I've always wanted a set of indicator lights on my forehead, things like "Angry, Horny, Sad, Tired, and Planning Your Murder ", the lights could vary in intensity with the emotion, or blink as a warning.
this is exactly right! I saw a show about this corn, it requires less pesticides because it has genes that generate a pesticide thats been in use for over 2000 years... Problem is, used sparingly the pesticide is fairly effective, but now that ALL the corn has it, theres no choice about how "much" pesticide to use or where to use it -- so the bugs are becoming resistant (because only the resistant ones are survivng).
Essentially, the company who made the corn took a pesticide thats been in use for two centuries (It was discovered by the ancient chinese), and have robbed the "value" from it, because all these bugs the pesticide was effective against will develope a resistance, and the pesticide used for 2000 years will be worthless...
I'm still disapointed that Rambus hasn't been convicted of fraud... Rambus is the definition of fraud, I'd like to see the company disasembled, its exectives heavily fined, and its patents released to the public.
Im not sure if its art, but I heard a few years back about an "artist" the NEA was funding who masturbated and took pictures of his sperm as it fell to the ground... if that is "art" your friend is still miles ahead of him.
Exactly -- yesterday I bought a glass "scultpure" lamp at spencers gifts (they sell them on thinkgeek http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/things/322b.html ). I open the package when I get home -- it says "don't use within two feet of electronic equiptment" (monitors, computers, etc...) WELL SHIT, it *IS* a desk lamp isn't it, where was I gonna use it ?:)
Point being, if I'd known I couldn't put a desk lamp on my desk, prolly wouldn't have bought it:)
EULA's are in the same position -- they don't wanna tell you what shits they are until you've spent your money -- and they can't stop being shits because they've built a whole house of cards on the "software license" business model.
Its interesting how in the last few years we've gone from owning software to licensing it.
I'm not sure about that -- a binding contract requries witnessess, notary, etc... I don't think opening a package counts as a signature... if it does we have a fucked up legal system. What if I goto a highschool, and give some (underage -- so he can't legally enter a contract) kid 5$ to open MY copy of SoftwareX, then I go and install it?
I've yet to read a EULA, although I'm ceartin shrinkwrap licenses aren't legally binding, they most certainly aren't if you haven't read them in the first place (I think legally thats called "lack of communication":)
I'm sure it won't be long before a bill (UCITA?) tries to make them legally binding... but right now ignorance is bliss
Nothing would be "built-in", and nothing would be loaded unless it was being used. Small apps are fast apps. Less to load, less to page, less to copy in the event of a fork().
Linux uses copy on write when forking, so infact only the task descriptor needs to be copied (and possibly the stack?). Everything else is delayed write: making it a very fast operation... linus is fond of pointing out "linux can fork a process faster then windows can create a thread"...
I think we all learned from ID4 that to hack into an aliens syste all we need to do is press "send virus" or some key to that effect...
Presumably this will work equally well for the aliens hacking our systems.
Re:Andromeda disappoints me.
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Andromeda
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I would rather watch a battlefield-earth and Lenoard part 6 marathon then see another episode of Ally McBeal or a Boston Public:)
My problem with these shows is, first of all, they're targeted towards women and gay men with all their touchy feely crap:) Second of all -- Most of the shows are just about sex. I've had sex, I don't need to see a show about it. If I wanted to see T&A I'd pop a porno and watch that.
Re:Andromeda disappoints me.
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Andromeda
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· Score: 2
I watch Andromeda and Earth Final Conflict for two reasons...
1: Theres almost NO sci-fi on right now, its all lawyer, doctor, or sex shows.
2: While they aren't that great -- these shows really are the best thing on television during the saturday afternoon CRAPORAMA. Saturday afternoon is really a wasteland for quality programming, and even something like Andromeda and EFC where they've made 3/4ths of an effort really stands out amongst the "Private Benjamin" saturday movie and the body by jake infomercials.
I know I'm going to get modded down alot for this... but someone needs to tell you what your up against.
I live in an retirement town which poor seniors flock to, we basically have the worst of the worst. I can tell you from first hand that the elderly are largely intractable. This isn't to say there aren't elderly who can't learn -- but most simply can't.
Theres several problems with the elderly and technology in general...
1 Its all new to them. The elderly are very good at staying away from new technology, so many will have absolutley no frame of refrence for using a computer. Case in point : my g/f's grandfather about 3 years ago came home absolutley extatic about this new thing called an "ATM" that "gives you money and you don't even have to go into the bank!" Her grandmother still refuses to use it. Many of these people will have never used a digital system of any type before.
2 Abstraction, the elderly have difficult abstracting concepts. Try explaining to them that the internet is millions of computers by connected by all sorts of different things... over their heads... try explainig why an e-mail came back (and thus have to get into what mail servers are), just impossible. My own grandmother dosen't understand the difference between using her computer and using the internet.
3 Most senior citizens formed their personalities and prefrences in their early 20's. For most of them, that was half a century ago. Brain plasticity (ability to learn new skills) decreases with age. If you learn a language before the age 14 it is stored in a different place in your brain then if you had started younger in your life. Some elderly are *incapable* of understanding computers.
4 Lastly, many of the elderly are just assholes. My grandmother absoultley gets off on screaming and yelling at people. She looks FORWARD to it. This isn't just her, ever been to Arbys and see a 70 year old yell at some poor 16 year old until she's in tears?
Anticdote : My grandmother has a street light on her property for which she is assessed a property tax of 40$ a year. The lighbulb went out on a SUNDAY NIGHT, and she called the city and left a scathing message to the tune of "I pay 40$ a year I want this thing fixed now!"... she was absoutley livid that there was no one on a sunday night who would come fix her street light.
-- my point is, many of the elderly have lived long and FUCKED up lives -- alot of them who were young during the depression era have alot of issues. Alot just have issues.
5 Their sense of entitlement. The elderly are the greediest portion of the population -- they feel they are owed everything. Your gonna have people call you up and DEMAND help with something *RIGHT NOW*. How is your patience?
-- now -- I've certainly painted a bad picture of the elderly here. There are of course some very kind and nice elderly people out there.
So now I've listed the traits that will make them unable to learn, these are traits of folks who can learn :
1. People who are reasonably affluent and it good health.
2. People who own other technologies like microwave ovens, cd players, people who can work their vcrs (Seriously, if you can't work a VCR how could you ever use a computer)
3. People who aren't scathing mad at the world (we have alot of those here).
Lastly, I'd like to attack the MS propaganda that computers are "easy to use" and the capitalist-consumer-tripe that you have to have a computer to participate in society today.
First off: Computers are not easy to use, they are easier to use then they used to be. MS's claim is that anyone can use their OS, bullshit. You know how many people there are who can't install a program or copy a file to a disk? "The only intuitive interface is the nipple, after that its all learned."
Seconly: The media has tried VERY hard to make people think they MUST have a computer. Thats simply untrue. There are alot of people who simply shouldn't have computers -- and theres nothing wrong with that.
Thats the thing though... you prolly really haven't seen all the episodes 2 or 3 times... Usually in syndication (not always though) they pick "the best" episodes and only show those...
A good example is the andy griffith show, of which I think a little under 120 episdoes were made, but they only show 15 or 20 in syndication.
this is just german efficeny in action -- immagine: your driving down the street, you log into your bank and find your tech stocks have crashed. Distraught, you use your navigation software to find the neareset bridge to drive off.
It's highly unlikely I'll ever have to replace my stereo due to it being broken.
"You know.... the thing is.. when you buy furniture, you tell yourself, thats the last one of those I'll ever have to buy... whatever else happens I've got that sofa problem taken care of." - I am jacks stereo problem:)
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I've always wanted a set of indicator lights on my forehead, things like "Angry, Horny, Sad, Tired, and Planning Your Murder ", the lights could vary in intensity with the emotion, or blink as a warning.
Please read my comment BEFORE replying. This pesticides has been in use for 2000 years, that *IS* a pretty damn long term solution to me.
Essentially, the company who made the corn took a pesticide thats been in use for two centuries (It was discovered by the ancient chinese), and have robbed the "value" from it, because all these bugs the pesticide was effective against will develope a resistance, and the pesticide used for 2000 years will be worthless ...
How appropriate your comment is when your homepage is mp3smuggler.com ... how does source code differ from mp3s?
I'm still disapointed that Rambus hasn't been convicted of fraud ... Rambus is the definition of fraud, I'd like to see the company disasembled, its exectives heavily fined, and its patents released to the public.
nahh, I just hate the french for destroying canada, I'm cool with everone else :)
I can see the prospectus, "Mandraksoft, the only good thing in france!"
Im not sure if its art, but I heard a few years back about an "artist" the NEA was funding who masturbated and took pictures of his sperm as it fell to the ground ... if that is "art" your friend is still miles ahead of him.
Ive got a bunch of carts, where do I plug em in ... oh wait, I have to buy them again?
This is actually becoming a standard practice ... a few mos ago I saw an add for the Sony Playstation 9 :)
Point being, if I'd known I couldn't put a desk lamp on my desk, prolly wouldn't have bought it :)
EULA's are in the same position -- they don't wanna tell you what shits they are until you've spent your money -- and they can't stop being shits because they've built a whole house of cards on the "software license" business model.
Its interesting how in the last few years we've gone from owning software to licensing it.
I'm not sure about that -- a binding contract requries witnessess, notary, etc ... I don't think opening a package counts as a signature ... if it does we have a fucked up legal system. What if I goto a highschool, and give some (underage -- so he can't legally enter a contract) kid 5$ to open MY copy of SoftwareX, then I go and install it?
I'm sure it won't be long before a bill (UCITA?) tries to make them legally binding ... but right now ignorance is bliss
Linux uses copy on write when forking, so infact only the task descriptor needs to be copied (and possibly the stack?). Everything else is delayed write: making it a very fast operation ... linus is fond of pointing out "linux can fork a process faster then windows can create a thread" ...
mod this man up! This is an *amazing* story
Imagine the prospect of france being on the right end of an argument!
Will the walkthrough be avaliable at happy puppy ?
Presumably this will work equally well for the aliens hacking our systems.
My problem with these shows is, first of all, they're targeted towards women and gay men with all their touchy feely crap :) Second of all -- Most of the shows are just about sex. I've had sex, I don't need to see a show about it. If I wanted to see T&A I'd pop a porno and watch that.
I watch Andromeda and Earth Final Conflict for two reasons...
1: Theres almost NO sci-fi on right now, its all lawyer, doctor, or sex shows.
2: While they aren't that great -- these shows really are the best thing on television during the saturday afternoon CRAPORAMA. Saturday afternoon is really a wasteland for quality programming, and even something like Andromeda and EFC where they've made 3/4ths of an effort really stands out amongst the "Private Benjamin" saturday movie and the body by jake infomercials.
I know I'm going to get modded down alot for this ... but someone needs to tell you what your up against.
...
... over their heads ... try explainig why an e-mail came back (and thus have to get into what mail servers are), just impossible. My own grandmother dosen't understand the difference between using her computer and using the internet.
... she was absoutley livid that there was no one on a sunday night who would come fix her street light.
I live in an retirement town which poor seniors flock to, we basically have the worst of the worst. I can tell you from first hand that the elderly are largely intractable. This isn't to say there aren't elderly who can't learn -- but most simply can't.
Theres several problems with the elderly and technology in general
1 Its all new to them. The elderly are very good at staying away from new technology, so many will have absolutley no frame of refrence for using a computer. Case in point : my g/f's grandfather about 3 years ago came home absolutley extatic about this new thing called an "ATM" that "gives you money and you don't even have to go into the bank!" Her grandmother still refuses to use it. Many of these people will have never used a digital system of any type before.
2 Abstraction, the elderly have difficult abstracting concepts. Try explaining to them that the internet is millions of computers by connected by all sorts of different things
3 Most senior citizens formed their personalities and prefrences in their early 20's. For most of them, that was half a century ago. Brain plasticity (ability to learn new skills) decreases with age. If you learn a language before the age 14 it is stored in a different place in your brain then if you had started younger in your life. Some elderly are *incapable* of understanding computers.
4 Lastly, many of the elderly are just assholes. My grandmother absoultley gets off on screaming and yelling at people. She looks FORWARD to it. This isn't just her, ever been to Arbys and see a 70 year old yell at some poor 16 year old until she's in tears?
Anticdote : My grandmother has a street light on her property for which she is assessed a property tax of 40$ a year. The lighbulb went out on a SUNDAY NIGHT, and she called the city and left a scathing message to the tune of "I pay 40$ a year I want this thing fixed now!"
-- my point is, many of the elderly have lived long and FUCKED up lives -- alot of them who were young during the depression era have alot of issues. Alot just have issues.
5 Their sense of entitlement. The elderly are the greediest portion of the population -- they feel they are owed everything. Your gonna have people call you up and DEMAND help with something *RIGHT NOW*. How is your patience?
-- now -- I've certainly painted a bad picture of the elderly here. There are of course some very kind and nice elderly people out there.
So now I've listed the traits that will make them unable to learn, these are traits of folks who can learn :
1. People who are reasonably affluent and it good health.
2. People who own other technologies like microwave ovens, cd players, people who can work their vcrs (Seriously, if you can't work a VCR how could you ever use a computer)
3. People who aren't scathing mad at the world (we have alot of those here).
Lastly, I'd like to attack the MS propaganda that computers are "easy to use" and the capitalist-consumer-tripe that you have to have a computer to participate in society today.
First off: Computers are not easy to use, they are easier to use then they used to be. MS's claim is that anyone can use their OS, bullshit. You know how many people there are who can't install a program or copy a file to a disk? "The only intuitive interface is the nipple, after that its all learned."
Seconly: The media has tried VERY hard to make people think they MUST have a computer. Thats simply untrue. There are alot of people who simply shouldn't have computers -- and theres nothing wrong with that.
A good example is the andy griffith show, of which I think a little under 120 episdoes were made, but they only show 15 or 20 in syndication.
this is just german efficeny in action -- immagine: your driving down the street, you log into your bank and find your tech stocks have crashed. Distraught, you use your navigation software to find the neareset bridge to drive off.
In that vein, I believe the best form of birth control is a fake name :)
"You know. ... the thing is .. when you buy furniture, you tell yourself, thats the last one of those I'll ever have to buy ... whatever else happens I've got that sofa problem taken care of." - I am jacks stereo problem :)