Why do laptops not have any kind of universal form factor similar to desktops? Is it because of the varying shapes and sizes of the cases? Couldn't laptop manufacturers just design the case around standardized hardware, thus making it easier to upgrade them (or are they already doing this?)
For example...say I wanted to upgrade the video card in my old laptop (provided it wasn't one built into the motherboard)...why isn't there a universal way of doing this, similar to how it is done on a desktop? Cost?
I actually did just pick some random movies off the top of my head...in any case, Juno wouldn't have been included because I (regrettably) haven't had a chance to see it yet.
See? This is what happens when you stop producing music for the love of spreading a message and creating unity and start producing music solely for the purpose of becoming as rich as possible. I can fully understand why someone would be angry if random folks by the thousands and possibly millions were acquiring works without paying for them. I'm not saying they are wrong for thinking that; it is important to be recognized for your work.
Personally, if I'm rich as hell from my music or movies, DESPITE people pirating my work...why wouldn't I want that? I'm rich, people are seeing/hearing my message, and everyone is happy.
I'm not trying to justify music/movie piracy. I'm trying to understand why it is the most successful (i.e. richest) musicians screaming the loudest, while fledgeling new and broke bands are begging for people to download torrents of their work. Don't be pissed off because young people now have an easier avenue to getting their work out than you did. Change with the times, stop being old wrinkly bastards, and just be happy that people enjoy your work so much that they want to steal it on a mass scale.
True, those new bands have to build a name for themselves whereas you old-timers already have legions of folks who know who you are...and you know what? That is all the more reason why at this point in your life, you shouldn't care. Those people MADE you into what you are today. Don't you think it's time you gave a little something back that wasn't motivated by the (not-so-mighty) dollar?
Whenever someone asks me what I think about The Fountain, or if I'm trying to convince someone to watch it, this is what I say:
"Don't watch the trailers or read the synopsis that you would normally find...it is very difficult to describe this movie in that kind of way. The only way I have found to describe it is that it is like watching a movie from the future. The Fountain feels like it was made 10 years in the future."
Now, I don't know what I will say about it in 10 years, but I will worry about that later:-)
There are certain movies that I always go to see in theaters...movies like Cloverfield of Lord of the Rings are a good example...just go either to a super early showing, or take a couple hours off work and go in the middle of the afternoon.
Other movies (namely slasher flicks and the like) I like to goto midnight showings on opening night. The remake of Ju-On (The Grudge) was not scary at all, and frankly rather bad. However, my buddy and I went to see it opening night at midnight...the entire theatre was jam-packed with people, and they were reacting like crazy to what was happening on screen. For some reason, this lame movie was TERRIFYING because of the atmosphere generated by the rest of the crowd.
The talking, chewing, slurping, and whatever other noises do bother me a LITTLE, but generally I am able to tune it out (to a certain extent, naturally.)
Oh, I know that there were plenty of horrible video games when I was younger (23 now, for reference). It just seems that the crap video games that are around now are WAY crappier (comparatively, of course) to the crap video games of my youth. Something very similar happened with kids cartoons. I love just about all cartoons made for kids that were on TV from the 1960's on up. True, there were some bad ones here and there, but for the most part they were all entertaining. In the mid-to-late 90's, however, things started going downhill quick. Cartoons (and kids shows in general) became unimaginative, ludicrous, and just plain stupid.
Now, the question is am I getting old man syndrome before my time, or have production values really gone downhill? Likely a little from column A, a little from column B...but who knows?
Movies are (sadly) much like how videogames have become. For every great piece of work, there are ten horrible pieces of work lining up behind it. Once you are able to recognize crap from a distance, however, you tend to stop noticing it.
Interesting point you touch on...when it comes to consumer lawsuits, most of the playing field is grey (although there are some very obvious black and white spots on it as well)
There are many AMAZING movies that have come out recently and have shown up in theaters. Thank You for Smoking, I Heart Huckabees, The Fountain, Eastern Promises, The Departed, Collateral, The Bourne Trilogy, Breach, The Kingdom, The Good Shepard, Lady In the Water, The Last King of Scotland, The Science of Sleep, Hotel Rwanda, Blake Snake Moan, A Scanner Darkly...
All movies that have come out recently, all of them big-name movies, all of them rated by the MPAA, and all of them amazing.
Not everything out there is crap. You just have to look a little.
Do people sue because the judicial system allows them to, or does the judicial system exist because "we the people" demanded it to exist in it's current state? (not a troll, an honest question)
Don't take this the wrong way, but that sounded EXACTLY like something my Dad would say.
"So I'm sitting there, installing this new valve for a toilet...everything is going great, until I turn the water back on, twist the new valve open and realize that I didn't put any sealing tape on the threads. So water is flying everywhere, right? I quickly shut off the valve, and proceed to stand up to go back downstairs to shut off the water. Up I go, on my feet...down I go, on my back. Floors are slippery when they are wet. Don't forget that."
It might be sobering to consider that it was just discovered last October, and we know about maybe half of the objects like this in Earth-crossing orbits.
Um...I'm aware of scientific guestimating and all that, but how could we possibly know that we are aware of half of the objects similar to this Asteroid that are in Earth-crossing orbits?
I'm not saying that it shouldn't, I'm saying that it shouldn't have to. It should be common sense not to put that many high-draw devices on a single, whimpy cord.
At least, that's what they tell everyone that has been in elementary school for any length of time...
I'm sorry to tell you this, but the reason that extension cord you bought had 4 different warning labels on it was because of morons that do something completely stupid, and then blame the manufacturer for not having a warning label telling you not to do it.
"Hey! There was nothing that said it was dangerous to chew on the cord while it was plugged in! Nor was their anything telling me I shouldn't plug a coffee pot, a space heater, and a PS3 onto the same cord! I should sue their asses!"
The above example may be a tad bit extreme (actually, it may not be...) but that is why those labels are there. If the company's lawyers could think of someone suing them over something, they would be stupid to not put a warning label on the product. Seeing as so many people would sue over so many little things (but NEVER over their own stupidity), a large number of labels go onto everyday products. Blame your fellow citizens for that gripe.
I know these kinds of things aren't supposed to happen, but sometimes they do. The worst part for the company itself is not the backlash they receive...it's the fact that nothing they do and nothing they say will fix it.
It's one thing if you have angry customers over something you have control over. It's another thing entirely if your customers are angry at you AND there isn't a single solitary thing you can do. That said, I hope that they are more careful in the future...
I intend to also teach my kids about the intricacies of Table Tennis (the real life game, not the well done Rockstar game) One of the best hand-eye coordination builders I have ever seen.
It didn't really seem like a troll to me. I'm well aware that I come accross as some immature armchair-warrior...it's not done on purpose, it's something I have never really liked too much about myself. It's just the way that I am, and I can accept that.
Right. I'm actually 23, live in a house which, contrary to your assumptions, doesn't belong to anyone in my family. I have a full time job in the QA department at a call center that pays decently with good benefits... I have a fantastic girlfriend that lives with me, and am overall extremely happy with who my friends are, what I do with my spare time, where my life is, and most importantly where it is going.
Spoilers were kept out of the discussion. There was almost nothing I mentioned that you don't learn within the first 15 minutes of the "actual" game (i.e. once you finish the opening training-type mission on Eden Prime) If you haven't played the game yet, don't worry; I didn't ruin anything for you.
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Why do laptops not have any kind of universal form factor similar to desktops? Is it because of the varying shapes and sizes of the cases? Couldn't laptop manufacturers just design the case around standardized hardware, thus making it easier to upgrade them (or are they already doing this?)
For example...say I wanted to upgrade the video card in my old laptop (provided it wasn't one built into the motherboard)...why isn't there a universal way of doing this, similar to how it is done on a desktop? Cost?
I had actually never thought of that (The Fountain -----> 2001) but that is actually a good point...it did have kind of the same "feel" to it, eh?
When I was younger and went to the movies with my dad, he had what he called the "herring" defense.
That's right. We would sneak in a jar of herring and chow down. We didn't have ANYONE sit near us:-)
http://xkcd.com/319/
http://xkcd.com/253/
Anyone have a link to the one that is done in a "vertical" layout?
I actually did just pick some random movies off the top of my head...in any case, Juno wouldn't have been included because I (regrettably) haven't had a chance to see it yet.
See? This is what happens when you stop producing music for the love of spreading a message and creating unity and start producing music solely for the purpose of becoming as rich as possible. I can fully understand why someone would be angry if random folks by the thousands and possibly millions were acquiring works without paying for them. I'm not saying they are wrong for thinking that; it is important to be recognized for your work.
Personally, if I'm rich as hell from my music or movies, DESPITE people pirating my work...why wouldn't I want that? I'm rich, people are seeing/hearing my message, and everyone is happy.
I'm not trying to justify music/movie piracy. I'm trying to understand why it is the most successful (i.e. richest) musicians screaming the loudest, while fledgeling new and broke bands are begging for people to download torrents of their work. Don't be pissed off because young people now have an easier avenue to getting their work out than you did. Change with the times, stop being old wrinkly bastards, and just be happy that people enjoy your work so much that they want to steal it on a mass scale.
True, those new bands have to build a name for themselves whereas you old-timers already have legions of folks who know who you are...and you know what? That is all the more reason why at this point in your life, you shouldn't care. Those people MADE you into what you are today. Don't you think it's time you gave a little something back that wasn't motivated by the (not-so-mighty) dollar?
Whenever someone asks me what I think about The Fountain, or if I'm trying to convince someone to watch it, this is what I say:
:-)
"Don't watch the trailers or read the synopsis that you would normally find...it is very difficult to describe this movie in that kind of way. The only way I have found to describe it is that it is like watching a movie from the future. The Fountain feels like it was made 10 years in the future."
Now, I don't know what I will say about it in 10 years, but I will worry about that later
There are certain movies that I always go to see in theaters...movies like Cloverfield of Lord of the Rings are a good example...just go either to a super early showing, or take a couple hours off work and go in the middle of the afternoon.
Other movies (namely slasher flicks and the like) I like to goto midnight showings on opening night. The remake of Ju-On (The Grudge) was not scary at all, and frankly rather bad. However, my buddy and I went to see it opening night at midnight...the entire theatre was jam-packed with people, and they were reacting like crazy to what was happening on screen. For some reason, this lame movie was TERRIFYING because of the atmosphere generated by the rest of the crowd.
The talking, chewing, slurping, and whatever other noises do bother me a LITTLE, but generally I am able to tune it out (to a certain extent, naturally.)
Oh, I know that there were plenty of horrible video games when I was younger (23 now, for reference). It just seems that the crap video games that are around now are WAY crappier (comparatively, of course) to the crap video games of my youth. Something very similar happened with kids cartoons. I love just about all cartoons made for kids that were on TV from the 1960's on up. True, there were some bad ones here and there, but for the most part they were all entertaining. In the mid-to-late 90's, however, things started going downhill quick. Cartoons (and kids shows in general) became unimaginative, ludicrous, and just plain stupid.
Now, the question is am I getting old man syndrome before my time, or have production values really gone downhill? Likely a little from column A, a little from column B...but who knows?
Movies are (sadly) much like how videogames have become. For every great piece of work, there are ten horrible pieces of work lining up behind it. Once you are able to recognize crap from a distance, however, you tend to stop noticing it.
Interesting point you touch on...when it comes to consumer lawsuits, most of the playing field is grey (although there are some very obvious black and white spots on it as well)
There are many AMAZING movies that have come out recently and have shown up in theaters. Thank You for Smoking, I Heart Huckabees, The Fountain, Eastern Promises, The Departed, Collateral, The Bourne Trilogy, Breach, The Kingdom, The Good Shepard, Lady In the Water, The Last King of Scotland, The Science of Sleep, Hotel Rwanda, Blake Snake Moan, A Scanner Darkly...
All movies that have come out recently, all of them big-name movies, all of them rated by the MPAA, and all of them amazing.
Not everything out there is crap. You just have to look a little.
Do people sue because the judicial system allows them to, or does the judicial system exist because "we the people" demanded it to exist in it's current state? (not a troll, an honest question)
Very good point you made, btw 8D
Don't take this the wrong way, but that sounded EXACTLY like something my Dad would say.
"So I'm sitting there, installing this new valve for a toilet...everything is going great, until I turn the water back on, twist the new valve open and realize that I didn't put any sealing tape on the threads. So water is flying everywhere, right? I quickly shut off the valve, and proceed to stand up to go back downstairs to shut off the water. Up I go, on my feet...down I go, on my back. Floors are slippery when they are wet. Don't forget that."
I'm not saying that it shouldn't, I'm saying that it shouldn't have to. It should be common sense not to put that many high-draw devices on a single, whimpy cord.
At least, that's what they tell everyone that has been in elementary school for any length of time...
I'm sorry to tell you this, but the reason that extension cord you bought had 4 different warning labels on it was because of morons that do something completely stupid, and then blame the manufacturer for not having a warning label telling you not to do it.
"Hey! There was nothing that said it was dangerous to chew on the cord while it was plugged in! Nor was their anything telling me I shouldn't plug a coffee pot, a space heater, and a PS3 onto the same cord! I should sue their asses!"
The above example may be a tad bit extreme (actually, it may not be...) but that is why those labels are there. If the company's lawyers could think of someone suing them over something, they would be stupid to not put a warning label on the product. Seeing as so many people would sue over so many little things (but NEVER over their own stupidity), a large number of labels go onto everyday products. Blame your fellow citizens for that gripe.
"It's like a party in my mouth, and everyone's invited!" -Ken Griffey Jr.
I know these kinds of things aren't supposed to happen, but sometimes they do. The worst part for the company itself is not the backlash they receive...it's the fact that nothing they do and nothing they say will fix it.
It's one thing if you have angry customers over something you have control over. It's another thing entirely if your customers are angry at you AND there isn't a single solitary thing you can do. That said, I hope that they are more careful in the future...
Anyone care to translate into plain-speak english?
will they use this technology to create a life form who is programmed to create other life forms?
Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! IT'S A NET!!!*
*My apologies for this horrendously bad joke
I intend to also teach my kids about the intricacies of Table Tennis (the real life game, not the well done Rockstar game) One of the best hand-eye coordination builders I have ever seen.
It didn't really seem like a troll to me. I'm well aware that I come accross as some immature armchair-warrior...it's not done on purpose, it's something I have never really liked too much about myself. It's just the way that I am, and I can accept that.
Right. I'm actually 23, live in a house which, contrary to your assumptions, doesn't belong to anyone in my family. I have a full time job in the QA department at a call center that pays decently with good benefits... I have a fantastic girlfriend that lives with me, and am overall extremely happy with who my friends are, what I do with my spare time, where my life is, and most importantly where it is going.
Now, tell me again...where did I screw up?
Spoilers were kept out of the discussion. There was almost nothing I mentioned that you don't learn within the first 15 minutes of the "actual" game (i.e. once you finish the opening training-type mission on Eden Prime) If you haven't played the game yet, don't worry; I didn't ruin anything for you.