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User: Phoobarnvaz

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  1. Re:Storage costs... on The 305 RAMAC — First Commercial Hard Drive · · Score: 1

    Remember my first hard drive...a huge 10 MB MFM Miniscribe (weighed just about 15 lbs) that I bought used for $35 to use on one of the Tandy 8088 PC's with either 256 or 384K of memory in the early 1990's. (Back then...we had to put individual chips into the motherboard to get a total of 640K.) Had to get a new MFM card to run it...as well as pay an extra $10 for the cable to hook up the drive to the controller card. Having gotten everything together...could run the drive or the PC...NOT BOTH...since it pulled too much power for the 50 or 65W power supply for the Tandy. After buying a used power supply to run just the hard drive & sitting it on a mouse pad since the drive wouldn't fit in the case...ended up running a BBS with it...as well as playing some CGA/EGA games. We even run DOS 3.3 with Desqview or GEOS back in those days to be able to run the BBS & do other stuff at the same time. Even remember playing with Windows 1.0/2.0 along with OS/2 2.0.

    Now...I'm running almost a 1/2 TB of space with this system. Wouldn't have even dreamed of being able to run my DVR software on anything less than what I've got right now. Even my MP4/MP3 players & digital cameras have more to them than my 1st PC's.

    Out of daydream mode & wishing I had my current system back then.;)

  2. Re:Please explain on Texas Science Director Forced To Resign Over ID Statements · · Score: 1

    It would be nice if the human species could mature enough to finally cast away superstition and belief and embrace empirical proof and verifiable knowledge. We are not little children. We are grown-ups who have functional and rational brains.

    Part of the problem is that the society expects so little from those who make it up...but what happens is the same thing which happens when your pet hears thunder & dives/hides under the bed to escape that which they can not understand. The problem is that those who believe in ID have never been taught how to reason or function without being told there is a "boogey man" who will send you to a place separate from him/her for eternity. Much easier to explain the "boogey man" than to discover why thunder happens. Issues like this is too complex for simple creatures who can't understand the difference between their "boogey man" & whatever God/Creator may have made the universe.

  3. Re:Butlers on How Best Buy Tried To Whip The Geek Squad Into Shape · · Score: 1

    spend time at McDonalds shadowing a burger flipper. That way, they will learn the cost of not not getting a good education

    Used to teach high school where I would hear on an hourly basis how so & so's parents were going to buy the kids a new house for the kids & their girlfriends/boyfriends...car & such...as well walk into a job making $100K a year right out of high school. Because I couldn't tell them what would really happen to them (hooking both male/female...porn actor/actress to make the money for the nice clothes/house/cars)...let these brats live in their make-believe world & think whatever they wanted to think.

    If you think I'm delusional about what these kids think...can't remember the study I read about the expectations & the reality of these brats as the big cold world destroys their dreams & illusions.

  4. Re:Madness on Sesame Street DVD Deemed Adult-Only Entertainment · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I remember the faerie tales that I listened to when I was a child, with witches plotting to eat children, wolves being cut open to let grandmas out and gingerbread being devoured by clever canids. Underlying it all was a central message to children that the world is a dangerous place, that one has to use his or her wits to survive.

    If they're worried about The Cookie Monster & Oscar...why not The Wizard of Oz...Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs...Fantasia & Sleeping Beauty. Wizard of Oz = lack of understanding about the use of magikk...drug use (aka...poppy field) & a "young" girl & her dog hanging around 3 men she "found" on her travels. Snow White = single lady living with 7 little men...taking apples from strangers laced with drugs. Fantasia = witchcraft & not acting in a responsible way. Sleeping Beauty = drug use & a woman needing a man to "awaken" her from her slumbers (aka...not able to have another woman or herself being able to awaken her).

    If that isn't strange enough...most of the "fairy tales" were reworked during Victorian times to satisfy the "sensibilities" of the adults being able to tell them to their children. The original Hansel & Gretel had the "lady who was a little eccentric" winning over the 2 kids. (Just in case anyone is offended by my lack of political correctness.)

    It's going to be a funny world when these "precious items" enter the real world & find out that mommy & daddy can't make everything right...except by suing those they feel have wronged their world view.

  5. Re:Laptops on IT's Love-Hate Relationship With Laptops · · Score: 1

    For most employees, a desktop is often enough.

    The problem is that most executives demand & often get what they want...NOT what they really need. If they see one company's executives having laptops or came from a company where they were handed out like candycanes or drugs at xmas to all executives...IT/IS can't tell them NO. The exec's control the purse strings...so the exec would hold up whatever part of the IT budget they want until they get what they want.

    When you dealing with asshats & idiots with the ability to keep your department from doing its job...you find the easiest way to get anything done is to give them what they want. It's a fight the IT/IS manager will lose...no matter the asshat of the exec.

  6. Re:what's the big deal? on Microsoft's Treatment of Google Defectors · · Score: 1

    So you really don't want to leave them alone with their PC or phone.

    Reminds me of the saying that you're not being paranoid...but cautious...because they ARE out to get you!

    If companies were to maybe treat their employees better...by & large...they would not have to worry about employees causing harm. If employers & others would remember what Karma & The Golden Rule were...this would take care of many things you currently worry about by screwing others over for either money or a power trip. Was always reminded & seen the same people on the way down as you screwed over on the way up.

  7. Re:matter of time on Cell Phone Jamming on the Rise · · Score: 1

    For restaurants, hair salons, etc., there's a simple solution -- just make it a policy, and have the guts to enforce it.

    Used to be a school teacher. Even with rules forbidding their use...the students were too stupid & stubborn to read any signs or heed the warnings. They didn't care...even if they got stuck with suspension. With adults...the situation is much worse. They believe that anything having to do with their person is off limits for anyone to say or do anything about.

  8. Re:Obvious on Wal-Mart's Terrible Nintendo Wii Knock-Offs · · Score: 1

    Obey the law? It's a sad commentary on corporate culture that that should have to be specified in a mission statement.

    Not at all...especially since there are many companies' only reason for existence is to get around whatever laws are on the books to maximize their profits. Prime examples is meat producers/restaurants/service workers/construction industries who are usually only interested in employees who will take whatever BS you put them through & you can pay almost nothing. These are just the most egregious examples with many more anyone can come up with.

    Costco & other companies who live/breathe/believe their mission statements should be the norm...but greed & stupidity makes those with the money & power do whatever needs to be done in the shortest term...rather than for the long term. Common sense...ethics & morality are in such short supply that those who have them are outcasts in the business & everyday world.

  9. Re:Good intentions on First Details of Windows 7 Emerge · · Score: 1

    Legacy support is important to many business Windows customers; some of them are still using 16-years-old custom software that needs to run on whatever desktop OS their employees are running.

    The thing I am still amazed about is the OS/2 1.X layer still being integrated into versions of the NT kernal. The only companies I've seen still running any OS/2 1+ was the DMV & a call center I helped setup for a move of their PC's from one office to another.

    For myself...if the Linux designers would make a easy PVR software that didn't require more than running Apt or Yum or whatever...would drop XP in a heartbeat. Would even run my old DOS games under DOSBox under Linux.

  10. Re:hands up on Google Vows to Increase Gmail Limit · · Score: 1

    Myself...usually around 2% of the capacity by the time I get rid of sent mail & trash. Being I do this several times a day & store my attachments in Thunderbird on my own PC...just keep the important stuff on there...just in case I need something at another place like work or friends place. Was nice to see me getting almost 500 MB more space in my account.

  11. Re:Still on Mom Blasts Ballmer Over Kid's Vista Experience · · Score: 1

    In my experience, if you want your wife to stop bugging you about computer problems, buy her a Mac.

    On the other hand...if you really want her to stop bugging you about ANY problems...either get a new wife or get rid of the wife & get a decent gaming machine...along with a pet. Result of the former...no nagging...a decent machine & another living being which will always love you. A win-win situation.

  12. Re:90% of those who apply are probably from India. on Why Is US Grad School Mainly Non-US Students? · · Score: 1

    They accept those who apply. Most Americans are probably happy with just an undergrad degree and don't want to go to grad school.

    Part of the problem with an college education has always been working on something which will allow you to earn a decent living after graduation...as well as doing something which will make you personally satisfied.

    For instance...thought about working on a Master's in education to become an elementary school teacher. After talking with several teachers & doing quite a bit of research...found out working 50+ hours a week with no financial reward to make the Master's degree worth going into debt for. The worst part with being an elementary teacher is having to deal with parents who have no idea their little angels are actually the exact opposite. On the other hand...also found out that working as a sub...you will usually work around 30-35 hours a week...don't usually deal with the parents...& able to go home at the end of the day. The drawback...dealing with students who have no business being in school...administration & teachers who will leave you hanging when the class gets out of control or you need some help/guidance & having days you may not work nor are paid benefits or holidays.

    Being that many of the jobs in the US are service related...don't need an education to work at many of the slave jobs at slave wages which are becoming the norm for many people. With many teachers leaving the field after three years...why would a Master's degree be worth the hassle of spending the time & money on?

  13. Re:Advice Requested on New Bill to Clarify Cellphone Contracts · · Score: 1

    I'll be visiting the US from Canada soon and I have a pay-per-minute cell phone plan (I don't use enough minutes per month to justify a monthly plan). How bad are roaming charges in the US? I've heard nightmare stories of people getting billed ridiculous amounts of money per call when travelling.

    Another option you have available...maybe even in Canada...is going to a pre-paid provider like Virgin Mobile or Tracfone. Been using VM for several years...since I only use it for emergencies & $20 every 3 months is fine with me.

    The only thing you need to watch out for with VM is that I have never had mine roam...either I have service or I don't. On the other hand...from what I've heard...Tracfone will do roaming & it's paid for with your amount of minutes.

  14. Re:It's a good start on Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act · · Score: 1

    ...people who would love to get rid of all the lawyers are often the first ones to sign up for the class action suit...

    Went through a civil action about 20 years ago & had never needed the services of a lawyer. I learned a valuable lesson that no matter how much that lawyer will cost you...he will save you more money than you can imagine.

    All I can recommend to anyone is if you can't get the same lawyers that "independent" businessmen like TV character Tony Soprano would use...find out who that businessmen would recommend instead. BTW...I trust lawyers MUCH more than doctors...since I know more doctors than lawyers.

  15. Re:Your Choice on California Blocks RFID Implants In Workers · · Score: 1

    If you don't want it then don't work there. If you feel strongly enough about it then don't buy their products. Capitalism will quickly filter out any irresponsible companies.

    In a perfect world...you are right. No laws would need to enacted to support monopolies & it would all work out. The way things actually work is that you will be forced to deal with these companies through either a government mandate or because they are the only ones who hold the monopolies to do so. One example would be the commercial broadcast stations.

  16. Re:Not good for Paypal, but geez on Massive Disruption of PayPal Subscription Service · · Score: 1

    ...look at the idiots who post on the Second Life blog whenever their stuff goes down. You think "OMG My payments are 12 hours behind" is bad, try "OMG, I make a living selling virtual dildos and I cannot sell my product. It is the end!!!"

    I can see that...I really can!!! Heaven knows if I don't get that hourly dildo fix from 2nd Life...my life has no meaning.

  17. Re:Because we all know on Why Are So Many Nerds Libertarians? · · Score: 1

    I'm so sorry that your experience at a public school was so bad.

    Mine was even worse. My senior year in high school (1980) was spent "re-learning" items my fellow classmates should HAVE...but did not learn in elementary/middle school. While I was all ready in college during the evenings...I had to deal with this BS during the day. When I asked why this was happening...was told the school board was alarmed at the number of graduates who could not read/write & do math. If I had been smart...I should have dropped out when I went to college the summer between my Jr/Sr year & taken the GED as soon as I had the chance.

    A funny thing is that 3 months ago...I found a website which listed schools according to a national standard. This allowed people looking to move to see how different schools matched up with each other. What I found was the high school I graduated from & those where I have subbed before...were almost in different parts of the galaxy...even 30 years ago. Even the schools where I am now aren't all that great...but they did do a MUCH better job at least making sure the students don't fall into the trap I was put into years ago.

    The funniest part about all of this...the same idiots I dealt with in high school are the same ones who get wiped out in a natural disaster...wonder why & get on the local news crying about wondering where "mamma & daddy" are after the latest event. Guess being a knuckle-dragger has its won benefits.

  18. Re:Meh... on Doom and Gloom for Web Radio · · Score: 1

    Do a lot of people actually listen to streaming audio from Web radio stations? I would think I'm more likely to hear what I want by listening to my own mp3 collection, than by relying on someone else's idea of the perfect mix.

    I am one of those who listen more to streaming audio than to the XM service I subscribe to. The reason...I enjoy listening to non-US stations who will play music you will never hear on a domestic stream. Plus...since many of the stations I listen to are commercial stations with full spots being played...I get to hear variety I never heard or produced when I worked in commercial radio in the US.

    Your next question...do I listen to commercial radio in the US??? Only if I forget the XM headunit. I think commercial radio should have been put to death many years ago...since it's the same BS...no matter where you hear it from.

  19. Re:Say it ain't so on Big Box Store Reps Push Unnecessary Recovery Discs · · Score: 1

    Best Buy and Circuit City are pressuring customers to buy overpriced add ons they don't need?

    Since the closest stores to me are over 100 miles away...never found a use for them. As for being pressured into buying anything...just 6 letters is enough to get these scumbags (me bad...salespersons) away from me: MCSE/A+. For some reason...they hate talking to people who do know what they want & refuse to put up with their BS. If I wanted to know what Dan or whatever moniker they are using that day...would be more than happy to beat the misinformation out of him/her. Show me where the product is...so that I can either buy it then or get it cheaper some place else.

    Hmmmmmm...for some reason...whenever I use Amazon...never have this issue...the prices are are better than either of these stores & others put their experiences on the website. Plus...if I spend over $25 at Amazon itself...no shipping. I win...these places lose...never have to hear their sob stories about not making enough money from dumb suckers. Everyone wins!!!

  20. Re:Not surprised in the very least. on How SBC (AT&T) Pillaged South Africa's Economy · · Score: 1

    Several towns have been pretty much abandoned by their ILECs to rot on their old copper, or worse.

    Living in Western Arizona...this is something I & others who live here live with on a daily basis. For some reason...the legislature has decided that letting a monopoly have sway county-wide...no way to let other companies come in to drive prices down...while rarely taking any actions if their service or equipment is substandard. Thank god I have a cable modem & use VoIP with an out-of-state company. Even funnier is seeing all the satellite dishes installed...as well as the rise of VoIP from the cable company. Fully expect to see the local phone monopoly get out of the local phone business in the future & offer DSL & business services only.

  21. Re:I don't get it on Users Trash Wal-Mart On Its Facebook Site · · Score: 1

    They aggressively hire people who normally have a hard time getting a job (elderly), they have benefits, and such.

    While it is true about hiring the elderly...they also hire those who aren't exactly smart enough to think for themselves to know when employers are corn-holing them. This is part of the reason that they don't want unions...since those who are intelligent enough to join a union are not going to be the type of employee who will blindly follow someone called a "supervisor" or "manager".

    Reminds of the commercial from MacDonald's trying to live down their reputation of having "MacJobs" by showing an employee who's gone thru the ranks to become the Eastern head of something for the company.

  22. Re:Personal Infrastructure on Windows Genuine Advantage Servers Out · · Score: 1

    When they end-of-life XP they had better issue a patch to remove the activation component from it.

    Happened several years ago. Just look at all the warz sites with patched copies of XP/Vista.

    Funny thing...by the end-of-life...instead of being a "criminal"...you will be able to continue using the copy of Windows you either got or bought. Just means this BS is/has been made redundant for quite a while.

  23. Another MS "OS" did this as well... on Playing Music Slows Vista Network Performance? · · Score: 1

    Sounds exactly what happened when I attempted to play any music at all on a 486 with 2 MB under Windows 3.0. Could it be that Vista is just a nicer looking version of Windows 3.0???

  24. Re:The lesser of both evils... on Alienware Won't Sell Consumers CableCard PCs · · Score: 1

    The problem is after 10-12 hours a day fixing other peoples problems sometimes I just want to come home and watch my favorite show without opening a terminal.

    I considered going the MythTV/Freevo route myself with a PVR150. EVERY time I setup MythTV/Freevo with no matter what distro (custom PVR or standard distros)...I have problems setting up the remote...won't record & numerous other problems. Seems like no matter how much time & extensive trouble you spend on issues which really have no business popping up for something like MythTV/Freevo...it is not worth my time to mess with less-than-ideal design flaws. With GBPVR (which I have used for a while now in XP Pro) & less so with Media Portal...you point & click in a GUI setup...then 5-15 minutes you are ready to enjoy it.

    This doesn't diminish my passion for Linux in the data center... but work is work and play is play and sometimes you just need to hang up your hate and enjoy the rest of your life.

    Same here & I would even say on the desktop...MINUS PVR software. Until the designers for MythTV/Freevo pull their heads out & understand that as long as you need to spend unreasonable amounts of time & trouble to even use their software...it will never face more adoption than it has right now. GBPVR/Media Portal/Windows MCE/YahooTV understands this while MythTV/Freevo does not. When the Linux designers do get this...I & others will move to their product(s) in a heartbeat.

  25. Re:More choice on Red Hat to Enter the Desktop Market · · Score: 1

    that part of the problem is people who create packages that don't understand how to use RPM. I can't tell you how many times I've seen installation instructions that include things like "use --force to bypass the version checking..."

    I may be missing something...but if PCLinuxOS is successfully using apt with their RPM-based Linux distro...wouldn't this be an option for this version of Red Hat?