Thanks a lot for all your advice mate! Probably the most I've ever gotten about this field.
I'll keep it in mind, and have a go at learning node-based compositing software. That fxphd thing looks really cool too. And yeah, once I start making serious money besides cash sales to family/friends/school I'll probably buy my software. And 'tis a shame about machinina and AMVs - you're right, a lot of people really don't know what the original footage looked like, and thus dunno the kinda editing work put into doing it...
But yeah, I'll give them all a go!
Though, what's the difference between all of Autodesk's stuff - flame, combustion, smoke, fire, inferno, etc?
Thanks again for your reply mate! Someone mod him up.
I'll have a look at Fusion and Shake sometime. So far been a pure Adobe-fanboy, but nothing hurts by trying other stuff! For the moment though, I'll stay to the "Everything on the internet is free" until I have the money to buy one of those packages...
A mate of mine I do work with actually managed to find a freelance small company exactly what you said - doing corporate videos. I think I'd enjoy that. Advertisements and whatnot quite often are heavy in special effects, whether its titles or all through it. So far I've also done a few jobs for my school too. The thing that kinda 'started' me on this was the 500 hour (over 3 people) Year 12 Video we put together and it led to extra interest from the school for us to do other stuff.
As for what engineering...well, if I wanted to go into programming, I'd be doing Computer Science, but I've always been more of a computer hardware guy, so I'm looking at Electrical System Engineering (with bias towards electronics). I was hoping at chip design and stuff like that. Either that or Mechanical, maybe even mechatronics. (I only have to decide end of second year. First year is common, second year let's you choose two disciplines to study). But I know enough programming theory such that I could maybe look into writing 'complex shaders' and whatnot. What's a good place to start? What language are these usually written in? Are there any resources into writing effects tools?
So with the "path you took", did you startup your own company, or join one? If the latter, how did you go about advertising yourself to them?
And yeah, how are stuff like "Gaming highlight videos" and "AMVs" dealt in the industry? I'm not talking those little projects people put together that really suck, but the kinda projects people put 1000 hours into putting together. Are they respected at all? Or considered kinda 'childish'?
From what you said, I think I'd be compositor. I primarily work in After Effects. Got my own little mini-business with some mates who do projects, DVDs and whatnot for people. I usually end up doing effects-heavy montages, DVD menu's, etc etc. Hired doing rotoscoping....*shudders*...but I guess you gotta start somewhere.
I'll also check out those two FX sites. Another good one is www.videocopilot.net - free topnotch AE video tutorials which are easy to understand, but have some really cool stuff.
I was also wondering if stuff like gaming highlight videos (I've got a mate in a CS clan that I'm doing a video for) or stuff like AMVs (I'm starting one for a competiton), and generally other montage-based stuff with purely electronic footage is respected/acknowledged as good showcase material?
Certainly something like that is a place where I *can* make a video that doesn't look like amateurish due to limitations of physical camera work, lighting, physical effects, etc and something that can really come together to the best of its abilities. Because I would have a couple of good demo's of that stuff over the next year.
Main issue is at the moment video effects compositing is a hobby for me; something I'd love to do as a part-time/casual thing as I study my Bachelor of Engineering. I don't suppose any studio's look for these kindsa people. By that I mean, smaller, freelance places and whatnot? I mean, if I was given footage, a deadline and whatnot, I'm sure I could get something done.
As an amateur director and special effects editor, my work tends to be high in special effects and fancy stuff - muzzle flashes, lightsabers, explosions etc - all computer rendered. All look cool, but all of them look amateur. There's no way you can make something fancy like that look professionally done.
So my question is, if you want to make work to impress people in the industry, do they prefer simple things, done professionally, or things that have potential in being extravagant, but still have that 'amateur' feel?
My other question is how much are screenwriters/director's controlled by their sponsors/studios? How much freedom do they get in their movies?
Wow, you haven't seen Cable internet in Australia. I'm on the monopoly service (Telstra) where I pay $90AUD a month for 25GB up+down @ 8000/128, really bad latency and rarely consistently working well with shaping after that. And here I'm sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for ADSL2+ to rollout so I can get 40GB a month for $70. And you get a terrabyte!?
Culturally wise, well, I dunno about Canada but I know a lot of Australians come out as a bit more 'boisterous and potentailly rude' when they go over to other countries. As an Australian, you know everything generally tries to be friendly, and casual - you go "'morning mate" to your boss and talk about the footy as if you were old friends. Hell, half the time your boss doesn't even have an office and will work in a cubicle like the rest of you. And generally its that lack of formality and friendliness which will get you places.
Now I've heard that going overseas, certain cultures will take huge offence to this. If there's someone above you, you gotta be uber formal and respectful where acting like your old mates is a bad thing, not a good thing.
So it's legal to fuck her, but if you take a picture of it with your mobile phone, you go behind bars for 20 years. Actually, I can kinda understand this.
I'd imagine this law is more aimed at girls actually being exploited by less 'amateur' pornography. Ie, getting paid to do it as opposed to the girl's boyfriend deciding to keep a few photos of her for himself. They probably figure at that age a girl is old enough to decide whether she wants to sleep with a guy or not, but might be exploited with people dangling $100s of dollars in front of her face.
Oh, and I suppose them we should put anyone away for things they MIGHT do. If some kid living in a poor shitty neighbourhood and hangs out with a bad group of friends, we should put them away because when they get older they are very likely to become rapists, gangsters and murderers.
You're saying we should put away people for thinking differently. Essentially have our very own Inquisition. "They might do something in the future, so let's get 'em now!". Sorry mate, that's not what our justice system is based on - hell, that's not what MOST countries' justice system is based on. So passing a law like this is going against the very basis of the innocent until proven guilty [of an action] value we reiterate so much.
There is a very high probability that anyone who thinks about anything long enough, will eventually act upon such thoughts And you know this...how?
You're speculating. So am I actually. But I think it's more likely there are many people who would be classified as 'paedophiles' - however, out of them only a small few would actually *act* upon it. I'd imagine there's people out there who are brought up with a loving family, have a nice job, and are taught values like "Molesting is wrong". They know it's wrong, but forever reason, still retain this attraction to little girls. They've got enough of a sense of 'right' and 'wrong' to never act upon it. So their outlet becomes these 'fantasies'.
Is it really that hard to believe? It's like why do people get turned on by S&M? It's obviously related to a 'rape' fantasy or whatnot (I'm not talking dominatrix style, but the converse where the guy ties up the girl). These guys obviously get turned on by that. But they have enough of a sense of what's right and wrong to never actually go out there and rape someone - rather, they make a fantasy of it.
We're both speculating, but I'd imagine not all the paedophiles are those weirdos hanging around kindergarden's trying to cop a feel.
And honestly, I'd hate to live in a society you'd create if it meant I'd be put away for things I 'might' do.
Back when I was 8 or so, most of my friends and classmates had some sort of computer at home, be it a Commodore 64/Amiga, an XT/286 or something like that. Spent quite a lot of time exchanging dos games on 5 1/4' floppies back then too. And this was a good 8 or 9 years before 95 came out. I must ask where you live, if "most people had a computer at home" in the late 80s. Was it a hugely tech-based area like Silicon Valley?
My experience is from Melbourne, Australia. And back then while some people had game consoles, computers had hardly become common yet.
No seriously though, this is really, discrimination against thought crime. Just because someone gets turned on by that kinda stuff doesn't mean they're going to go out there and do it. That's like saying "We should ban all TV's that contain themes such as murder". There's a HUGE difference between seeing Saddam Hussein's execution and watching the latest action flick at the movies. Likewise, if you have animated porn featuring controversial themes - underaged girls, rape, etc - how is that the same as videos which actually have real girls?
I'm sure there are heaps of guys out there who watch hentai or other animated pornography which feature underaged girls, rape and whatnot. And I'm sure these same people are sickened when they hear about pedophiles going out there and doing shit to little kids - I'm sure all of them are just as likely to want to beat the crap out of rapists and Michael Jackson, and so on.
The whole point is its a fantasy - a fantasy one could enjoy without their conscience coming and biting them. It's not like watching an animated 15 year old being raped in a high school is gonna make them more likely to go to a high school and do it...unless they're already messed up in the head.
Honestly, what's next? Banning of violent video games...? Oh wait...
Regardless of how Windows 95 was programmed, it *was* the OS that turned home PCs into something that *everyone* had. I was about 6 back when we switched from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95. I remember prior to 95, I was the only one out of all my friends who had a home computer - they had their SNES's and whatnot...one had a Mac, but I was the only one with a PC.
After 95 came out, it was about 3-4 years 'till all of them were running Windows 95/98. It really made home computing a real commodity and almost an 'expected' thing.
And once you get into lesser-known series (say, Hikaru no Go, Kekkaishi, Rental Magica, REC, Hayate no Gotoku, Dennou Coil, Code-E, Bamboo Blade, or Akagi) you'll find that there's a lot more to be had than robots, sentai and tentacle porn. As someone with a collection of 180+ anime (Here's a complete list if anybody wants...), I can vouch for this. Anime storylines can range from something very 'typical' to what you may think, to very deep, complex or even downright disturbing (in a good way - like Berserk) storylines. There's so many 'types' and 'styles' that you really can't put them all in one group. People tend to just look at the stuff which comes on Primetime in America or Australia - stuff like Pokemon, Digimon, Dragonball Z, Naruto, etc etc. There's a lot more to anime like that.
And even robot anime tend to have very intricate storylines! They're more than just "Transformers" kinda stuff.
I mean, I dare someone to say Neon Genesis is just an anime about robots. It is a dark anime which explores a rather depressive look at human nature; an anime completely filled with theistic references throughout.
Or even the Gundams - I've seen Gundam Wing, Gundam SEED and Gundam 00. Each one presents a different outlook on war, and minus some cheesy character development in SEED, they all have some quite mature themes.
And currently, I'm watching the best anime I've seen yet - Code Geass R2. It could be classified as a mecha, but like Death Note, it's more focused on the battle of wits between the main protagonist and his war against the Empire of Britannia. The mecha skirmishes are awesome, but the anime focuses so much *more* on the character development of everyone, the intricacies of Lelouch's plans and the Emperor's schemes, the complexities that arise and whatnot. It's an awesome anime (that of course, might not appeal to some. But I highly highly recommend. If you liked Death Note, or like Mecha, pick this up. Like most it's a bit slow initially, but you'll love it). An anime like that is enough that after every episode, my mate and I have long discussions pondering and contemplating what was revealed in the previous episode. First time an anime has been that complex I could actually do that. =)
But yeah, back on the point. Anime can be very creative. I mean, I look at some of this stuff and I really think "How is they thought of that? This world?" because some of those ideas are so 'out there'. And there is just so much anime! Thousands! Many of them very creative. I really find it amazing that anime can really dominate so many genres so well.
Private property is a bad system. But intellectual property in its myriad forms is a needlessly destructive and utterly stupid system for any person to support who doesn't have harming their fellow man and keeping him small as an agenda. Then there's no need for innovation. If there's no intellectual property, then if I created an idea, every other person could take my idea, copy it and sell it to everyone *else*. Now you may argue they have as much right to that as I do since I cannot own an idea - but it also means I may have an idea, and that big company will come, take my idea, and sell it to everyone on a grand scale, robbing me of potential incomce. Once again, you may argue "Fair's fair". However, this destroys incentive to innovate. If I don't gain anything by inventing something, why would I want to invent it in the first place?
Capitalism breeds innovation and advances us forward. Private property breeds that competitive nature which wants everyone to advance beyond his neighbour - it's only this which has pushed the human race so far. Without that, we'd still be happy farmers without even the most fundamental understanding of science. I guess some people may see that as better, but is life worth living if you just...live and die?
~Jarik
Re:No, it is the age of the farmer and miner
on
The Rise of Geekdom
·
· Score: 1
Err....text messages? Facebook?
I dunno about you, but most of the more geeky guys I know hate those things. Text messages more seem to be the realm of teenagers who like to abbreviate every single word in some retarded way. Most of the more geeky guys I know only text when they have to - usually they prefer calling on the phone, or chatting over MSN/email. And facebook? Once again, it's the place where the more 'socially normal' people keep track of each other's relationships and all that. It's the university version of MySpace - but overall, the more geeky people avoid it.
Just because the mainstream has picked up on electronic ways of doing things doesn't mean 'geekiness' is suddenly become cool.
Of course, that's not to say it hasn't. I'm just saying it's pretty bad evidence. I think society *has* become less stereotyped against geeks. They're no longer necessarily the social outcasts just on the fact that they're geeky. Though, those who still carry themselves like a geek and have zero social aptitude may find this an issue. But I can hardly see girls 'swooning' over a guy cause he's got root...
It could all be propoganda to try to get people to be engineers. But yeah, over here it's 'seen' to be real prestigious with lots of money to be an engineer...=/
I'm glad my EX38-DQ6 doesn't have those things. As you said, 'if you're an electronics hobbyist' it's useful. These things should be on expansion cards, not on the mobo...at the very least, have something like my mobo has - onboard support, but the ports fit on an expansion bracket...so you don't have to use them if you don't need 'em.
I'm doing my first year of Undergrad Engineering at Melbourne University in Australia...and while I'm doing it cause I find it all very interesting, it's one of the more popular courses and a lot of people are doing it *because it's a stable career that pays very well*. Or at least that's what we've been told. Over here, whenever you mention Engineering, people view you as a guy who's smart at Maths and Science, who will get a prestigious job as an engineer and end up as a CEO or something. That's the general view here. Of course, this is only engineering not science. Sure there's many high achievers who suck at Maths or Science and go into Arts instead, but still...Engineering is hardly viewed as a low-paying, low-respect job...(of course, this is stuff like Civil, Mechanical, Electrical - not software).
But from what you guys are saying...elsewhere that view is completely different. =/
This is very exciting as it could point to a future where you can literally hack your own brain. So far it looks like he can only temporarily disrupt parts of a person's brain... what about enhancement? What about non-invasive brain I/O? Hack your own brain? Oh great, now we'll start seeing pages labled "How to compile the Linux kernel...for your mind!".
I'd imagine most of these people are the remnants of the previous generation withering away, and maybe some current generation people living in the middle of nowhere...
Living in an decently sized metropolitan area means you have to be email literate to survive. Most jobs require email correspondance, or at the very least something done online...and if you cannot use email/internet your career will be left behind.
Artificial limbs, I see that. Now what is with someone who had laser surgery on his eyes so he/she can see better ? Would you ban that person from a shooting match ? Even if he/she still can't see better than a top athlete ? If the person can see on par ? Or better ? What stops desperate athletes to all go and get cyborg implants and surgery or whatnot to make them better?
It's scary. You get a friend, sibling, nephew, whatnot coming to you asking for you to fix their computer. And you just sit there and think "HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!?"
Pre-SP2, I only ever ran Spyware searches when I installed software I *knew* came with spyware, with no way to install it otherwise. I've since found better alternatives...but apart from tracking cookies, I get nothing now. Anyways, so even after doing a new installation of XP, along with 5-10 or so spyware filled programs, I'd get about 50 or so things popping up in Ad-Aware SE.
My sister asks me to fix her computer. I run it, return and almost fall over in shock. Somehow she had accumulated 1500+ pieces of spyware. HOW!?
I remove it.
A week later, I check it again, out of professional curiosity. Somehow, within a week she managed to accumulate another 600.
It'd certainly be great to build space-infrastructure!
I mean, imagine if they could make Russia's idea of an orbital construction plant a *lot* cheaper, because you wouldn't have to worry about sending up tonnes of raw material in rockets. You could have a whole bunch of orbital factories and build space infracture in space.
Of course, it'd suck if someone messed up on a calculation and coursed the aseteroid to collide.... >_>
Thing is, with these services that's where the competition comes in. One service introduces something annoying and irritating? You have no loyalty to it - jump ship to another service. Afterall, that other service will now have a chance to compete by stealing a large amount of the customers away!
Of course, as people have mentioned, it becomes a problem when government's start enforcing implemented *laws* until all the other competition is gotten rid of.
Slashdot Mirror
Thanks a lot for all your advice mate! Probably the most I've ever gotten about this field.
I'll keep it in mind, and have a go at learning node-based compositing software. That fxphd thing looks really cool too. And yeah, once I start making serious money besides cash sales to family/friends/school I'll probably buy my software. And 'tis a shame about machinina and AMVs - you're right, a lot of people really don't know what the original footage looked like, and thus dunno the kinda editing work put into doing it...
But yeah, I'll give them all a go!
Though, what's the difference between all of Autodesk's stuff - flame, combustion, smoke, fire, inferno, etc?
Thanks again,
~Jarik
Thanks again for your reply mate! Someone mod him up.
I'll have a look at Fusion and Shake sometime. So far been a pure Adobe-fanboy, but nothing hurts by trying other stuff! For the moment though, I'll stay to the "Everything on the internet is free" until I have the money to buy one of those packages...
A mate of mine I do work with actually managed to find a freelance small company exactly what you said - doing corporate videos. I think I'd enjoy that. Advertisements and whatnot quite often are heavy in special effects, whether its titles or all through it. So far I've also done a few jobs for my school too. The thing that kinda 'started' me on this was the 500 hour (over 3 people) Year 12 Video we put together and it led to extra interest from the school for us to do other stuff.
As for what engineering...well, if I wanted to go into programming, I'd be doing Computer Science, but I've always been more of a computer hardware guy, so I'm looking at Electrical System Engineering (with bias towards electronics). I was hoping at chip design and stuff like that. Either that or Mechanical, maybe even mechatronics. (I only have to decide end of second year. First year is common, second year let's you choose two disciplines to study). But I know enough programming theory such that I could maybe look into writing 'complex shaders' and whatnot. What's a good place to start? What language are these usually written in? Are there any resources into writing effects tools?
So with the "path you took", did you startup your own company, or join one? If the latter, how did you go about advertising yourself to them?
And yeah, how are stuff like "Gaming highlight videos" and "AMVs" dealt in the industry? I'm not talking those little projects people put together that really suck, but the kinda projects people put 1000 hours into putting together. Are they respected at all? Or considered kinda 'childish'?
Thanks again for your help,
~Jarik
Yeah mate, that was really helpful!
From what you said, I think I'd be compositor. I primarily work in After Effects. Got my own little mini-business with some mates who do projects, DVDs and whatnot for people. I usually end up doing effects-heavy montages, DVD menu's, etc etc. Hired doing rotoscoping....*shudders*...but I guess you gotta start somewhere.
I'll also check out those two FX sites. Another good one is www.videocopilot.net - free topnotch AE video tutorials which are easy to understand, but have some really cool stuff.
I was also wondering if stuff like gaming highlight videos (I've got a mate in a CS clan that I'm doing a video for) or stuff like AMVs (I'm starting one for a competiton), and generally other montage-based stuff with purely electronic footage is respected/acknowledged as good showcase material?
Certainly something like that is a place where I *can* make a video that doesn't look like amateurish due to limitations of physical camera work, lighting, physical effects, etc and something that can really come together to the best of its abilities. Because I would have a couple of good demo's of that stuff over the next year.
Main issue is at the moment video effects compositing is a hobby for me; something I'd love to do as a part-time/casual thing as I study my Bachelor of Engineering. I don't suppose any studio's look for these kindsa people. By that I mean, smaller, freelance places and whatnot? I mean, if I was given footage, a deadline and whatnot, I'm sure I could get something done.
~Jarik
As an amateur director and special effects editor, my work tends to be high in special effects and fancy stuff - muzzle flashes, lightsabers, explosions etc - all computer rendered. All look cool, but all of them look amateur. There's no way you can make something fancy like that look professionally done.
So my question is, if you want to make work to impress people in the industry, do they prefer simple things, done professionally, or things that have potential in being extravagant, but still have that 'amateur' feel?
My other question is how much are screenwriters/director's controlled by their sponsors/studios? How much freedom do they get in their movies?
~Jarik
Wow, you haven't seen Cable internet in Australia. I'm on the monopoly service (Telstra) where I pay $90AUD a month for 25GB up+down @ 8000/128, really bad latency and rarely consistently working well with shaping after that. And here I'm sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for ADSL2+ to rollout so I can get 40GB a month for $70. And you get a terrabyte!?
~Jarik
Culturally wise, well, I dunno about Canada but I know a lot of Australians come out as a bit more 'boisterous and potentailly rude' when they go over to other countries. As an Australian, you know everything generally tries to be friendly, and casual - you go "'morning mate" to your boss and talk about the footy as if you were old friends. Hell, half the time your boss doesn't even have an office and will work in a cubicle like the rest of you. And generally its that lack of formality and friendliness which will get you places.
Now I've heard that going overseas, certain cultures will take huge offence to this. If there's someone above you, you gotta be uber formal and respectful where acting like your old mates is a bad thing, not a good thing.
Dunno what Canada is like though.
~Jarik
I'd imagine this law is more aimed at girls actually being exploited by less 'amateur' pornography. Ie, getting paid to do it as opposed to the girl's boyfriend deciding to keep a few photos of her for himself. They probably figure at that age a girl is old enough to decide whether she wants to sleep with a guy or not, but might be exploited with people dangling $100s of dollars in front of her face.
~Jarik
You're saying we should put away people for thinking differently. Essentially have our very own Inquisition. "They might do something in the future, so let's get 'em now!". Sorry mate, that's not what our justice system is based on - hell, that's not what MOST countries' justice system is based on. So passing a law like this is going against the very basis of the innocent until proven guilty [of an action] value we reiterate so much. There is a very high probability that anyone who thinks about anything long enough, will eventually act upon such thoughts And you know this...how?
You're speculating. So am I actually. But I think it's more likely there are many people who would be classified as 'paedophiles' - however, out of them only a small few would actually *act* upon it. I'd imagine there's people out there who are brought up with a loving family, have a nice job, and are taught values like "Molesting is wrong". They know it's wrong, but forever reason, still retain this attraction to little girls. They've got enough of a sense of 'right' and 'wrong' to never act upon it. So their outlet becomes these 'fantasies'.
Is it really that hard to believe? It's like why do people get turned on by S&M? It's obviously related to a 'rape' fantasy or whatnot (I'm not talking dominatrix style, but the converse where the guy ties up the girl). These guys obviously get turned on by that. But they have enough of a sense of what's right and wrong to never actually go out there and rape someone - rather, they make a fantasy of it.
We're both speculating, but I'd imagine not all the paedophiles are those weirdos hanging around kindergarden's trying to cop a feel.
And honestly, I'd hate to live in a society you'd create if it meant I'd be put away for things I 'might' do.
~Jarik
My experience is from Melbourne, Australia. And back then while some people had game consoles, computers had hardly become common yet.
~Jarik
NOOO! There goes all my Lolicon hentai...=(
No seriously though, this is really, discrimination against thought crime. Just because someone gets turned on by that kinda stuff doesn't mean they're going to go out there and do it. That's like saying "We should ban all TV's that contain themes such as murder". There's a HUGE difference between seeing Saddam Hussein's execution and watching the latest action flick at the movies. Likewise, if you have animated porn featuring controversial themes - underaged girls, rape, etc - how is that the same as videos which actually have real girls?
I'm sure there are heaps of guys out there who watch hentai or other animated pornography which feature underaged girls, rape and whatnot. And I'm sure these same people are sickened when they hear about pedophiles going out there and doing shit to little kids - I'm sure all of them are just as likely to want to beat the crap out of rapists and Michael Jackson, and so on.
The whole point is its a fantasy - a fantasy one could enjoy without their conscience coming and biting them. It's not like watching an animated 15 year old being raped in a high school is gonna make them more likely to go to a high school and do it...unless they're already messed up in the head.
Honestly, what's next? Banning of violent video games...? Oh wait...
~Jarik
Regardless of how Windows 95 was programmed, it *was* the OS that turned home PCs into something that *everyone* had. I was about 6 back when we switched from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95. I remember prior to 95, I was the only one out of all my friends who had a home computer - they had their SNES's and whatnot...one had a Mac, but I was the only one with a PC.
After 95 came out, it was about 3-4 years 'till all of them were running Windows 95/98. It really made home computing a real commodity and almost an 'expected' thing.
`Jarik
And even robot anime tend to have very intricate storylines! They're more than just "Transformers" kinda stuff.
I mean, I dare someone to say Neon Genesis is just an anime about robots. It is a dark anime which explores a rather depressive look at human nature; an anime completely filled with theistic references throughout.
Or even the Gundams - I've seen Gundam Wing, Gundam SEED and Gundam 00. Each one presents a different outlook on war, and minus some cheesy character development in SEED, they all have some quite mature themes.
And currently, I'm watching the best anime I've seen yet - Code Geass R2. It could be classified as a mecha, but like Death Note, it's more focused on the battle of wits between the main protagonist and his war against the Empire of Britannia. The mecha skirmishes are awesome, but the anime focuses so much *more* on the character development of everyone, the intricacies of Lelouch's plans and the Emperor's schemes, the complexities that arise and whatnot. It's an awesome anime (that of course, might not appeal to some. But I highly highly recommend. If you liked Death Note, or like Mecha, pick this up. Like most it's a bit slow initially, but you'll love it). An anime like that is enough that after every episode, my mate and I have long discussions pondering and contemplating what was revealed in the previous episode. First time an anime has been that complex I could actually do that. =)
But yeah, back on the point. Anime can be very creative. I mean, I look at some of this stuff and I really think "How is they thought of that? This world?" because some of those ideas are so 'out there'. And there is just so much anime! Thousands! Many of them very creative. I really find it amazing that anime can really dominate so many genres so well.
Your local anime otaku,
~Jarik
Capitalism breeds innovation and advances us forward. Private property breeds that competitive nature which wants everyone to advance beyond his neighbour - it's only this which has pushed the human race so far. Without that, we'd still be happy farmers without even the most fundamental understanding of science. I guess some people may see that as better, but is life worth living if you just...live and die?
~Jarik
Err....text messages? Facebook?
I dunno about you, but most of the more geeky guys I know hate those things. Text messages more seem to be the realm of teenagers who like to abbreviate every single word in some retarded way. Most of the more geeky guys I know only text when they have to - usually they prefer calling on the phone, or chatting over MSN/email. And facebook? Once again, it's the place where the more 'socially normal' people keep track of each other's relationships and all that. It's the university version of MySpace - but overall, the more geeky people avoid it.
Just because the mainstream has picked up on electronic ways of doing things doesn't mean 'geekiness' is suddenly become cool.
Of course, that's not to say it hasn't. I'm just saying it's pretty bad evidence. I think society *has* become less stereotyped against geeks. They're no longer necessarily the social outcasts just on the fact that they're geeky. Though, those who still carry themselves like a geek and have zero social aptitude may find this an issue. But I can hardly see girls 'swooning' over a guy cause he's got root...
~Jarik
It could all be propoganda to try to get people to be engineers. But yeah, over here it's 'seen' to be real prestigious with lots of money to be an engineer...=/
~Jarik
I'm glad my EX38-DQ6 doesn't have those things. As you said, 'if you're an electronics hobbyist' it's useful. These things should be on expansion cards, not on the mobo...at the very least, have something like my mobo has - onboard support, but the ports fit on an expansion bracket...so you don't have to use them if you don't need 'em.
~Jarik
That's strange...
I'm doing my first year of Undergrad Engineering at Melbourne University in Australia...and while I'm doing it cause I find it all very interesting, it's one of the more popular courses and a lot of people are doing it *because it's a stable career that pays very well*. Or at least that's what we've been told. Over here, whenever you mention Engineering, people view you as a guy who's smart at Maths and Science, who will get a prestigious job as an engineer and end up as a CEO or something. That's the general view here. Of course, this is only engineering not science. Sure there's many high achievers who suck at Maths or Science and go into Arts instead, but still...Engineering is hardly viewed as a low-paying, low-respect job...(of course, this is stuff like Civil, Mechanical, Electrical - not software).
But from what you guys are saying...elsewhere that view is completely different. =/
`Jarik
~Jarik
I'd imagine most of these people are the remnants of the previous generation withering away, and maybe some current generation people living in the middle of nowhere...
Living in an decently sized metropolitan area means you have to be email literate to survive. Most jobs require email correspondance, or at the very least something done online...and if you cannot use email/internet your career will be left behind.
~Jarik
Imagine a rave with those! Even better a beowulf- I'll just shutup there.
`Jarik
~Jarik
It's scary. You get a friend, sibling, nephew, whatnot coming to you asking for you to fix their computer. And you just sit there and think "HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!?"
Pre-SP2, I only ever ran Spyware searches when I installed software I *knew* came with spyware, with no way to install it otherwise. I've since found better alternatives...but apart from tracking cookies, I get nothing now. Anyways, so even after doing a new installation of XP, along with 5-10 or so spyware filled programs, I'd get about 50 or so things popping up in Ad-Aware SE.
My sister asks me to fix her computer. I run it, return and almost fall over in shock. Somehow she had accumulated 1500+ pieces of spyware. HOW!?
I remove it.
A week later, I check it again, out of professional curiosity. Somehow, within a week she managed to accumulate another 600.
How!?
~Jarik
It'd certainly be great to build space-infrastructure!
I mean, imagine if they could make Russia's idea of an orbital construction plant a *lot* cheaper, because you wouldn't have to worry about sending up tonnes of raw material in rockets. You could have a whole bunch of orbital factories and build space infracture in space.
Of course, it'd suck if someone messed up on a calculation and coursed the aseteroid to collide.... >_>
~Jarik
Thing is, with these services that's where the competition comes in. One service introduces something annoying and irritating? You have no loyalty to it - jump ship to another service. Afterall, that other service will now have a chance to compete by stealing a large amount of the customers away!
Of course, as people have mentioned, it becomes a problem when government's start enforcing implemented *laws* until all the other competition is gotten rid of.
~Jarik