Posts by Stephen Judd

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  • Up Front: Because You Should Know,

    I was just thinking about the refusal to disclose a list of blocked sites because it would provide a "shopping list" for sex offenders.

    But hang on. Those sites are blocked. That's the whole freakin' point. How can it matter if we know what they are? If the filtering scheme is in place, we still won't be able to get to them.

    Alternatively, if the filtering isn't robust and is easily evaded, the whole thing is pointless. Unless it's a way to collect potential offenders' information for later investigation...

    I know nothing about how paedophiles collect their material, but I wonder how much this software will stop. If it's torrented or emailed in zip files then this system won't do anything?

    This system won't, but zipped attachments to email can easily be inspected, and torrents can be interfered with.

    Someone on Slashdot a couple of days ago was claiming that your actual traders of kiddie porn post encrypted DVDs to each other, which strikes me as plausible.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: When it's Not Okay,

    <quote>But what do blind people have?</quite>

    Well, a blind spot is ultimately the area of the retina where the optic nerve joins it and there are no receptors so one can't perceive photons that happen to land there (incidentally, a marvellous disproof of "intelligent design" if any more was needed).

    So wearing my bloody-minded and annoyingly literal-minded computer person hat, which I think is the right hat to wear when people want to pick metaphors apart, I'd argue that blind people have them the same as anyone else, unless they're actually blind because they have no eyes, in which case they have none, or perhaps very big ones, depending on (you should the pardon the expression) your point of view.

    I'm going to take that hat off now, because it's quite tight and gives me a headache.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: When it's Not Okay,

    We all have our blind spots :D

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: When it's Not Okay,

    Nigel Latta? The first I ever heard of him was when he went on Sensing Murder and revealed himself as credulous and gullible. Somehow I think the Sensing Murder and Vote No demographics probably have significant overlap though.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: When it's Not Okay,

    their self-esteem and dignity should drive them out of the relationship

    That can be hard if your partner systematically works on undermining your self-esteem and dignity.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: When it's Not Okay,

    I am amazed by the number of women I have discussed this sorry affair with who feel sorry for Mr Veitch.

    When someone you like* does something terrible, that creates a contradiction: how can I like this terrible person? Only terrible people like other terrble people, and I'm not a terrible person.

    And one way to resolve that contradiction is to refuse to believe that the person did something terrible, or that there must be extenuating circumstances, so you can continue to like them and feel confident that your own moral status is ok.

    Everyone feels like this sometimes, but some people more than others.

    *or someone whose projected media personality you like.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: In the nicest possible way,

    Watch out, everyone! I just heard it's going to be Mean Italian Time from now on!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: In the nicest possible way,

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hard News: In the nicest possible way,

    excuse welding

    Man, it's a shame about the adult education schemes being axed, cos I'd totally take a night class.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Speaker: About That Telescope,

    Not according to this report:

    The offspring and I just watched that, and she said: "Not sure what to think of that; a bit too much self-mockery."

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

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