Pleasantly surprised by Linux...for a couple of days...The Short Happy Life of Francis Linux Macomber
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From: Homer on 5 Aug 2010 19:37 Verily I say unto thee, that thanatoid spake thusly: > For a super-fast lo-resource Win browser, check out www.offbyone.com [quote] Click here to download the Off By One Browser Setup kit or ZIP file package, posted January 2, 2006. [/quote] A proprietary browser that hasn't been touched in over four years. > No javascript, no flash, 100% safe browsing without bells/whistles. Try this "super-fast lo-resource browser" instead: http://code.google.com/p/arora Javascript, flash, 100% safe browsing with bells/whistle. And unlike "OffByOne" is cross platform, currently maintained, GPL licensed, and scores 100% in the Acid3 test. -- K. http://slated.org ..---- | When all else fails, MOVE.L 4.W,A6 and JSR -726(A6) `---- Fedora release 8 (Werewolf) on sky, running kernel 2.6.31.5 00:36:56 up 1 day, 1:46, 1 user, load average: 0.01, 0.00, 0.04
From: Homer on 6 Aug 2010 08:12 Verily I say unto thee, that Chris Ahlstrom spake thusly: > Homer posted this message in ROT13 encoding: >> http://code.google.com/p/arora >> >> Javascript, flash, 100% safe browsing with bells/whistle. >> >> And unlike "OffByOne" is cross platform, currently maintained, GPL >> licensed, and scores 100% in the Acid3 test. > > It's in the Debian repository, too. Same with Fedora. However, the OP needs the Windows version, and Windows is handicapped by lacking a central repository or any kind of package management, so he'll need to download it the old-fashioned way. -- K. http://slated.org ..---- | When all else fails, MOVE.L 4.W,A6 and JSR -726(A6) `---- Fedora release 8 (Werewolf) on sky, running kernel 2.6.31.5 13:11:50 up 1 day, 14:21, 0 users, load average: 0.01, 0.02, 0.00
From: Homer on 8 Aug 2010 23:01 Verily I say unto thee, that thanatoid spake thusly: > Hi Homer > > (BTW, I realized you did not write 'The Odyssey' but are probably a > major Simpsons fan. Oh well...) I like The Simpsons, but I'm not a major fan really. In fact I barely watch any TV at all. I was actually given my nickname by a work colleague many years ago, apparently because he thought I looked like Homer Simpson. > I know the suggestion that the "whole Linux operation" could be a > NSA/CIA scam was more than a little insane, but [...] > Subject: Re: Warning about FLV files From: net(a)watch.com Newsgroups: > alt.binaries.tv.shaggable.babes ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ LOL! > In article <s203165mkksr2sm594kjvdsd3g6qtcujgr(a)4ax.com>, > jerry(a)home.com says... [snip various stuff only half of which is true] > http://forum.hidemyass.com/showthread.php?tid=1751 > http://forum.hidemyass.com/showthread.php?tid=1766 Interesting, although largely irrelevant to my situation. WRT Flash, I don't use Adobe's plugin, but a Free Software plugin called Gnash. Like any other software, it's entirely possible that Gnash has bugs too, but they're unlikely to be the same bugs, and of course because this is Free Software it's open to peer review (my "circle of trust"). I have also looked at the relatively small sources for Gnash too, in the past, out of curiosity, and didn't see anything particularly sinister. WRT PDF, I use Okular mainly, again because it's Free Software, so any Adobe Reader / Acrobat bugs don't apply. Again, it may have it's own bugs. WRT Google, conspiracy theories about them may or may not be true, but there is nothing in any of the data I store on their servers that I wouldn't publish openly anyway. Indeed, the documents I store on Google Docs eventually end up on my blog, which is exactly what I use the service for. They have an accounts area which allows you to review exactly what data they've stored about you, and you can change or delete it at any time. Currently my profile is mostly blank, and I use the Customize Google plugin for Firefox to anonymise my search queries, along with cookie management, a VPN service, and various other privacy and security measures. But despite all that, I don't really have anything to hide anyway, so frankly I think even the measures I do take are rather over the top. WRT Linux, I think the poster in the above article is just being hysterical, for the most part, and his claims are entirely unsupported. The only point he makes that's anywhere near valid is WRT data being sent back from GNU/Linux installations. He doesn't name specifics, but he's probably referring to a tool called SMOLT, which is optional and may be turned off or even removed. SMOLT is basically a voluntary data collection service that collects and collates anonymised system data (type of hardware, etc.) It's quite harmless, and allows distro maintainers to better target users' requirements based on the type of systems out there. Personally, I don't like that it's installed by default (opt out), but the fact is it's quite harmless. The data it sends is stored in plain text and may be reviewed before sending (if at all). By far the only real threat in all this is various departments of the US government, including the NSA, but not for reasons that have anything to do with GNU/Linux. They have the power to search and seize data from anywhere in the US, without a warrant, without being required to give a reason, and without even requiring to inform the owner of that data. They simply write their own "hall pass" called an NSL (National Security Letter) then pretty much do whatever they want, wherever they want, whenever they want, without any probable cause or justification. Worse still, the holder of that data (e.g. the ISP) is then gagged by court order to prevent him from even telling anyone an NSL was ever issued, and any subsequent leaks of this NSL are similarly gagged, so that e.g. the press can't even report it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_security_letter So believe me, Google is the absolute /least/ of your problems. If you have any data of any kind sitting on a server in the US, be it with Google, your bank, or anyone else, then the US government can access it without warrant and without even informing you, either before or after the event, until and unless they come to arrest you under whatever pretext they feel is justified (e.g. you criticised some American invasion of a foreign country, therefore you must be a terrorist). The real irony in all this, is that the US government then has the gall to criticise China for it's censorship and human rights record, when they are themselves basically operating like the Stazi. Very fortunately for me, I'm not an American, and I don't live in the US, however even we Brits need to beware extradition orders, since apparently the UK has a "special relationship" with the US which enables the American government to demand the UK Home Office hands over British citizens to them without question or explanation. So in that sense, even we are threatened by the same Stazi that threatens the US. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extradition_Act_2003#Controversy -- K. http://slated.org ..---- | "Satisfaction with a current Android phone doesn't translate | into desire to buy a new Android phone" ~ ZnU, CSMA refugee `---- Fedora release 8 (Werewolf) on sky, running kernel 2.6.31.5 04:01:24 up 4 days, 5:11, 1 user, load average: 3.19, 3.28, 3.22
From: Hadron on 9 Aug 2010 06:29 Homer <usenet(a)slated.org> writes: > Verily I say unto thee, that thanatoid spake thusly: >> Homer <usenet(a)slated.org> wrote in news:qqs2j7-m1a.ln1(a)sky.matrix: >>> Verily I say unto thee, that thanatoid spake thusly: > >>> Hmm, I can think of better ways to not be victimised by MS, such as >>> not using Windows at all. >> >> For a variety of reasons (Skype works properly > > That's another proprietary program I don't trust, and apparently with > good reason too: > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype_security#Flaws_and_potential_flaws > > That's quite a list of security issues, especially for someone as > protective of his system as you. > >> there are MANY newsreaders which actually WORK fully, old age brain >> melt/inability to adapt to a new system > > You're never too old to learn. > >> - which, once I have tried it, as much as I hate to say it, offers no >> perceptible/verifiable advantages over Windows, and a LOT of >> disadvantages). > > There are certain features that GNU/Linux newsreaders tend to not > support, such as binary uploading (as you have found), however that may > be explained by the fact that few people in the GNU/Linux community feel > the need to participate in certain types of groups which, by and large, > only really exists to support "piracy". Total and utter nonsense.
From: Homer on 9 Aug 2010 10:50
Verily I say unto thee, that thanatoid spake thusly: > Homer <usenet(a)slated.org> wrote in news:ul74j7-1p4.ln1(a)sky.matrix: >> I have also looked at the relatively small sources for Gnash too, >> in the past, out of curiosity, and didn't see anything particularly >> sinister. > > I trust you realize that sinister organizations are pretty good at > disguising themselves. Did you know that Scientology owns and runs > the biggest "cult awareness" site? Something tells me the GNU Foundation probably isn't really affiliated with Scientology, given the two organisations' profoundly antithetical views on copyrights. >> WRT PDF, I use Okular mainly, again because it's Free Software, so >> any Adobe Reader / Acrobat bugs don't apply. Again, it may have >> it's own bugs. > > "Its", not "it is". I do it subconsciously, and of course the spell-checker doesn't pick up those sorts of errors. > BTW, what do you think of this little slogan I thought up (before I - > final verdict not in yet - "decided" that Linux just was not worth > the hassle): > > Have You Leen Uxperienced? (With apologies to the greatest guitarist > of all time.) Looks awkward, and I have an aversion to using the word "experience" in slogans, after Microsoft's similar campaign for the "Windows XPerience". Here's my own version of the Windows XPerience campaign: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MVfOTtD6B0 But then, it's Flash, so you probably can't watch it. > I'd try to sell it but I hear Linux is all free or sum'pn. Free Software (including programs, music, films, books, and other content) is in fact /sold/ for profit all the time. Companies like Red Hat do it quite successfully. Free = freedom, not cost. >> They have an accounts area which allows you to review exactly what >> data they've stored about you, and you can change or delete it at >> any time. > > So they claim. Since when is Google in your 'circle of trust'? They aren't, but then they don't need to be, if I'm happy for the data they hold about me to made public. >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_security_letter >> >> So believe me, Google is the absolute /least/ of your problems. > > I am well aware of that. ;-) And I don't even live in the US - not > that it would matter if I did, since the most objectionable thing I > have ever done is suggest that there is NO way two buildings built by > the Japanese to withstand forces MANY times greater than a passenger > jet impact could NOT have fallen straight to the ground like they > (both) did, not to mention the third building which seemed to just > want to join in all the fun and did exactly the same. It was ludicrously obvious that those building were in fact subjected to controlled demolitions. I find it utterly amazing that the government can deny this, and people just accept their word for it. There are so many inconsistencies in the "official" story that it's clear the whole thing is a pure fabrication, but I've long since given up expecting any justice. > BTW - I just recently read that the CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE (yes, the > guys in those goofy red uniforms) have INTERNATIONAL POWERS! (They > put it differently, I forget the exact terminology.) I vaguely remember reading something about that. > Yes, it is rather curious how the UK gov't seems to be largely a > puppet of the US these days... We have been since the Thatcher/Reagan years, and probably even long before that (WWII). -- K. http://slated.org ..---- | "Satisfaction with a current Android phone doesn't translate | into desire to buy a new Android phone" ~ ZnU, CSMA refugee `---- Fedora release 8 (Werewolf) on sky, running kernel 2.6.31.5 15:50:05 up 4 days, 16:59, 0 users, load average: 3.68, 3.44, 3.32 |