He answers this on his website (in the section titled 'Juvenilia
'):
In the Beginning was the Command Line is now badly obsolete and probably needs a thorough revision. For the last couple of years I have been a Mac OS X user almost exclusively.
NYT comes out of nowhere with this idiotic, inflammatory headline.
Yeah. It's particularly stupid since the tone of the article was positive, laden with Linus' quotes about how DCO will strengthen Linux, it's a good thing, etc. etc.
... the Internet is really the only way to go. Individually, net-based news sources are just as tainted and unreliable as their TV and print-based counterparts. I mean, a corporate-owned, agenda-driven whoremaster is the same beast no matter what the media. But the 'net makes it super easy to perform a little "truth-triangulation" using multiple sources.
I thought it was funny that there is an Ask Slashdot with Gaiman, since he is so open and responsive in his journal. I'm glad to see that somebody mentioned it.
Also, Neil used to post a hell of a lot (and maybe still does) on inkwell.vue, the Well's free, open-to-the-public conference. This kind of interaction with one's fans seems extremely rare.
In any case, I'm sure he's tickled to have been asked.
One minor point that is pretty nice about the iTunes store is the accessibility of feedback and song/artist/album requests. No jumping to a website or anything; just a nice, clean feedback form right in iTunes. It provides a link to these forms when search results turn up empty...
Today my wife and I had the good fortune to see Mstislav Rostropovich perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Before the performance, the PSO program director entered to a darkened, empty stage. He said that, in honor of the 7 astronauts killed in yesterday's tragedy, Maestro Rostropovich wished to perform a piece by J.S. Bach. He asked that no one applaud before or after the performance. Slava, still considered by many to be the greatest living cellist at age 76, quitely walked across the stage. He took a seat, then a deep breath, and delivered one of the most haunting and mornful pieces of music I have ever experienced. The entire audience was breathless. As he concluded, every person quietly rose from their seats -- some weeping -- and rememberd the Columbia. It was unexpected and touching.
One of the most useful items in my toolbag was custom crafted by me 'da: a strong magnet soldered to a old telescoping radio antenna. This thing has come in useful more times than I can remember. It's particularly suited to pulling otherwise unretrievable car keys back from the land beyond the sewer gratings.... Sweet little gadget.
We have two of there bots at Pittsburgh hospitals, one named Roameo and the other Juliet. While they are largely ignored by hospital staff, patients routinely flip out when they see these things motoring away throughout the hospitals. Supposedly, however, staff has at times become so frustrated with bad elevator manuvering on behalf of Roameo that he has been locked in many a supply closet. So, if you are ever wandering the halls and hear a pathetically muted "I see the obstacle. You are in my way," you'll know what's up.
Okay, okay, okay. You enjoyed episode I. Cool. But I have to take exception with two of your statements.
In fact I think that the spread of "Jar Jar Sucks" posts are probably related to the AYBABTU phenomenon- i.e. stick with what the mob likes, and diss the things the mob hates, and you'll be alright. I mean- we are slashdotters- we're supposed to be more mature than this. Also we're supposed to like computer stuff, i.e. CGI.
Here, you cite mob mentality as the probable cause of the anti-jar-jar statements you seemingly loathe. You go on to call this mentality immature. I agree -- it is pretty lame. But then -- whamo! -- you tell us that we slashdotters are *supposed* to like CGI. Why don't you just take on: "C'mon, everyone's doing it!"
Now, it's obvious that Lucas would be a big fan of CGI, and that his 3 prequals would use lots of it. You have to remember that the other 3 films used a lot of technologically-advanced stuff for their day, so George Lucas hasn't changed in his attitude.
No. Episode IV was made using VistaVision equipment, elbow grease -- true hackerism. At the time, VistaVision cameras were considered outdated and not worth donkey shit. The SFX team (not including George) got the equipment for 11k. After the success of ANH, the *very same equipment* sold for over 300,000! Anyway, the point here is that the SW effects hackers have always been just that -- those who took existing technology and ded amazing things with it. So I disagree with this BS that Georgey boy has always been technologically advanced. They used to do amazing things with the cinematic equivalent of duct tape and spit.
.. I like to send those prepaid envelopes back with little surprises for the poor bastard at the other end. You know, a pretzel or two. Some peanut butter. It's sometimes fun to toss in a quickly rendered self-portrait or a note. I'm sure I'd *love* to get stuff like that if my job were so abhorrent. Break up the day for them, and you get you 0.30 revenge..
I enjoyed the hell out of my NES as much as the next guy, but I have to say that it provided personal outbursts of frustration unmatched since. Take, for instance, the cart "The Mafat Conspiracy." This was a follow up to Golga 13. Yeah, the cool spy-themed side-scroller. Anyway, board 4 of this games involved a herd of jumping wolf-dog-things and floor spikes (the one-touch-kills-your-whole-life-meter variety). The dogs would bounce poor Golga off the catwalk and onto the spikes. I could consistently reach one specific catwalk jump every time. And, just as regularly, a fucking lupo-canine thingamabob would launch my butt to certain doom. Every damn time. I would try different things. It didn't matter -- this game was the genesis of the destruction of two nintendo controllers. And let me tell you, those puppies were hard to break. I had to pull out the old clawhammer.
Anyone out there defeat this blasted game? It was really fun, up until the dog-creatures
A friend experienced similar emotional turmoil from the original Ninja Gaiden. He actaully went so far as to kick the console off the tv stand. Anyone else have any tough-game war stories?
First off, I think this experiment is ultra interesting, and agree with many of the benefits given in other posts. But.... regarding the assumption that this method of publishing/distribution provides a framework for up and coming authors to get their work out:
The current publishing system saves me alot of time when it comes to sorting the huge amount of available material. F'rinstance, how many of us/.ers gravitate to the O'reilly tomes before considering anything else? Why? Because ORA built up a reputation for publishing *quality* books. Sure, I would still be able to pick the autors brain via this new distribution method, but it would take me a lot longer (perhaps never) to locate the book. This systems relies on word of mouth as the primary means by which an author can promote his book.
There needs to be a real push into getting intelligence in educational software (for kids). Most of what I've seen is drek - while some of it is very slick and good-looking, it lacks real educational content.
It seems that the creation of a system like the one you described would entail not only clever AI, but also clever teachers. In fact, the described systems draws not only on AI and sound pedagogy, but also on psychology... truly a grand undertaking.
Such a tutoring system would have obvious positive aspects. Yet, in the world of lazy and short-sighted humans, there exists a clear danger. It seem obvious that such a system, no matter how well implemented, would pale in comparison to a good fleshy-type teacher. But once we have "The Young Lady's Illustrated Primer," how many real teachers would remain? They aren't portable, they are expensive, and the pay just isn't there.
Ideally, this software would be just what the OP described, tutoring software -- a supplement to learning. Yet, what's ideal rarely happens.
Slashdot Mirror
Yeah. It's particularly stupid since the tone of the article was positive, laden with Linus' quotes about how DCO will strengthen Linux, it's a good thing, etc. etc.
One HUGE difference, IMHO, is the maximum supported resolution of the LCD. It's a mere 1024x768 on the iBook.
1024 just doesn't cut it for me.
I thought it was funny that there is an Ask Slashdot with Gaiman, since he is so open and responsive in his journal. I'm glad to see that somebody mentioned it.
Also, Neil used to post a hell of a lot (and maybe still does) on inkwell.vue, the Well's free, open-to-the-public conference. This kind of interaction with one's fans seems extremely rare.
In any case, I'm sure he's tickled to have been asked.
just cut off your leg.
... this was going on (in part) upstairs from a lecture by none other than Neal Stephenson.
Sweet day at CMU, I'd say.
One minor point that is pretty nice about the iTunes store is the accessibility of feedback and song/artist/album requests. No jumping to a website or anything; just a nice, clean feedback form right in iTunes. It provides a link to these forms when search results turn up empty...
Soybo does this, and it's open source (as well as multi-platform, multi-device, etc., etc.)
Today my wife and I had the good fortune to see Mstislav Rostropovich perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Before the performance, the PSO program director entered to a darkened, empty stage. He said that, in honor of the 7 astronauts killed in yesterday's tragedy, Maestro Rostropovich wished to perform a piece by J.S. Bach. He asked that no one applaud before or after the performance. Slava, still considered by many to be the greatest living cellist at age 76, quitely walked across the stage. He took a seat, then a deep breath, and delivered one of the most haunting and mornful pieces of music I have ever experienced. The entire audience was breathless. As he concluded, every person quietly rose from their seats -- some weeping -- and rememberd the Columbia. It was unexpected and touching.
Yep. In fact, they are built specifically on Red Hat using dialogic cards.
One of the most useful items in my toolbag was custom crafted by me 'da: a strong magnet soldered to a old telescoping radio antenna. This thing has come in useful more times than I can remember. It's particularly suited to pulling otherwise unretrievable car keys back from the land beyond the sewer gratings.... Sweet little gadget.
GlazikWe have two of there bots at Pittsburgh hospitals, one named Roameo and the other Juliet. While they are largely ignored by hospital staff, patients routinely flip out when they see these things motoring away throughout the hospitals. Supposedly, however, staff has at times become so frustrated with bad elevator manuvering on behalf of Roameo that he has been locked in many a supply closet. So, if you are ever wandering the halls and hear a pathetically muted "I see the obstacle. You are in my way," you'll know what's up.
Northpoint, may your collective privates rot in a most painful way. You here me talking managers?
Glazik
That takes care of the legal questions, the architectural retro-fitting, the gotta-have-it factor, and the might-require-new-regulations.
What'choo think, people?
I enjoyed the hell out of my NES as much as the next guy, but I have to say that it provided personal outbursts of frustration unmatched since. Take, for instance, the cart "The Mafat Conspiracy." This was a follow up to Golga 13. Yeah, the cool spy-themed side-scroller. Anyway, board 4 of this games involved a herd of jumping wolf-dog-things and floor spikes (the one-touch-kills-your-whole-life-meter variety). The dogs would bounce poor Golga off the catwalk and onto the spikes. I could consistently reach one specific catwalk jump every time. And, just as regularly, a fucking lupo-canine thingamabob would launch my butt to certain doom. Every damn time. I would try different things. It didn't matter -- this game was the genesis of the destruction of two nintendo controllers. And let me tell you, those puppies were hard to break. I had to pull out the old clawhammer.
Anyone out there defeat this blasted game? It was really fun, up until the dog-creatures A friend experienced similar emotional turmoil from the original Ninja Gaiden. He actaully went so far as to kick the console off the tv stand. Anyone else have any tough-game war stories?Glazik
The current publishing system saves me alot of time when it comes to sorting the huge amount of available material. F'rinstance, how many of us /.ers gravitate to the O'reilly tomes before considering anything else? Why? Because ORA built up a reputation for publishing *quality* books. Sure, I would still be able to pick the autors brain via this new distribution method, but it would take me a lot longer (perhaps never) to locate the book. This systems relies on word of mouth as the primary means by which an author can promote his book.
Glazik
It seems that the creation of a system like the one you described would entail not only clever AI, but also clever teachers. In fact, the described systems draws not only on AI and sound pedagogy, but also on psychology... truly a grand undertaking.
Such a tutoring system would have obvious positive aspects. Yet, in the world of lazy and short-sighted humans, there exists a clear danger. It seem obvious that such a system, no matter how well implemented, would pale in comparison to a good fleshy-type teacher. But once we have "The Young Lady's Illustrated Primer," how many real teachers would remain? They aren't portable, they are expensive, and the pay just isn't there.
Ideally, this software would be just what the OP described, tutoring software -- a supplement to learning. Yet, what's ideal rarely happens.
Glazik