Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Electronic Voting

Diebold makes the obnoxious cash2card machines that the University of San Francisco uses. It gives me a headache thinking this is teh same company we would privately contract for voting machines.

I for one have only ever liked paper voting, and is why I exclusively vote absentee. Those votes are probably digitally tabulated too though.

Whose idea was it anyway to buy voting machines from companies? Shouldn't a government agency be responsible for designing the hardware and software? Also Americans are starting to realize how little transparency the voting system has. Voting software should be strictly opensource. It's not liek open source software in inherently less secure; most server software runs on a unix-based OS and "keepass" is the safest password keeping software. Neither of these things would be the reigning champions in their field had they been closed source. Because we can analyse the code we can tell it's more secure. Why can't it be this way with democracy?

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Intellectual Property

Having been through two law classes I can understand that precedent and liability make intellectual copyright infringement an open and shut case. A legal realist would say that the law is the law, and you have to follow it whether or not you agree with it because it's "the law" - the end product of our collective democratic process.

Of course with all the businesses that have a vested interest in strict interpretation of the law, the "punishment" doesn't usually fit the "crime" when an injured party decides to prosecute.

I would hope one day cases could be somehow subjective rather than hard law. Consider the following:

- Downloading a song you don't own from a major label artist.
- Downloading a song you don't own from a struggling independent artist (who doesn't give you explicit permission).

The intent of the "criminal" in these cases can be entirely circumstantial. In "try before you buy" business applications such as car purchases, a test drive usually isn't illegal. These may be the same as:

- Downloading a song to "try it out" - if you like it enough, you'll buy the CD.

What about digital equivalents of borrowing? People have been making copies of tapes for a while, this is no different:
- Copying a CD from a friend, or ripping a CD you own to your hard drive, and then giving the CD away
- Downloading another copy of a song you already own.
- Making music you own available online to share with a couple of friends.
- Making music you own publicly available on the Internet, such as through KazAa or Limewire.
- Creating and giving away "Mix CDs" of music you like to friends

Profiting of unauthorized duplicates is rightfully illegal:
- Creating and selling "Mix CDs" of music you like to anyone who wants to buy them

And never do anything to hurt local music stores:
- Shoplifting a CD from a store.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Blog 4: Python Output Homework

This is just half the homework! Numbers 3 and 4 aren't done. It's due the 28th according to the class site. Most of the indenting is lost, so refer to the original code if verifying.

1. Given the following python function definition:

def combine(a, b):
result = 0
while b > 0:
result = result + a
b = b - 1
return result

a. What does combine(3,4) return?
0+a+a+a+a = 3*4 = 12
b. What does combine(6,7) return?
0+6+6+6+6+6+6+6=6*7=42
c. What does combine(3,0) return?
0 of course! It won't enter the 'while' loop is the second input isn't > 0.
d. What mathematical function does combine compute?
a*b! *gasp*


2. Given the following python function definition:

def splitup(a,b):
result = 0
while a >= b:
result = result + 1
a = a - b
return result

a. What does splitup(10,2) return?
0+1+1+1+1+1=5
b. What does splitup(8,2) return?
0+0+0+0+0=4
c. What does splitup(35,5) return?
0+1+1+1+1+1+1=6
d. What mathematical function does splitup compute
a/b *gasp*

3. Given the following python function definitions:

def strange(a):
print "Strange: a = ",a

def weird(a, b):
print "weird: a = ", a, "b = ", b
strange(a+b)

def reallyWeird(a, b):
strange(a - b)
print "reallyWeird: a = ", a, "b = ", b
strange(a+b)

def downrightOdd(a):
print "downrightOdd: a = ", a
reallyWeird(2*a, a)

What is the output of each of the following statements:

a. strange(6)
Strange: a = 6
b. weird(8, 4)
weird: a = 8 b = 4
strange: a = 12
c. reallyWeird(8, 4)
Strange: a = 4
reallyWierd: a = 8 b = 4
Strange: a = 12
d. downrightOdd(3)
downrightOdd: a = 3
Strange: a = 3
reallyWierd: a = 6, b = 3
Strange: a = 9
4 Given the following python function definition:

def odd(a):
result = 0
while a > 1:
a = a / 2
result = result + 1
return result

a. What does odd(2) return?
1
b. What does odd(8) return?
3
EXTRA CREDIT: What mathematical function does odd compute?
2^odd=a

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Blog Assignment 3: Maths

Hah, computer maths, easy stuff! I could be all snooty and designate Hex values with $ and binary with % but I'll just use labels DECimal BINary and HEXadecimal.
For any outside readers this is a homework assignment, I'm not showing off here.
  1. Convert the following binary numbers to both hexadecimal (base-16) and decimal (base-10)
    a. Bin: 1011 Hex: B Dec: 11
    b. Bin: 10101 Hex: 15 Dec: 21
    c. Bin: 10010110 Hex: 96 Dec: 150
    d. Bin: 1111111 Hex:7F Dec: 27

  2. Convert the following decimal numbers to both binary (base-2) and hexadecimal (base-16)
    a. Dec: 8 Hex: 8 Bin: 1000
    b. Dec: 63 Hex: 3F Bin: 111111
    c. Dec: 113 Hex: 71 Bin: 1110001
    d. Dec: 97 Hex: 61 Bin: 1100001


  3. Suppose that we want to download a 200 MB file. How long will it take on each of the following connections?

    a. A modem that can download at 56 kilobits/second
    (1638400 bits, so ~29257.14 seconds) 8 hours, 7 minutes, 31 seconds
    b. A DSL connection that can download at 5 Megabits/second
    (320 Seconds) 5 minutes 20 seconds
    c. A high-speed connection that can download 10 Megabits/second
    2 minutes 40 seconds

  4. If we have an Internet connection that can upload 3 Megabits/second, and an MP3 is 60 Megabytes, how many MP3s can we upload in an hour? In a month (given a reliable connection)?
    (491520 bits, 24576 bits/second, 88473600 bits/hour, divides evenly to:) 180 MP3s

Monday, September 28, 2009

Net Neutrality

Just barely getting this blog post in on time!

I'm all for net neutrality, but imposing it as a legal principle has me concerned. I am pleased with the FCC commissioner's plans, but instead of discussion the current situation I decided to voice these concerns:

1. If ISPs must provide nondiscriminatory service and access for all content and traffic, what about illegal content. If a provider notices illegal activity through use of their network, they normally have the responsibility to terminate such service. Should they do nothing, which network neutrality implies, it puts them in a position where they can't do anything, and could even be held responsible, for illegal use of their network.

2. If the government begins regulating the internet, it's a slippery slope. The US government can't regulate world wide, and servers are all over the world. As much as I wouldn't trust the US government with such a task, it's not like I think providers or the United Nations can do any better.

Monday, September 21, 2009

List of related web pages so far.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Cloud Computing

What is cloud computing?

I used to think of cloud computing as a buzz word. Groups of computers such as beowulf clusters were formerly considered a "cloud" but it the modern usage is entirely different.

These days “cloud computing” refers to applications and storage being available and used through the network, rather than locally. This means that work in done online through the browser and information is saved out in servers somewhere that you could likely not find.


What are the benefits and disadvantages of cloud computing for an ordinary computer user?

The ordinary user may have trouble finding documents stored locally or collaborating, which can be easier through “the cloud.” In an extreme example, if a user’s computer explodes his documents in the cloud will be just fine!


What are the benefits and disadvantages of cloud computing for a start-up company?

Presently cloud computing for certain tasks (such as word processing) can be cheaper and easier to deploy than traditional desktop applications. The downsides are reliance on the network and having potentially sensitive documents out on the internet.


What are the social dangers of cloud computing? That is, why might people be uneasy about the whole world's documents being stored on GoogleDocs instead of on local machines?

Simply put, it’s not easy to trust a large corporation with your documents. For years users have been storing copies personally, used to having it physically sitting right next to them. The move to cloud computing is even less physical. The dangers associated are potential hackers and packet sniffers who could steal or copy documents in their entirety.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Third Day of Class

The website is just about done. It's been fun!

Monday, August 31, 2009

Second Day of Class!

We're making a website to help the local homeless. It's not much but it's something! We put together information on where homeless in San Francisco can find food and shelter:

http://sites.google.com/site/sfhomelessresources/

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Why hello!

It's Wednesday August 26th. Made this blog for class without a hitch!