Disqus - Latest Comments for datarat

Re: Microsoft tries to stomp on VMWare

datarat — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:02:10 -0000

I wish it was just microsoft that did this, but it seems typical of the support industry. I'm in support myself, and when I run into a problem that COULD be my software, I do everything in my power to make sure it's not before suggesting the customer look elsewhere. However, other companies don't feel this way. Logitech is a particular example. I was having trouble with severe lag with my Bluetooth mouse and keyboard when using a headset with the computer. Their answer: The headset isn't by logitech so they don't support it.

That's a little like saying they don't support a webcam because it's plugged into a third party usb hub. Then I had to argue with the next tier about bluetooth profiles and firmware.

In the end I solved the problem myself.

Re: Firefox 3

datarat — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:24:35 -0000

Why settle when you can have it all:
http://lifehacker.com/355973/make-your-extensio...

Re: Smart people live longer

datarat — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:03:35 -0000

Honestly, this is no surprise. If you've ever had a relative die right after saying "Hey y'all, watch this!" you can see the connection.

Re: Skimpy prom dress gets teen kicked out of prom

datarat — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:16:13 -0000

I don't know what to think of this. The outfit might be fine for a beach, but why in the world would a girl, on a night that's supposed to be formal, decide she wanted to wear something like that? The phrase "cluesless" doesn't begin to cover it.

Maybe I'm just old...

Re: Pizza Hut is off the list

datarat — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:28:56 -0000

Thanks for the update Trevor. I'd been wondering what happened in this case, and this is criminal.

Re: Squashed

datarat — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 01:23:41 -0000

ER, Looks like I'll be taking a bus...

Re: The only important Presidential question

datarat — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:13:16 -0000

What can I say to convince you not to vote for another power mongering, empty promise making lying sack of crap?

How about "I'm running for president."

The horrid contradiction is that often the people who want responsibility are not the ones who should have it. I then falls to those who do not want it to take it just to be free of the idiots.

It's a terribly high price to pay, and sometimes to achieve the goal you must lie through your teeth and betray your principles in order to reach the point at which you can change things. By which time you have become what you have beheld, etc etc.

Most people (not just Americans) have a sadly short sense of perspective. They look at immediate gain without consequence for future costs. And denial is one of humanities most powerful abilities. Otherwise, how would there still be people advocating communism, a system that killed 75 million people in the 20th century?

Re: Skin whitening is the new rage in Asia

datarat — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 10:22:06 -0000

The grass is always greener on the other side...

Re: The case of the $65 million dollar pants, part deux

datarat — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:48:46 -0000

You see, it was the 54 million dollar bribe in the pants pocket that he can't get replaced...

Re: Geek practical jokes

datarat — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 10:57:24 -0000

That's brilliant, and just plain wrong.

Let me know if that keyboard goes up for sale on eBay.

Re: Not necessarily a Ron Paul sycophant but . . .

datarat — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:33:24 -0000

I'm not sold on Ron Paul, because he's characterizing Iraq as an attempt to force democracy on people who don't want it. I suppose that's a failing of mine, but I really don't believe honest, ordinary Iraqis don't want liberty.

I would have thought he was brave to appear on Stewart's show with an "R" in front of his name, but he seems to fit right in.

I'm a believer in smaller government, unlike many Republicans currently in power, but I truly want someone who's less anti-military, and his constant reference to Militarism and lack of constitutionality seem very much like the ravings of the crew over at DK.

Re: The most important story Americans will ignore today

datarat — Wed, 30 May 2007 16:07:57 -0000

As if that weren't bad enough, most corporations use accounting practices that would get the average individual locked away for life.

Re: We’ve lost in Iraq

datarat — Wed, 16 May 2007 20:12:33 -0000

This makes me sad beyond belief. Even when a man has courage they won't allow him to use it.

I'm no Fan of the royal family, but as I understood it Harry wanted to go with his unit because they were his men. It seems to me that if the so-called Royal Family has any purpose at all it's to server as a role model. That kind of dedication to duty would have been a breath of fresh air in London.

As far as specific threats go, I think he would have made great flypaper for insurgents looking to find martyrdom. And excuse me for being a cold cynic, but on the off chance that one of them got lucky I'd also note that the Brits are touchy about their royalty getting dead. Might fire them up a bit.

Re: Terrorists with names that rhyme more likely to die

datarat — Mon, 14 May 2007 17:25:41 -0000

I have to wonder if the first person to get this report didn't say "No, really, what was his name?"

Re: Two million displaced Iraqis

datarat — Tue, 15 May 2007 12:28:23 -0000

I would say that I qualify as naive here. I don't think admitting refugees would be tantamount to admitting failure, I think it would be merely charitable.

But then, I'm not a politician.

Re: Two million displaced Iraqis

datarat — Mon, 14 May 2007 17:10:45 -0000

While I agree with you completely about our responsibilities in Iraq, I have some doubts about the facts as reported.

The report says the numbers are estimates, so like the Lancet numbers the methodology is critical. I'm also sure that you've noticed that the UN has a vested interest in pumping up those numbers in order to keep eyes off the devastation in Somalia.

Finally, I suspect the writer may have an agenda. The article notes that the writer is a fellow of the New America Foundation, which thinks things like Universal Risk Insurance and there's this, proudly displayed on the web site of the New America Foundation:

Nir Rosen - who speaks Arabic and has Middle Eastern looks - went to Iraq in April 2003, just days after Baghdad fell.

Entering mosques and tribal meeting halls, and afforded access to fighters' secret meetings and Iraqi homes, he documented the deadly behind-the-scenes manoeuvring in the post-Saddam power vacuum.

So I'm not saying there's not a problem. Most assuredly there is, and it needs to be addressed. But I do wonder about the bias inherent in this reporter.

There is a reported number of refugees admitted to the United States, but I'd be more interested in the number rejected, and why. You've noted before the barriers to citizenship in this country, but I wonder about the barriers for shelter or asylum.

Re: Different strokes for different folks

datarat — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:41:53 -0000

If anything, I'd arrest him because he claimed that he "accidentally" shot the kid. If you shoot someone, you'd best mean it.

"Oops" is not something that should ever be heard around firearms.

Re: A surprise party

datarat — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:18:55 -0000

Welcome home Trevor. And thanks again to you and all your mates.

Re: Which direction is Iraq moving?

datarat — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:47:44 -0000

I find this more disturbing than all the other tales of failure I'm regaled with on a daily basis.

Being an optimist, I suppose I could say that if they're not being summarily shoved into a grinder it's a good thing, but I just can't dredge up that much optimism right now.

Re: What happens when the troops go home

datarat — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 17:37:33 -0000

I agree with you about facing the truth Trevor, but the fact is that most people can't see much beyond the next headline.

I have a sister who's about as staunchly conservative and Republican as you can get short of some of the scarier fundamentalists, and she has told me on more than one occasion that she's not voting for another Republican until all the troops are brought home. "It's horrible what's happening over there. Our boys don't need to be in that kind of danger."

And she supported the action in Viet Nam.

So something has given her the opinion that all is lost and why the hell do we care about another country anyway? So perhaps she doesn't realize that the majority of Iraqis are just like us, and just want to do their jobs and raise their kids. Maybe the death toll has convinced her that if it's not easy it's not worth it.

Maybe the Administration hasn't explained it well enough, or it's message hasn't been accurately relayed to the public. Both are options.

So the politicians play the game, and some try to convince us it's not so bad and others describe the apocalypse. In the mean time the decisions get deferred while people of conscience make the best decisions they can based on the information they have.

Re: If It Walks Like A Duck…

datarat — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:21:33 -0000

Orlando: As soon as his militia crashes airliners into buildings and funds terrorism around the world, we can talk about it.

I know I know. Don't feed the Troll.

Re: I love you mister

datarat — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:31:14 -0000

My father always told me that G.I.'s had a reputation for generosity after WWII. I'm glad to see that tradition carried on. He'd be proud.

Re: Neutrality in foreign relations

datarat — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 13:53:16 -0000

Oh, one more note. Trevor, I agree that our current morass of treaties and entanglements is unsustainable. That doesn't mean they're not necessary.

But the sooner we can get out of it, the better.

Re: Neutrality in foreign relations

datarat — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 13:50:03 -0000

Shane: I'm not sure which parts were contradictory, but I'd like to find out. If my reasoning or my communication is muddy, I want to be more clear. Email me if you don't want to respond here.

Dale & Trevor: I didn't expand on my point about making the world safer. No, I don't believe that the US should be the world's police force, and more than anything I think US troops should be used sparingly.

The fact that the US has arguably the best trained and equipped force in the world should not eclipse the fact that they are a relatively small force in comparison to the rest of the world.

Therefore, it should be used more as a fulcrum than a lever, allowing the power of America's economic and political resources to be used in leveraging results.

Sadly, some times you have to move the fulcrum in close to get the desired results. But the end result is that you don't need the force at all.

It's partly because the United States allowed the situation in the Middle East to fester for so long that we have to deal with terrorism on this scale.

huh, I'm writing more on your blog than on mine...

Re: Neutrality in foreign relations

datarat — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 12:43:19 -0000

Trevor, the problem is that the problems that can affect the United States are not reliant on the number of troops we can deploy, but rather the opposite.

If other nations were willing to act decisively the need would be lessened, but unfortunately the EU has rejected that possibility.

In any case, the solution is to make the world safer overall. Regardless of any stated objectives, I believe that is the goal in Iraq and the Middle East.

Point #2 is founded on the world of 50 years ago, however. The threat is ever more from non-state actors. Following the reasoning of much of this, all Israel could do in the case of being invaded and having soldiers kidnapped is to file a protest with the sovereign government of Lebanon. And file another protest when the rockets began to fall.

Hezbollah is a non-state actor, and gets it's funding from Iran and Syria to wage a proxy war. To respect Lebanon's sovereignty would be to ignore the peril at Israel's doorstep.

Re: Evacuating Lebanese-Americans: Possible Danger At Home?

datarat — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 13:56:54 -0000

Wow. That condescending tone is a bit irritating. And it's not even ME you being condescending to...

Re: Evacuating Lebanese-Americans: Possible Danger At Home?

datarat — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:14:47 -0000

I believe that I heard the evacuation was "Women and Children first", and I find that to be of interest.

Keep in mind that these evacuees are going to be bottled up for some time, and that would be an ideal time to do a little probing, assuming the NYT doesn't get it's dander up over illegal questioning of refugees from a war zone. (Hell, my dad did it durning the occupation of Germany, and most were thankful for 3 hots & a cot)

Think of this as an intel opportunity.

As far as the mention of "rug-sniffers" goes, the effectiveness of such terms is arguable. They tend to be rallying points for those who are already on the "side' of the writer, but used to excess or as the point of an article it tends to turn me off. I don't have a problem with people becoming emotional as long as there is reasoning behind the argument.

In that respect I agree with Shane to some extent. Were I visiting Lebanon I would sure as hell pack my knapsack and make for the border with a big white flag in one pocket and my passport in the other (er, which one do I show them this time?)

There is, however, a caveat: There are reports that Hezbollah is preventing some people from leaving the area in order to discourage bombings.

Complicated as always, and somebody won't like the way it turns out.

Re: Middle East choices

datarat — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:46:19 -0000

I don't know that they can accept anything less, but they may be shooting high and willing to accept a compromise. As I heard in a movie over the weekend "So you accept my proposal in principal, and now we're just haggling on price."

The thing is, from the Israelly standpoint this is a , protecting their people from attacks that originate outside the country. From the Lebanese perspective, it's more of a police action: Don't shoot at the neighbors.

Which doesn't make it any easier to implement.

Re: Rockets in flight, afternoon delight

datarat — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:38:52 -0000

More and more it seems that there's a disconnect somewhere in that the brass doesn't realize how important the information dissemination side of this war is. Like a lot of people, they don't really grasp information systems.

Re: Stretched thin

datarat — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 13:50:36 -0000

I've found that the layers of bureaucracy tend to accumulate because somebody, sometime, couldn't do what they were needed to do, and some other body instituted a system to prevent that from happening again. Essentially, it's a bulwark against incompetence that hinders the competent in the efficient pursuit of their goals.

There are very few reasons for a job to be shorthanded. Personell shortages are typically due to lack of funds, lack of manpower, or lack of oversight by competent managers. Often, a combination of all three.

I faced many of the same situations as a shift supervisor/die setter in another life. I'd be told that x number of parts had to be run in x amount of time and then a new job had to be set up and run x more parts. There was never enough time to do the job, and never enough people to do them.

The difference is that I was making little plastic switches, screw covers, and taillight lenses whereas you are doing something important. Something that one day you may be able to look back at and say "If I hadn't done this right, properly, and completely the world would not be the same today."

Hang in there, do your best, and don't forget that there are people above you whose responsibility is to give you the tools do your job properly. Don't let them off the hook just because you asked once and didn't get a response.

Re: Gambling is OK; Just Not Online Gambling

datarat — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 06:12:20 -0000

I guess the argument that, much like file sharing, the internet makes it too easy. Frankly, I can resist the urge to toss my money down a hole where the odds say I'll lose it, and I don't see why there has to be a law to prevent people with less impulse control.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Nothing in there about "protecting people from their own stupid behavior."

Re: Georgia’s Little Jihadist Part II: The Cracker Story

datarat — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 15:28:14 -0000

I don't think McKinney should be expected to be politically correct. If her attitudes are as overtly racist as all that, I think that the world should know and act accordingly. Unfortunately, Shane is right and she'll be given a pass on this, too.

I don't begrudge people there opinions, but I damn sure don't want people like that running the government.

Re: Who is responsible?

datarat — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 13:47:21 -0000

Actually, I'm the sort that wallows in misery and laments all the bad decisions I make.

Don't tell anybody. They all think I'm happy-go-lucky. ;)

Re: Veterans: your identities have been stolen

datarat — Tue, 23 May 2006 08:19:34 -0000

I'm not so sure this is evidence of government incompetence as it is indicative of the weak point in the system.

I'm sure you know that the weakest point in any security scheme is the human element, so when things rely on humans there is a high potential for failure. In this case there were procedures in place for safeguarding the data which the employee disregarded.

That's not to say that I don't agree with you overall on the problems with databasing large quantities of person data. Inevitably someone will do something stupid or self serving and bugger the whole thing up.

Best not to give them the opportunity.

Re: Army Captain sues to separate

datarat — Fri, 19 May 2006 05:56:28 -0000

Not being a soldier myself, I can still recognize bad management.

Officers, like managers, should be held to a HIGHER standard than the people they command or manage.

While it's instinctive to "hate the boss" for most people, those who are in charge have to do more than issue orders and enjoy the privelege. They need to serve as an example for those below them in the heirarchy and take responsibility for the actions of those in their employ or command.

This attitude makes other managers nervous, at least outside the military. I've fallen out of favor with fellow managers and superiors because I insisted on holding myself to a higher standard, and they always seemed worries that I held them to it as well.

Re: In good company

datarat — Tue, 16 May 2006 07:14:38 -0000

Don't sell yourself short, Trevor. In a gathering of giants, you'll find yourself noticing all the bald patches...

Congratulations!

Re: Signs of independence

datarat — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 12:24:12 -0000

What I think most people fail to grasp is that even a "pull out" will not mean a complete evacuation of troops.

Much like Germany and Japan at the end of WWII, there will be a sustained military presence, although daily patrols will come to a stop.

This is not a bad thing by any means. Post-occupation Iraq will probably be far less restrictive than Saudi Arabia. The US will negotiate a deal for a permanent military base, and a garrison will be stationed there.

This is good for 2 primary reasons. One, it gives us an advanced military base for action in the region and 2, it provides extended contact between American forces and Iraqis.

The second is actually the more important of the two. Just as Roman armies on the march attracted camp followers, Iraqi's will build businessess that cater to base personell. Money will flow into the surrounding community and cultural cross pollination will ensue.

This is not to say that the Iraqi merchants and American servicemen will be fast friends. Just like in military bases that the US has all over the world there will be a certain amount of resentment. But that resentment will be the tempered sort that one has when living next door to a disliked neighbor. You deal with him, but you don't try to kill him because you have to live here, too.

So when they talk about a withdrawal, most people really need to understand that what's meant is a decrease. All those troops have to go somewhere because they're not all reservists and National Guard. And as I understand it, there are no real plans to ramp the European bases back up to full time.

Re: Rumsfeld, Rice visit Baghdad

datarat — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 07:45:57 -0000

I don't know about CHAOS when the power goes down in American cities. I remember during Great Amish Weekend (August 2004) and not only was there a general party atmosphere (at least where I was) but I began to wonder if turning off the streetlights once a year so we could see the stars wasn't such a bad idea.

Still, it's hard to make any progress without electricity, and with power many smaller tasks become possible. Power generation is a more complex matter than you might think, but I agree that it should be a primary concern.

Re: Major general calls on Rumsfeld to resign; Rumsfeld says leaving Iraq would be like handing Germany back to Nazis

datarat — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 14:19:30 -0000

Of all the mistakes and finger pointing, I'm still having trouble figuring out which ones were foreseeable and preventable.

Troop levels were not obviously too low, for the simple reason that too many troops would have created a problem as well. I can't speak to that, because I know for a fact I don't have enough information to make that call.

But Rummy & Co. have shown a willingness to change if the situation warranted it. Were the changes enough? Were they right? No one has shown me any indication that a vast majority of aids were against any particular decision that turned out badly.

Life is uncertain, War doubly so. The armchair quarterbacks and tabletop generals are getting on my nerves.

And to think that firing one man will eliminate decades of anti-Americanism goes beyond wishful thinking. Click you heels three times and say "There's no place like UN Sanctions."

Re: Isaac Hayes can dish it out but he can’t take it

datarat — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 07:51:30 -0000

One of the unspoken clauses of the freedom of religion combined with the freedom of expression is that everybody has to endure some good natured, or often not so good natured, ribbing.

The Islamists like to say that the West is weak and decadent, but I think there's tremendous strength in being able to have your faith attacked and still be capable of functioning without descending into a murderous rage.

Strength in flexibility is something you'd think the Scientologists would have cued in on.

Re: Hacker Gains Root Access to Mac OS X in 30 Minutes

datarat — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 15:11:06 -0000

Oooh, yer killing me! Where's the original article?

Re: Interested in winning and also in the truth

datarat — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 11:27:49 -0000

The kind of deep historical hatred you're dealing with there may take generations to heal. Even here in the US "hate laws" have sprung up to make things like murder more illegal than they already are, in order to mollify a segment of the populace.

I figure that it's going to be a matter of getting the right people (by "right" I mean dedicated to an ideal of a peaceful Iraq) in place successively. That's tough, because the idealistic ones tend to get eaten by the opportunistic folks.

Time and incremental improvements. And, as you say, security. People have to know that they can speak out without immediate retribution.

Re: Bitches, gripes and my advice to military leaders

datarat — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 17:06:32 -0000

That's my point. The training and the reality are at odds.

The other thing to keep in mind is that for every person like you who wants to help and have some input, there are 5 who think that if your officer asks for input that means he's lost and has no business being in charge.

I've dealt with both in the same environment, people who dismiss me because I've tried to get a team consensus and people who despise me for having the audacity to make a decision that they don't agree with.

Ideally, you have the people on your team that work the same way you do. In some situations, like when you don't control the hiring, that's hard to do.

Re: Bitches, gripes and my advice to military leaders

datarat — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 11:32:49 -0000

In combat, decisive action is a virtue, but I agree that in strategic and especially information operations, the more ideas you have on the project the better off you'll be.

The Army is a combat operation, and I suspect much of it's officer training focuses on commanding respect and decisiveness. That needs to be looked at from an organizational viewpoint.

Re: A curious duck

datarat — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 00:27:06 -0000

Well. Didn't know there were ducks in Iraq. I suppose it stands to reason, what with the rivers and all...

I need to get out more.

Just tell me his name's not Daffy.

Re: Another interesting weapon – Beretta CX4 Storm

datarat — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 08:04:44 -0000

Or you could check out the PS90 talked about here.

Re: The Law by Frederic Bastiat

datarat — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 12:10:04 -0000

Not to undercut your Amazon sales, but you can also find it (and other titles)here as it's old enough to be off copyright.

Re: The Real Adventures of Spookytooth – Volume 1

datarat — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 16:38:26 -0000

I don't know where you're going with this, but keep going!

Re: How do you converse with the Jamals of the world?

datarat — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 16:41:06 -0000

I'll bet I'd get a laugh. I have a few of those myself. You see a whole different side of people when they're hammered.

Re: How do you converse with the Jamals of the world?

datarat — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 12:09:29 -0000

Trying to dissuade a conspiracy theorist is like trying to convince a drunk that ordering a pitcher of beer at last call doesn't mean he gets to stay and drink it.

Both will know that you're wrong, despite any evidence you provide.

Re: ‘Megacorporations Are Not A Natural Market Phenomenon’

datarat — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 11:52:26 -0000

I follow the argument's logic up to a point. He asserts several times that the corporation couldn't exist without government support, and I'll confess that I don't quite grasp the point.

I'm not a lawyer or really a businessman, but what powers does a corporation have that an individual owner not have, other than the ability to spread the financial risk out to other investor?

Re: Did The Ronulans Disappear Overnight?

datarat — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:52:54 -0000

Crud. I noticed about a week ago when I brought up some things that were bothering me. No Paulitical discussion whatsoever.

Re: OneNote Web Exporter

datarat — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:48:46 -0000

I've downloaded it and run the msi, but I can't seem to figure out how to launch it. Is there supposed to be a new menu item in one note or is it a standalone program? I can't seem to find it in any case.

What am I missing?

Re: OneNote Web Exporter

datarat — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 01:30:32 -0000

Thanks! The icon was hidden as unused, and I wasn't sure what it looked like. Great Plugin!