In my limited exposure to K-12 systems I have noted that in every district I've seen, there has been a software package in use for grade/attendance tracking, etc. that requires either Windows or Mac. Aside from the non-trivial issues of training, we really need an open-source alternative to the proprietary systems for this that are out there now. Of course, I'm no expert and there very well may be an open source project. If so, I'd be interested because the cost savings to my local school district would be huge I suspect.
There's a simple answer to why western, sparsely populated states have slow Internet speeds. The ISP's haven't upgraded their infrastructure. Last I checked, we're still all using protected twisted pair wiring (That's barbed wire to you lucky folks who use lectricity for lights instead of powering that fence to keep our critters in.)
I've written integration software for Office, and then ported it to support OpenOffice. The performance of OpenOffice was literally 10x faster. Things were happening so quickly I had to check to make sure that the code did in fact run.
While there may be some feature/function support missing in OpenOffice that is present in Office, I find that as a casual user it meets my needs, and the price is right.
I seem to recall a Time Magazine letter to the editor (if I'm remembering this right) where a legal secretary wanted to condemn Bill Gates to writing a precisely formatted several hundred page legal document in Word.
I have to admit though, I sure miss the old reveal codes capability in Word Perfect.
Shortly after 9/11 when the airport security restrictions were getting really ramped up and casual travelers didn't know what to expect, I happened to be in line behind a woman who had the unmitigated gall to be carrying a small tweezer in her purse. The security guy very politely explained that she couldn't take it on the plane, but she was having a fit. When he finally started to walk away, I leaned up to her and said "What did he think you were, a plucking terrorist?" That got her laughing and luckily the security guard didn't hear what I said, otherwise I'm sure I'd still be getting a cavity search now.
It's things like this that make me call it "The People's Republic of Oregon". This is the state that doesn't let you pump your own gas, apparently as a way of creating jobs. What they haven't considered is that they have created an entire underclass of low-paid workers whose job is to spend their day outside being exposed to carcinogens. Spreading that risk around for the once or twice a week fill-up isn't a big deal, but I'm betting that a long term study would show these workers have a higher than average cancer rate.
Darwin didn't come up with the phrase "Tree of Life". It was first used in the Bible in the Book of Revelations describing Heaven. That Darwin lifted the phrase amuses me to no end. I wonder if God has enforced his IP rights on that?
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In my limited exposure to K-12 systems I have noted that in every district I've seen, there has been a software package in use for grade/attendance tracking, etc. that requires either Windows or Mac. Aside from the non-trivial issues of training, we really need an open-source alternative to the proprietary systems for this that are out there now. Of course, I'm no expert and there very well may be an open source project. If so, I'd be interested because the cost savings to my local school district would be huge I suspect.
There's a simple answer to why western, sparsely populated states have slow Internet speeds. The ISP's haven't upgraded their infrastructure. Last I checked, we're still all using protected twisted pair wiring (That's barbed wire to you lucky folks who use lectricity for lights instead of powering that fence to keep our critters in.)
I've written integration software for Office, and then ported it to support OpenOffice. The performance of OpenOffice was literally 10x faster. Things were happening so quickly I had to check to make sure that the code did in fact run. While there may be some feature/function support missing in OpenOffice that is present in Office, I find that as a casual user it meets my needs, and the price is right. I seem to recall a Time Magazine letter to the editor (if I'm remembering this right) where a legal secretary wanted to condemn Bill Gates to writing a precisely formatted several hundred page legal document in Word. I have to admit though, I sure miss the old reveal codes capability in Word Perfect.
Shortly after 9/11 when the airport security restrictions were getting really ramped up and casual travelers didn't know what to expect, I happened to be in line behind a woman who had the unmitigated gall to be carrying a small tweezer in her purse. The security guy very politely explained that she couldn't take it on the plane, but she was having a fit. When he finally started to walk away, I leaned up to her and said "What did he think you were, a plucking terrorist?" That got her laughing and luckily the security guard didn't hear what I said, otherwise I'm sure I'd still be getting a cavity search now.
It's things like this that make me call it "The People's Republic of Oregon". This is the state that doesn't let you pump your own gas, apparently as a way of creating jobs. What they haven't considered is that they have created an entire underclass of low-paid workers whose job is to spend their day outside being exposed to carcinogens. Spreading that risk around for the once or twice a week fill-up isn't a big deal, but I'm betting that a long term study would show these workers have a higher than average cancer rate.
You are correct, I'd forgotten about that reference. It makes the irony all the more sweeter, don't you think?
Darwin didn't come up with the phrase "Tree of Life". It was first used in the Bible in the Book of Revelations describing Heaven. That Darwin lifted the phrase amuses me to no end. I wonder if God has enforced his IP rights on that?