Time to break out _The Hammer of God_ by Arthur Clarke. For those of you living under a rock (heh heh) it's a novel about a large rocky mass headed on a collision course with earth and the world-wide pants-shitting that ensues after it's discovered.
This is not the first time I've seen a strange correlation between paintballers and computer geeks.
As an avid paintballer myself (off and on for ~8years), I love the sport. It has a slight touch of "war-like" without much possibility of getting seriously injured (if done safely). So does that mean geeks like me tend to be war-like wimps? Too much pent up frustration? The need to take competativeness to the next level?
I'm not saying voice recognition/synthesis for everything, but for every problem we tackle with computers there's probably a better way to interact with the machine than mouse/keyboard/monitor.
I couldn't agree more with the parent poster. It's not "Linux on the Desktop" that's dead, but the DESKTOP itself that's dead (or dying).
Normal people don't want to use computers, in general. They want to do tasks that they consider worthwhile. They want to communicate with others asynchronously. CURRENTLY, this is done through email, and CURRENTLY it requires a computer. Who says email NEEDS to require a computer? What if your email could be read to you automatically when you walked into your apartment? Most people would see this as a usability improvement over:
1. Sit down 2. Turn computer on 3. Wait 4. Double-click 5. Wait while phone dials 6. Click 7. Click 8. Scroll 9. Click 10. Click 11. Stand up
People don't want to use computers. They want to get things done. They want to create letters and presentations. Currently this requires a computer , a printer, and a lot of typing. Does it have to be this way? No! A lot of research has gone into voice recognition and computer vision. In the future we'll just describe a document or presentation in basic terms, using a natural interface like voice or gestures, and a device will spit out what was requested.
I predict computing's next "killer app" will be something that allows people to get rid of their computers.
I like the idea of merging the set-top box with a DVR using normal cable tv or satellite. A good combination.
Yea that's a great combination. While you're at it, let's combine my microwave oven with my freezer. Oh and don't forget that useful tiolet-sink combo.
Bleh.. Just give me a cheap black box that does one thing WELL, rather than fifty things half-assed.
Another cool easter egg, although not web-related: Memepool posted this a while back. Someone discovered a "face" painted into the spectral view of one of the musical tracks on Aphex Twin's Windowlicker CD.
You're thinking of corporations as seperate entities from the government. Here in the real world things don't really work like that. Criminal law is increasingly being penned by boards of directors and rubber-stamped by congresses and parliaments.
Some countries throw you in jail for speaking out against government/corporations, others fine you, others bar you from going to certain places or doing certain things. Certainly jail is alot more harsh but these are all punishments.
A Chinese dissenter being thrown in jail differs from a reporter barred from MacWorld only in scale (admittedly we're talking orders of magnatude).
You know, lately every time there is a discussion about a company prohibiting people from doing something, or forcing people to do something, there is always some jerk who stands up and says "It's okay since a corporation is doing it, and they're allowed!" , or "It's not censorship, because the government is not doing it--a corporation is!"
Folks, we are governed by corporations. They make the rules, enforce them, and punish us when they are broken. For all purposes, the world's corporations are our lords and masters. If they silence you it is censorship. If they force you to do something it is tyrrany.
Just because they answer to shareholders rather than voters doesn't make them any less a governing body.
They could be seen as both. So could the Israeli soldiers who storm through Palestenian villages be seen as terrorists or "enforcers of law and order". It all depends on who is writing the book.
Despite what GW Bush would like us to think, rarely is it the case where a person is "pure evil" or "pure good". It all depends on whos perspective you are looking from.
So I guess you see nothing wrong with the civil rights violations associated with the chinese government. As long as it's not agains their laws.
Since you said you're an American, don't you realize that you're an American only because some TERRORISTS back in the 1700's decided to BREAK THE LAW and rebel against their government?
If you are a business guy, you might have to say it a few times, and maybe it will get through your head.
The Internet is a communication medium, much like the telephone system. Sure you can sell things over it and do some business because of it, but it is not a MARKET.
That said, I don't like the idea of the government meddling either. A technological solution must exist. Perhaps a rating system for search engines?
Don't leave it up to the companies though because they are run by money and are of course corrupt to the bone.
Not true. In many states, malpractice suits are rampant. You can sue a doctor over anything nowadays. The cost of malpractice insurance is driving the doctors out of some states (PA and NY in particular).
As a Computer Engineer who is also considering switching careers to law, I can say for myself that the motivation is: MONEY and JOB SATISFACTION.
Let's face it. You can only go so far pay-wise as an engineer. As soon as your salary gets to the point where it would be cheaper to fire you and hire three college grads, that will happen. I found engineers get high-paying entry-level positions with almost no room for advancement. Show me a company where that's not true, and I'll send you my resume;-)
As far as job satisfaction goes, I guess it depends on what company you end up working for. There are a few companies putting out cool projects, but the rest are just looking for someone to write a new Java interface to their Oracle database so one overpaid manager can shuffle data to and from another overpaid manager. Yup... that's really Making A Difference.
Anyone else reading this switch from Engineering to Law? How did you find the transition? More or less rewarding? More or less mobility? More or less human interaction? Balance of work vs. time-off? I'd be interested in hearing from someone who's taken the plunge and switched careers like this!
I'm not sure I'd describe it as heartbreaking. We're talking about the downfall of homoginized "best seller" media. Big deal. That's no loss to society. You think society would be worse off without Tom Clancy or Madonna?
Somehow I doubt I'll see the end of Big Media's dominance though. There's always a market for its strained and drained product.
Wait until the Office of Homeland Security's new FBI and CIA read his post and start a file on him. If he keeps posting about how bad corporate control is (and other things that only terrorists would write) he's liable to find himself locked away somewhere for good.
I'd hate to say it, but people on Wall Street and boards of directors love it when their company sues someone and wins, and they're the ones in control. What end users think is pretty insignificant, but isn't that always the case?
Personally, I wouldn't put up with that bull. I'm nobody's sacrificial lamb.
There are two types of people in the world: Those who let things happen to them, and those who make things happen.
The first group gets shit on by their bosses/spouses/parents, accepts mandatory pay cuts, lets everyone go in front of them in traffic, prays when things go wrong, and complains to everyone about how the world is so unfair.
The second group takes charge of their situation, demands bonuses, decides for themselves their place in life and the world, and takes corrective action when things don't go as planned.
When he began shooting Star Wars Episode II in an all-digital format, George Lucas imagined that Attack of the Clones could screen in 2,000 digital-projection theaters nationwide.
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So basically, are you saying you don't mind if people are deported into a deporable living environment if they are "foreigners"?
Time to break out _The Hammer of God_ by Arthur Clarke. For those of you living under a rock (heh heh) it's a novel about a large rocky mass headed on a collision course with earth and the world-wide pants-shitting that ensues after it's discovered.
Good book.
You lack basic reading comprehension skills. Please repeat your third-grade level education and re-read my post. Thank you.
This is not the first time I've seen a strange correlation between paintballers and computer geeks.
As an avid paintballer myself (off and on for ~8years), I love the sport. It has a slight touch of "war-like" without much possibility of getting seriously injured (if done safely). So does that mean geeks like me tend to be war-like wimps? Too much pent up frustration? The need to take competativeness to the next level?
I've never given it much thought actually....
I'm not saying voice recognition/synthesis for everything, but for every problem we tackle with computers there's probably a better way to interact with the machine than mouse/keyboard/monitor.
I couldn't agree more with the parent poster. It's not "Linux on the Desktop" that's dead, but the DESKTOP itself that's dead (or dying).
Normal people don't want to use computers, in general. They want to do tasks that they consider worthwhile. They want to communicate with others asynchronously. CURRENTLY, this is done through email, and CURRENTLY it requires a computer. Who says email NEEDS to require a computer? What if your email could be read to you automatically when you walked into your apartment? Most people would see this as a usability improvement over:
1. Sit down
2. Turn computer on
3. Wait
4. Double-click
5. Wait while phone dials
6. Click
7. Click
8. Scroll
9. Click
10. Click
11. Stand up
People don't want to use computers. They want to get things done. They want to create letters and presentations. Currently this requires a computer , a printer, and a lot of typing. Does it have to be this way? No! A lot of research has gone into voice recognition and computer vision. In the future we'll just describe a document or presentation in basic terms, using a natural interface like voice or gestures, and a device will spit out what was requested.
I predict computing's next "killer app" will be something that allows people to get rid of their computers.
I like the idea of merging the set-top box with a DVR using normal cable tv or satellite. A good combination.
Yea that's a great combination. While you're at it, let's combine my microwave oven with my freezer. Oh and don't forget that useful tiolet-sink combo.
Bleh.. Just give me a cheap black box that does one thing WELL, rather than fifty things half-assed.
Another cool easter egg, although not web-related: Memepool posted this a while back. Someone discovered a "face" painted into the spectral view of one of the musical tracks on Aphex Twin's Windowlicker CD.
I always liked google's "more evil than satan himself" egg, although it seems as though it does not work anymore...
Haha.. Kind of reminds me of Jim Blinn's Things I Hope Not to See or Hear at SIGGRAPH. Read it for a chuckle..
You're thinking of corporations as seperate entities from the government. Here in the real world things don't really work like that. Criminal law is increasingly being penned by boards of directors and rubber-stamped by congresses and parliaments.
Some countries throw you in jail for speaking out against government/corporations, others fine you, others bar you from going to certain places or doing certain things. Certainly jail is alot more harsh but these are all punishments.
A Chinese dissenter being thrown in jail differs from a reporter barred from MacWorld only in scale (admittedly we're talking orders of magnatude).
You know, lately every time there is a discussion about a company prohibiting people from doing something, or forcing people to do something, there is always some jerk who stands up and says "It's okay since a corporation is doing it, and they're allowed!" , or "It's not censorship, because the government is not doing it--a corporation is!"
Folks, we are governed by corporations. They make the rules, enforce them, and punish us when they are broken. For all purposes, the world's corporations are our lords and masters. If they silence you it is censorship. If they force you to do something it is tyrrany.
Just because they answer to shareholders rather than voters doesn't make them any less a governing body.
You sound like a twelve year old. Do you always do what you're told?
They could be seen as both. So could the Israeli soldiers who storm through Palestenian villages be seen as terrorists or "enforcers of law and order". It all depends on who is writing the book.
Despite what GW Bush would like us to think, rarely is it the case where a person is "pure evil" or "pure good". It all depends on whos perspective you are looking from.
So I guess you see nothing wrong with the civil rights violations associated with the chinese government. As long as it's not agains their laws.
Since you said you're an American, don't you realize that you're an American only because some TERRORISTS back in the 1700's decided to BREAK THE LAW and rebel against their government?
Nobody ever said advertising is about informing the public. Sorry, you lose. Good points though, but they arent really news to anyone.
THE INTERNET IS NOT A MARKET
If you are a business guy, you might have to say it a few times, and maybe it will get through your head.
The Internet is a communication medium, much like the telephone system. Sure you can sell things over it and do some business because of it, but it is not a MARKET.
That said, I don't like the idea of the government meddling either. A technological solution must exist. Perhaps a rating system for search engines?
Don't leave it up to the companies though because they are run by money and are of course corrupt to the bone.
Tom would have decided the winner by who paid him more for advertising. Look at his past reviews...
Not true. In many states, malpractice suits are rampant. You can sue a doctor over anything nowadays. The cost of malpractice insurance is driving the doctors out of some states (PA and NY in particular).
As a Computer Engineer who is also considering switching careers to law, I can say for myself that the motivation is: MONEY and JOB SATISFACTION.
Let's face it. You can only go so far pay-wise as an engineer. As soon as your salary gets to the point where it would be cheaper to fire you and hire three college grads, that will happen. I found engineers get high-paying entry-level positions with almost no room for advancement. Show me a company where that's not true, and I'll send you my resume
As far as job satisfaction goes, I guess it depends on what company you end up working for. There are a few companies putting out cool projects, but the rest are just looking for someone to write a new Java interface to their Oracle database so one overpaid manager can shuffle data to and from another overpaid manager. Yup... that's really Making A Difference.
Anyone else reading this switch from Engineering to Law? How did you find the transition? More or less rewarding? More or less mobility? More or less human interaction? Balance of work vs. time-off? I'd be interested in hearing from someone who's taken the plunge and switched careers like this!
I'm not sure I'd describe it as heartbreaking. We're talking about the downfall of homoginized "best seller" media. Big deal. That's no loss to society. You think society would be worse off without Tom Clancy or Madonna?
Somehow I doubt I'll see the end of Big Media's dominance though. There's always a market for its strained and drained product.
Not so.
Wait until the Office of Homeland Security's new FBI and CIA read his post and start a file on him. If he keeps posting about how bad corporate control is (and other things that only terrorists would write) he's liable to find himself locked away somewhere for good.
Welcome to the New Western World.
I'd hate to say it, but people on Wall Street and boards of directors love it when their company sues someone and wins, and they're the ones in control. What end users think is pretty insignificant, but isn't that always the case?
Personally, I wouldn't put up with that bull. I'm nobody's sacrificial lamb.
There are two types of people in the world: Those who let things happen to them, and those who make things happen.
The first group gets shit on by their bosses/spouses/parents, accepts mandatory pay cuts, lets everyone go in front of them in traffic, prays when things go wrong, and complains to everyone about how the world is so unfair.
The second group takes charge of their situation, demands bonuses, decides for themselves their place in life and the world, and takes corrective action when things don't go as planned.
So which group are you in?
When he began shooting Star Wars Episode II in an all-digital format, George Lucas imagined that Attack of the Clones could screen in 2,000 digital-projection theaters nationwide.
Because "Digital Is Always Better(TM)", right?