay €80 to much or endure the web form? Not a difficult choice! Then I came up with the Help Desk Game.

The rules are easy. You use the web form to send in a “mail” every day, until you receive your first reply. Chances are every “mail” will be answered by a different person, who doesn’t know about the other “mails” you’ve sent. This means you should receive one answer for every “mail” you send in. Then you collect all answers and keep score to see what side wins. It’s a marvellous little game that definately helps to push your help desk experience from please-let-me-die-now to a-coma-would-be-nice. You might survice the latter you know .

As I mentioned I recently played the game with the UPC help desk as unknowing opponents. The outcome? The game lasted four days, hence I sent four “mails”. I came out as a clear winner, 3 to 1 in my favour (i.e. there was one help desk drone who claimed that UPC had made no error and I had to pay the full amount on my bill, despite my having cancelled the subscriptions the month before, amazing!).

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What is the difference between capitalism and communism?

In capitalism men exploits men. In communism it’s quite the opposite.

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