Catching up for May
Hey,
I know I don't blog much so heres a few things that you probably saw if you read my comments, but things of interest:
1) First off - complete tech nut Amal Graafstra responded to a few things I said about him and his girlfriend implanting RFID chips into their bodies. He makes quite a few good points about encryption and things like that - you know, I guess the point is, that they can always remove em, so it's a pretty great idea for anyone wanting to forget keys.
My only problem again is the fact that anyone could slice open your skin to steal your key to everything... although I guess that's just as easy as stabbing you to take your car keys, but still a bit more drastic. I'd rather go down the line of a custom watch or something. Of course then I'd have to start remembering to wear my watch.
Honestly, why does everyone assume that surgery will need to be performed or removal of the locks? Each tag ID has a unique code set on it at the factory, and it cannot be changed (it's laser etched into the memory paths). If we ever broke up, a three second reprogramming of the lock to remove her ID from the authorized list is all that's needed. That's much less work than having to replace the locks because you gave the other person an actual key!
Yeah, that part I was kinda joking - I mean it'd be pretty intense to have to slice open your skin because you broke up with someone... but it's a funny image to make.
It beats having to carry around pass cards, but again - if it ever got down to my boss telling me I have to implant myself to getting into work, or to sign in to my keyboard... that's when I start getting worried about where this technology leads us.
2) SQL Everywhere and Why I don't get it - I had a great reply by Thom Vreeland who explained why it is useful for his scenario. Again though with the Handheld.
So, I have to use SQL Mobile. However, cradle synching isn't part of SQL's design. Ok, so I'll use replication. Oh, wait! SQL Express doesn't support replication with SQL Mobile -- neither one supports Merge as a publisher.
...
So, how can I keep my databases together? The short answer is: Right now I can't!
...
Now, I'm only developing for myself. However, any developer who's designing a small product that uses database for storage might run into this problem. Can you really insist that someone install IIS, SQL Server or VS05 just to replicate data to their desktop from a handheld? Right now that's the only option. This new SQL product will open the door for mobile developers to have the best of both worlds -- replication/synching AND a full-fledged relational database.
Again it brings me to the point - do we really need all this investment of bringing SQL Everywhere off the mobile platform and onto desktops... or should there instead be more put into replicating between SQL Server/SQL Express with SQL Mobile?
Reading the comments on the post that started this all they're going to have Reporting Services support which is a good thing.
There are apparently also Demo Videos of SQL Everywhere for those who want to take a gander.
I still don't know though why I would use that product - I guess if I was into Mobile development I'd be more excited... but I think we'd be better off if they put more effort into the replication of SQL Mobile to SQL Express - if that is the true problem area.
I really wonder why Microsoft aren't putting SQL Express in with every release of Vista. As far as data storage for the future - and application support... I really think theres going to be a day where that product will be on every machine. I guess it may have something to do with monopoly laws and such, but I really, really see this as how it's going to be.
3) I can't believe the Liberal party get it right.
You may remember my post on where I think the Labour party are complete idiots about their plan of enforcing ISPs to handle censorship for Australian internet users. Where we have to opt-out of being censored.
Well the Liberal party did the right thing, they give people a free choice of installing software, and they give support to that.
Was it that hard?
Seriously, Kim is going to have to pull his head out of his posterior... I actually don't like the Liberal party leadership... but that point really showed me we've got no one up there that gets technology enough to build good policy on it.
Maybe I'm just being picky, and really it's only one decision right? But that one decision would have cost ISPs a lot, cost us - the public a lot in ISPs passing on the costs (which we'd probably get taxed on as well) and really just increase our frustration with what ISPs deliver.
Now we get a real choice on this.
And by the way, I thought all the crap that the Liberals have been spewing about getting Nuclear power into Australia was finally their first terrible decision they've made on their own - but I got up early the other morning and what did I see? A press item about George Bush travelling round America's power stations saying how "Nuclear power is the future of America"
I wonder if Howard has a pair of Bush's coat tails here in Canberra that he can ride around on? :)
Props to Midnight Oil frontman turned Professional Politician - Peter Garratt for promoting natural energies and renewable energies over this...
The one thing I don't get - if Nuclear energies are going to reduce greenhouse emissions, isn't increased mining and transport operations going to increase emissions? I mean really, we already mine for uranium, but surely we're going to have a lot more dozers, and trucks and things going on when we increase production for Australian use?
Plus theres the dumping, etc.
I know solar panels have heavy metals produced during their production - but surely we'd rather live with those side-affects ... which hopefully we could recycle, or hopefully they'd have a longer lifespan... than Nuclear waste and storage problems for the next however long?
I sure as hell don't want to be living in the community with the nuclear power station - call me stupid if you must, but I'd rather support Wind, Solar, Wave or any other energy where we're not having to go through having to mine a resource that is finite to get our power needs for the future... didn't we learn our lessons with oil and coal?
Someone correct me, but don't get mean if I don't agree - this is my world too.
Comments
mabster on on 5.29.2006 at 12:00 AM
I almost posted about Peter Garrett the other day, after his ludicrous appearance on triplej's Hack program.
He was asked what his position is on uranium mining, given that he's against the use of nuclear power. He responded with some vague statement like, "My position on uranium mining is well-known."
So Ronan Sharkey asked him to tell everyone. He replied, "The Labor party's position is that there will be no new uranium mines under their leadership."
So Ronan quite rightly asked the original question again: What's YOUR position, Peter?
Garrett responds, "I don't think I can be any more clear. I've told you my position." Complete and utter bullshit. He told us his party's position. He obviously doesn't agree with the party line and didn't want to say so publically, but he came across as a real snivelling political rat.
I personally don't have anything against nuclear power. If someone wants to build a reactor, I have a pretty big back yard. Bring it on!
crucible on on 5.29.2006 at 12:00 AM
Thats actually really surprising, because when you told me you commented about Garrett and you had issues with him - I thought about that exact same issue, that same interview and that was what I was planning to comment in response with!
Great minds think alike! And so do ours! :)
I completely agree with you about Garrett avoiding the topic was pretty transparent and completely sucked - this is what I hate about politicians... they can't go past the party line... and so what if Garrett isn't that popular with the party for something he says... I know that makes it difficult on him, but as difficult as losing the respect of the Australian public?
Yeah politicians seem to become a private little club where you can't piss off the club or you're out - where they should all be working on our behalf.
I think there needs to be a lot more transparency and honesty on issues from politicians - think we can get them to start blogging without running it by their PR crew first?
As far as building a reactor in your back yard, I feel sorry for your neighbours and I plan on moving far away as soon as possible...
Wait... that was your plan wasn't it?!
mabster on on 5.29.2006 at 12:00 AM
Did you know that your average coal-burning facility puts out as many Roentgens of radiation as a nuclear power plant, or maybe more?
crucible on on 5.29.2006 at 12:00 AM
Great, lets shut those down too :)
crucible on on 5.29.2006 at 12:00 AM
And do I live close to one of those???
thumper on on 5.29.2006 at 12:00 AM
Crucible - they haven't acutally decided to build a nuclear power plant in Australia have they? As far as I know they haven't, so really what's the problem with investigating it? It would be remiss of us not to and may not necessarily show us that we do need one. It can't hurt to investigate. Everybody's happy to consume more and more power every day, but when somebody puts forward a solution that will help us secure our future power needs, everybody jumps up and down and complains. Sure you're happy to have wind generated power, but you ask the people who live near the wind farms - they don't like it.
And good on Mabster for volunteering to have a nuclear power plant in his backyard - there's likely to be less trouble there than where the nuclear waste ends up being stored!
crucible on on 5.29.2006 at 12:00 AM
Thumper - if they don't rule out Nuclear power as an answer now, then investigating it generally leads to it being an option to be implemented.
Strange that, eh?
You're obviously for it, and so is Mabs...
Have you noticed what Intel are currently working on at the moment? Chips that dont increase speed, but reduce power.... obviously it hasn't been their focus and I'd assume its similar with other produces of electrical components.
I'd be more for spending the money on power reduction technologies and safer, natural solutions.
I love that you're happy to support it and I'm sure your wonderful town would love to house both the plant and the waste material.
I'm not for the "lets investigate all options" if we're not for an option, why investigate it? That's the excuse from people who are pro-nuclear, and quite frankly I don't see that as any way of "thinking more openly"
I think it's thinking more narrowly, because it's the only real option people are talking about...
And as for people who live near wind farms you're right...
And you know, people live near clubs for the nightlife, and then get sick of the noise and close down the clubs...
It's about placement of these things... and I'm more than happy to have any nuclear production facilities placed in New Zealand on our behalf.
As far as a solution for Australia? Surely the country that runs a solar car race every year to promote natural energies can come up with something better?
mabster on on 5.29.2006 at 12:00 AM
Solar's a great option, as is wind-power, but neither is going to generate enough energy to power all those air-conditioners in Australia's major cities as our population increases.
Nuclear's the only real option right now IMHO.
We happen to have this vast unpopulated desert, too ... wouldn't it be great if they could put a few reactors out there and run massive cables to where the power is needed? I doubt that that would ever happen, but it's a nice dream.
crucible on on 5.29.2006 at 12:00 AM
Yeah that'll never happen because of expense.
How about they put a nice big solar collector out there, and then put up a satellite with a big magnifying glass? :)
Or we need to look at better cooling technologies - lets face it the greenhouse emissions are what's making this place warmer apparently.
And hey, lets think about signing that Kyoto thingy that we decided not to because we wanted to support the US not doing it.
I don't have my heater on yet, how about you?
thumper on on 5.30.2006 at 12:00 AM
Crucible - I'm actually still undecided about nuclear power - I don't really have an opinion either way.
I disagree with you on the investiagtion bit - I think you have to investigate all available options, even if you are going to discount it in the end.
kristine on on 5.30.2006 at 12:00 AM
Being new at this, and not of the, ummm, Technology Intellegence Department Bettering Illitererate Trade Stumpers, better known as TIDBITS... I browse and read as much as possible. Crucible...I rather like your style. The environmental requirements and applications for our future generations will change dramatically over the next fifty or so years. It must.
And so, we must encourage new thinking.
I wish upper grade students were assigned to some of the bloggers and had to report on a weekly basis in a share group. It would keep bloggers at their best...open up the students world to others thoughts, which is a very difficult thing to do, and create a positive jumping platform into the
culture here. And the world at large.
I'm just a small thinker with big dreams learning how all this works, any help you can offer to get audio and Q at my site and other such artists support tools
crucible on on 5.30.2006 at 12:00 AM
Hey Kristine,
Well uh, thanks!
Taking a page out of my boy Mabster's book, I'd say first things first, when you do browse and comment on peoples blogs and things, make sure you include in the "Your URL" section .... your URL!
Basically wouldn't mind going over and seeing some more about people who comment on my site, but since you didn't I don't really have a way of finding you - reading what you have to say, or giving you feedback unless you're coming back or have subscribed to read this.
And trust me, there'd be a few curious minds who'd read what you wrote on my page and sneak a look in at your blog if you had left it.
Best thing you can do to encourage discussion is have an opinion and share it - the worst anyone can do is remove your comment.
Well that's not the worst, but in common, polite society that's what they'd do... if you're dealing with younger people, or me on a rant they'd send forth some abuse or a tirade on why I'm right and you're wrong :)
But I hardly ever do that any more - wisdom and a slight maturity with age or something (very slight!).
I don't know if encouraging kids to blog is the right way to go - I've seen myspace! :)
That said, getting them involved in Wiki projects, or doing what I heard in a recent Hanselman podcast - carrying around a pad and paper and jotting down thoughts and things ... very cool ideas.
I've thought about carrying around a pad and pen but you know, I'm a forgetful person (which is probably a good reason for carrying a pad) and never get to it.
But like Scott Hanselman said, public speakers and comedians and all sorts of people do it - to remember things they've gone through, or points for themselves, or whatever.
One of the best that springs to my mind is J K Rowling who carries around pads all the time and has always continually jotted down ideas, ideas, and more ideas... basically a whole host of different ideas went through a huge creative process and got her some book series that has done pretty well.
Anyway, come back and give me an idea of what sort of things you're after and we'll open up a bit of a discussion if you want - or at least come back and post a URL to your site so we can all have a peek and give you some feedback! :)
crucible on on 5.31.2006 at 12:00 AM
If anyone wants to see Kristine's blog, I believe this to be it: http://kristine1983mcanelly.wordpress.com/
Hairyman on on 6.01.2006 at 12:00 AM
I'm pro-Nuclear, but Mabster's backyard might not quite fit it in.
Tasmania would be a good option, since they now have that undersea cable between them and Victoria.
Nick Randolph on on 6.30.2006 at 12:00 AM
w.r.t SQL/e I think you have completely missed one of the main points (not to mention getting your facts slightly wrong regarding the product). As an application developer one of the concerns that we are often faced with when deploying in the corporates space is the need to have administrative privileges to install an application. Especially in the Vista timeframe where local administrative privileges will be harder to get we want an application that can be deployed without administrative privileges. So, considering SQL/x (which runs as a service - clearly requiring admin privileges) and SQL/(m or e) (which runs in-process) the clear advantage is that SQL/e can be installed/run without administrative privileges. Unlike SQL/x, SQL/e is simply a set of dlls which you can redistribute with your application - again simplifying the process of building applications
You mentioned in your initial post that SQL/e was missing almost anything useful (stored procs, triggers etc). As a client application why would you want these things - typically these are thing that you want on the server. The idea with SQL/e is that it is used as a client side database NOT a server product.
SQL/e does (as does SQL/m) support multiple connections so you can have multiple applications accessing the same database concurrently. This is one of the core improvements that was made with SQL/m (on which SQL/e is based).
Vista should NOT have SQL/x deployed as part of it - why would you want this. As an end user I don't want a database engine installed that I might never use. If Vista actually used SQL Server internally, then I could see a good justification for this.