Actually IIRC i think its called Australasia or Oceania.
No, its not. Australia is the name of the continent of Australia.
Oceania is the term used to describe Australia and the surrounding area encompassing all the little island nations and countries like Indonesia, New Zealand, PNG etc.
Australasia is a term used in a similar fashion, encompassing more of the Asian nations (ie from the continent of Asia) like Singapore etc.
IM is just the electronic equivalent of hanging out at the mall.
almost.
I'd say IRC is the equivalent to hanging out in the mall, except that noone uses it these days. The biggest advantage of IRC over IM is that you have group conversations by default - ie whatever channel you are in, everyone is at least listening to the conversation, plus you can privately talk with people.
sure, on IM you can see who is online by your online list, but you rarely have group discussions (I know you can, but I havent had an invite for a multi-user chat for a looong time, but YMMV)
i know i really enjoyed the social aspect of IRC in that you got to know people even when you wern't directly talking to them, much like you would in Real Life. IM also is less liekly to introduce you to new people
To wit: I was part of this transition. In college I still used email, but 90% of communication with my peers was through IM. Now, several years out, I still use IM, but 90% of my communication with my peers is via email.
I think you have a a really good point. I used to be attached to my computer 24/7 because it was the best way to talk to my friends. IRC, ICQ ("IM" is such a new and shite term) - it was the best way to have that constant contact you need as a teenager, and with a whole host of people at once.
Now, I mostly communicate via email, usually to organise face-to-face times to see my friends. I run out of things to say through instant messaging. I think I want a different level of conversation to 'omg brb'. I think also because I am able to go wherever I want, whenever I want, the desire to be around and talk to people ALL THE TIME has faded, because if i really wanted to see someone I could just drive to their house...
Unfortunately, it looks like MS brought over the bad effect from their Mac products where they blur what's behind transparent items making the transparency fairly useless except to indicate that *something* is back there.
agreed - what is the point if its blurry? its not eye candy its just annoying!
(as one example) I *LOVE* the transparency of the terminal in OS X - it makes me more productive because I can read emails/pdfs etc behind the window I'm typing in
After trying to sort out Picasa on my dad's computer, I have to say the "quality Google branding" you speak of has lost all relevance to me. The "label" thing is just confusing (not helped that using the term label in a photo program leads to ambiguity) - I know labels are in gmail, and I have a gmail account I use for signups, but quite frankly every time I use it I get no love - not that I've ever liked webmail.
Also related to the blog article elsewhere on/. today, google results ARE getting more junky by the month.
This is the one reason I could never have a diary type blog (besides being too lazy) - if my parents read it I would die. Not that I hide anything from them, indeed I speak to them all the time about lots of things in my life, but it just creeps me out to have my parents, or really any old people I know, come across and read those sort of personal reflections.
i have the sony ericsson t630 - i thought it would be my dream phone (good looks, bluetooth... well, thats all i really look for in a phone) but its not
the user interface is passable but really, in the end, crap. its SLOW. everytime you want to do anything it takes about 5 clicks and if you press the wrong button its either horrendously slow to fix your mistake, or you are brought back to the main screen - you cant even "go to contact/edit contact..." you have to go back to the main menu and go to "edit contact" through 5 levels of menus just to change a bloody phone number! the speed dial setup is TERRIBLE and there are only a set number of phone numbers allowed per contact - and you cant have two "mobile" numbers. I compare all this to having had two nokia phones (8310/3100) and never being this pissed off (tho still pisssed,guess im hard to please:))
the "cancel all" button craps me off too - unlike the nokia button which immediately brings you back to the start, you have to hold the "back" button down for like 5 seconds. URG, i much prefer to break out if needs be
that said, once you are more used to the flow of the UI (which is similar to the old days of ericssons, like my t18) and make less mistakes its less of a headache
the bluetooth syncing with my powermac works a treat, and ive used a bluetooth headset as well. bluetooth is good for exchanging ringtones with other SE users (in case you hate all of yours! which isnt hard to do) - it does have that old schooll "bring bring" phone ring which is ok
the memory is crap tho - not expandable and you run out of sms memeory after about 50 sms's in your inbox (hello???) - it automatically saves your outgoing msg's but thats no use if the mem is full! also you cant fit that many photos on (i like to have photos of ppl so they show up when they ring... but it doesnt leave much to take extras!)
anyway, it IS cheap and syncs with my pmac, so im keeping it for now. but then im interesetd to see a phone with a decent UI!
How is changing two bytes to unlock hidden functionality "stealing"? When people decide to intentionally cripple a product, they deserve what they get if people figure out how to uncripple it.
I totally agree with you.
Anyone else see a clear parallel between this story and students accessing THEIR OWN uni entrance records??? (which I also think is perfectly legit)
well, everyone lucks out sometime:) or maybe I am living proof of my point that learning a skill once may filter through for the rest of your life! even if it feels useless at the time
reminds me of a girl I met the other day in a clothing store who, when forced to manually write out a receipt, mumbles (loudly) to herself: "oh no, how do you work out the total?!" - even pretty dumb things should be force fed maths!
Not only do we need to learn more before we get to the "edge" of a field of research, but these days there is so much to learn than it is easy to get sidetracked and spend a lot of time learning a little from a lot of varied fields.
To get to the edge of a field of research earlier requires focus on only that area, and little else - which is a rather poor way to live if you ask me! Better to be informed on a variety of topics for everyday life and enjoyment - but then, that approac probably won't lead to a Nobel prize before you are 30!!!
I KNOW I could've blown past everyone else had I been given the chance. I easily could've been doing calculus by 8th grade. But the pace of my classes were so insanely slow that I got lazy and lost the drive to do any of it at all.
I agree also.
In year 6 we had an advanced maths course that was learn-at-your-own pace. It was amazing. We were doing what was year 9 and 10 maths. THe next year those of us who had done the advanced class were told flat out NO we could not continue, and had to go back to year 7 basics at the pace of the whole class. Needless to say it did not inspire us to learn, and I got REALLY bored.
Even now I find it hard to really get into the work that i WANT to do, because for 12 years of school I didn't have to push myself at all and was even forced to slow down and stare out the window for hours on end...
People good at sciences should still be made to do *some* other subjects - I know I cruised through maths but had to work hard at english literature. If I hadn't had to do literature I would have an even poorer work ethic than I do now, because I wouldn't have had to push myself beyond my own self-imposed learning boundaries
I am more proud of the good marks I got in english lit than I am of those in maths/science, because I know I worked my ass off for them, and extended my mind as a result
(of course having never used those skills again my english has reverted back to that of an 8th grader...)
Your purchases aren't monitored and stored in huge server farms God-knows-where when you shop with cash. And that, to me, makes a hell of a difference.
firstly - i use my receipts so *I* can track where I have shopped - gnucash does some pretty graphs:) I seem to spend a lot of money on Tuesdays...
secondly - they (well, only the bank) know WHERE i've shopped but not what I've bought - only schemes like FLYBUYS (australia) are store-run and track WHAT you buy
ive never been sent any marketing from the bank so I dont see them collecting data. even if it is being collected... perhaps my spending habits have something to contribute?:P
thirdly, i prefer to carry next to no cash... it just seems to disspear on random crap - at least with a CC I spend all my money on substantial items and not just drinks and snacks
Also, when paying by debit you dont have to give the sales assistant your card... so unless you see them writing down a 17 digit number plus expiriy date plus your full name on the card plus your PIN... its pretty unlikely, if thats even all the info you need (which I doubt). If they have a photographic memory, they still need a good look at your card
I don't understand your level of paranoia - what system do you think would be more secure? Paying by credit with just a signature is hardly more secure.
Perhaps personal cheques are implanted too depply in the american mindset, but in Australia almost noone uses personal cheques, as most places don't accept them and even if they do, you need 100 or so points of ID. Since the vendor can't check with the bank that you have any money in your cheque account then and there, of course its more open to abuse.
If you lose your card you should report it.
I'm sure if the fraud rate on debit cards was an issue, the banks would change the system, but I've never known anyone to have a problem with their debit card!
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Actually IIRC i think its called Australasia or Oceania.
No, its not. Australia is the name of the continent of Australia.
Oceania is the term used to describe Australia and the surrounding area encompassing all the little island nations and countries like Indonesia, New Zealand, PNG etc.
Australasia is a term used in a similar fashion, encompassing more of the Asian nations (ie from the continent of Asia) like Singapore etc.
Where the hell did you learn geography?
There are not five continents, there are seven. Australia, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa and Antartica.
IM is just the electronic equivalent of hanging out at the mall.
almost.
I'd say IRC is the equivalent to hanging out in the mall, except that noone uses it these days. The biggest advantage of IRC over IM is that you have group conversations by default - ie whatever channel you are in, everyone is at least listening to the conversation, plus you can privately talk with people.
sure, on IM you can see who is online by your online list, but you rarely have group discussions (I know you can, but I havent had an invite for a multi-user chat for a looong time, but YMMV)
i know i really enjoyed the social aspect of IRC in that you got to know people even when you wern't directly talking to them, much like you would in Real Life. IM also is less liekly to introduce you to new people
To wit: I was part of this transition. In college I still used email, but 90% of communication with my peers was through IM. Now, several years out, I still use IM, but 90% of my communication with my peers is via email.
I think you have a a really good point. I used to be attached to my computer 24/7 because it was the best way to talk to my friends. IRC, ICQ ("IM" is such a new and shite term) - it was the best way to have that constant contact you need as a teenager, and with a whole host of people at once.
Now, I mostly communicate via email, usually to organise face-to-face times to see my friends. I run out of things to say through instant messaging. I think I want a different level of conversation to 'omg brb'. I think also because I am able to go wherever I want, whenever I want, the desire to be around and talk to people ALL THE TIME has faded, because if i really wanted to see someone I could just drive to their house...
The lack of offline MSN messenging is the biggest annoyance when dealing with messenger users.
I totally agree! On ICQ you could just leave someone a message, and be assured they would get it next time they logged on
I only use MSN because my friends refuse to use ICQ (or even multi-service clients)
BAH!
errr if you hide itunes, it takes up the same amount of space as if you close the window
I almost never use the right button on my 5-button mouse, and i like it that way.
in fact, its probably the one button i can live without rather than the one i need!
having, as you say, a "weak" context menu doesn't bother me in the least.
so where the freak is iTunes AU???
I'd really love to be into this "legal" download sensation but noone will sell to me (and if it doesn't work on my pod I'm not interested).
transparency improves my productivity - I use a transparent terminal to update content from other sources which are below the window
on a 12" ibook transparency is king!
Unfortunately, it looks like MS brought over the bad effect from their Mac products where they blur what's behind transparent items making the transparency fairly useless except to indicate that *something* is back there.
agreed - what is the point if its blurry? its not eye candy its just annoying!
(as one example) I *LOVE* the transparency of the terminal in OS X - it makes me more productive because I can read emails/pdfs etc behind the window I'm typing in
type "london" then press tab, it will give u a list of london's over the world to choose from
amen.
you can, but it requires more navigation to select shuffle->songs and then the smart playlist, rather than just "shuffle songs" from the main menu
After trying to sort out Picasa on my dad's computer, I have to say the "quality Google branding" you speak of has lost all relevance to me. The "label" thing is just confusing (not helped that using the term label in a photo program leads to ambiguity) - I know labels are in gmail, and I have a gmail account I use for signups, but quite frankly every time I use it I get no love - not that I've ever liked webmail.
/. today, google results ARE getting more junky by the month.
Also related to the blog article elsewhere on
Hmm... google what is happening to you.
HAHA
This is the one reason I could never have a diary type blog (besides being too lazy) - if my parents read it I would die. Not that I hide anything from them, indeed I speak to them all the time about lots of things in my life, but it just creeps me out to have my parents, or really any old people I know, come across and read those sort of personal reflections.
i have the sony ericsson t630 - i thought it would be my dream phone (good looks, bluetooth... well, thats all i really look for in a phone) but its not
:))
the user interface is passable but really, in the end, crap. its SLOW. everytime you want to do anything it takes about 5 clicks and if you press the wrong button its either horrendously slow to fix your mistake, or you are brought back to the main screen - you cant even "go to contact/edit contact..." you have to go back to the main menu and go to "edit contact" through 5 levels of menus just to change a bloody phone number! the speed dial setup is TERRIBLE and there are only a set number of phone numbers allowed per contact - and you cant have two "mobile" numbers. I compare all this to having had two nokia phones (8310/3100) and never being this pissed off (tho still pisssed,guess im hard to please
the "cancel all" button craps me off too - unlike the nokia button which immediately brings you back to the start, you have to hold the "back" button down for like 5 seconds. URG, i much prefer to break out if needs be
that said, once you are more used to the flow of the UI (which is similar to the old days of ericssons, like my t18) and make less mistakes its less of a headache
the bluetooth syncing with my powermac works a treat, and ive used a bluetooth headset as well. bluetooth is good for exchanging ringtones with other SE users (in case you hate all of yours! which isnt hard to do) - it does have that old schooll "bring bring" phone ring which is ok
the memory is crap tho - not expandable and you run out of sms memeory after about 50 sms's in your inbox (hello???) - it automatically saves your outgoing msg's but thats no use if the mem is full! also you cant fit that many photos on (i like to have photos of ppl so they show up when they ring... but it doesnt leave much to take extras!)
anyway, it IS cheap and syncs with my pmac, so im keeping it for now. but then im interesetd to see a phone with a decent UI!
anyone else GLAD that anyone inflicting beatles music on anyone else, or even on themselves, should be forced to pay?
How is changing two bytes to unlock hidden functionality "stealing"? When people decide to intentionally cripple a product, they deserve what they get if people figure out how to uncripple it.
I totally agree with you.
Anyone else see a clear parallel between this story and students accessing THEIR OWN uni entrance records??? (which I also think is perfectly legit)
haha it does too
:) or maybe I am living proof of my point that learning a skill once may filter through for the rest of your life! even if it feels useless at the time
well, everyone lucks out sometime
reminds me of a girl I met the other day in a clothing store who, when forced to manually write out a receipt, mumbles (loudly) to herself: "oh no, how do you work out the total?!" - even pretty dumb things should be force fed maths!
Well said.
Not only do we need to learn more before we get to the "edge" of a field of research, but these days there is so much to learn than it is easy to get sidetracked and spend a lot of time learning a little from a lot of varied fields.
To get to the edge of a field of research earlier requires focus on only that area, and little else - which is a rather poor way to live if you ask me! Better to be informed on a variety of topics for everyday life and enjoyment - but then, that approac probably won't lead to a Nobel prize before you are 30!!!
I KNOW I could've blown past everyone else had I been given the chance. I easily could've been doing calculus by 8th grade. But the pace of my classes were so insanely slow that I got lazy and lost the drive to do any of it at all.
I agree also.
In year 6 we had an advanced maths course that was learn-at-your-own pace. It was amazing. We were doing what was year 9 and 10 maths.
THe next year those of us who had done the advanced class were told flat out NO we could not continue, and had to go back to year 7 basics at the pace of the whole class. Needless to say it did not inspire us to learn, and I got REALLY bored.
Even now I find it hard to really get into the work that i WANT to do, because for 12 years of school I didn't have to push myself at all and was even forced to slow down and stare out the window for hours on end...
People good at sciences should still be made to do *some* other subjects - I know I cruised through maths but had to work hard at english literature. If I hadn't had to do literature I would have an even poorer work ethic than I do now, because I wouldn't have had to push myself beyond my own self-imposed learning boundaries
I am more proud of the good marks I got in english lit than I am of those in maths/science, because I know I worked my ass off for them, and extended my mind as a result
(of course having never used those skills again my english has reverted back to that of an 8th grader...)
yeah i've heard it
its like chill out/relax mixed together
when someone gets stressed out, you just tell them to chillax
Your purchases aren't monitored and stored in huge server farms God-knows-where when you shop with cash. And that, to me, makes a hell of a difference.
:) I seem to spend a lot of money on Tuesdays...
:P
firstly - i use my receipts so *I* can track where I have shopped - gnucash does some pretty graphs
secondly - they (well, only the bank) know WHERE i've shopped but not what I've bought - only schemes like FLYBUYS (australia) are store-run and track WHAT you buy
ive never been sent any marketing from the bank so I dont see them collecting data. even if it is being collected... perhaps my spending habits have something to contribute?
thirdly, i prefer to carry next to no cash... it just seems to disspear on random crap - at least with a CC I spend all my money on substantial items and not just drinks and snacks
I seriously doubt that's it.
Also, when paying by debit you dont have to give the sales assistant your card... so unless you see them writing down a 17 digit number plus expiriy date plus your full name on the card plus your PIN... its pretty unlikely, if thats even all the info you need (which I doubt). If they have a photographic memory, they still need a good look at your card
I don't understand your level of paranoia - what system do you think would be more secure? Paying by credit with just a signature is hardly more secure.
Perhaps personal cheques are implanted too depply in the american mindset, but in Australia almost noone uses personal cheques, as most places don't accept them and even if they do, you need 100 or so points of ID. Since the vendor can't check with the bank that you have any money in your cheque account then and there, of course its more open to abuse.
If you lose your card you should report it.
I'm sure if the fraud rate on debit cards was an issue, the banks would change the system, but I've never known anyone to have a problem with their debit card!