Well I don't know what everyone else does when they're web surfing, but I do two things primarily:
Click hyperlinks. Can't beat the mouse for this, IMHO.
Scroll. Since my hand is already on the mouse, the mouse wheel is perfect. Mouse wheels are pretty common these days.
Other than those two, the only other action I perform really frequently is probably "Back", which I have a side button on my mouse for. I realize most people probably don't have a back button on their mouse; I used to use the keyboard for this rather than drag the cursor up to the toolbar. But still... hyperlink clicking and scrolling is like 90% of web surfing to me. I suppose I could use the arrow or page keys for scrolling (and I tend to for long articles), but switching back and forth between mouse and keyboard all the time is a pain.
"they don't need to make it impossible to break, they just need to make it hard enough that no one other than gurus will be able to do it"
Um, isn't that how it is now already?? A small group of gurus cracks all the software that is put out, and releases an unprotected version to the masses.
Don't they get sick of using the same template? To wit:
"An article over at [some news site] has an article about [some subject]. Pretty interesting read. They talk about [cut n paste something from article]. Either way, [say something stupidly obvious]."
When will people realize that language evolves? Language is only defined as how people use it. Some words or phrases change meaning over time, or even reverse completely. Is the dictionary some rulebook we are eternal slaves to? No. Shakespeare invented over 1600 words. Did you know that "awful" used to mean "deserving of awe"? Or that "sophisticated" used to mean "corrupted"?
Did you ever consider that "Begs the question"'s contemporary meaning is changing for a DAMN GOOD REASON? It's just 3 simple words people. Now, ignoring antiquated idioms, apply language comprehension skills. Is this closer in meaning to "requests the question" or closer to "repeating the question". I think "begs" is WAY closer to "requests" than "repeats", don't you? So why not just accept it, instead of nitpicking a dead horse?
Oh come ON... don't tell me I was the only person who saw this article and immediately thought of the speech given by Patrick Stewart's Xavier at the opening of X-Men: "Every so often, evolution takes a giant leap forward" or something like that...:)
"if you are completely out of the know, but love gaming, do not but the MX series of cards."
AMEN to that. I helped a buddy pick out a new graphics card last weekend so he could play Battlefield 1942 (which requires hardware T&L). I reccommended a GF4 Ti4200 to him, but he opted for the cheaper GF4 MX 460 instead. (I tried to warn him, really I did)
Hmm... no fan on this heat sink. Oh well.. maybe that's a blessing... no moving parts to break down. I'm sure it won't overheat.. I mean they test this stuff, and if it ran too hot, of course they'd slam a fan on it. Right? Right???
Hmm... Unreal Tourney locks up after 5 minutes.
Hmm... May Payne locks up after 1 minute.
Hmm... BF42 locks up in SECONDS.
How can they sell this shit? Doesn't it get some cursory testing?? I even UNDERclocked the damn thing to minimum speed, it still froze on absolutely everything we threw at it.. the more advanced the graphics, the faster it crashed. Anyway, we returned it and picked up a cheap Radeon 7500 which has been running like a champ. ARE YOU READING THIS, NVIDIA!?
"The door flies open and Bill Gates of Microsoft enters"
Let me try and follow your train of thought here, because I find it rather fascinating.
You typed "Bill Gates".
Then, you concluded this was not enough information to uniquely identify this person to Slashdot (or the entire Solar System), and proceeded to add "of Microsoft", to clear up any confusion.
OMG you just about made me throw up. And I can't believe you used the word "NEW" in your subject line, and then talk about importing ratings-whore sexpots from Star Dreck.
(I'm not saying they're unattractive or anything, but let's get faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar away from Star Trek for a new sci-fi show, PLEASE)
People say, "After Columbine, do you feel a responsibility about the way you portray violence?" And I'm like, "No, I felt a responsibility about the way I portrayed violence the first time I picked up a pen."
Wow, I think that's just about the most intelligent and responsible thing I've ever read about the influence of culture on behaviour.
I'm really looking forward to this.. Whedon is brimming with talent, and he's really hitting his stride recently. If anyone can breathe new life into sci-fi TV, I believe it's him. He said he used Buffy as a sort of "film school" for himself, and you can really see his art and technique flourish from season 1 to season 4.. then he started putting more energy into Angel. It'll be interesting to see what he can accomplish now with a fresh start.
OK there's like 4 replies to this that all say the same thing... STAY AWAY FROM MY PORT, YOU UNREGULATED SCOUNDREL!:)
So I'll just reply here instead of each one...
While I agree in spirit, you're missing the point...
What if they were to use the same file sharing software you're using, download files from your computer, use software ON THEIR END to figure out what IP you are, and use that to bust ya?
He can do that, right? Nothing to stop him? The point is anyone can find out what you're sharing. In fact, it's rather intrinsic to the nature of sharing something! Getting upset because someone decided to track it won't change anything. It was bound to happen.. the very same technology that enables file sharing enables it to be tracked. IF their methods proves illegal (which is debateable), they will find a legal way. The end result will be the same. That's the heart of the issue, IMHO.
I'm not against file-sharing... in fact I've written file sharing software.
I see a lot of arguments on here about how he shouldn't be able to find out what stuff you're sharing by probing your ports.
This is so stupid.
You're illegally sharing files (I'm not here to debate whether it's right or wrong.. merely that it IS illegal), making them available to be downloaded by complete strangers anywhere in the world. And then you complain that it's possible for someone to find out that you're sharing them!? Get a grip people.. what did you expect was going to happen? Whining about "port probing"... what do you think the file sharing software does when it queries your computer? They probably just reverse engineered the query protocols.
There will be some high profile arrests, and it will probably cut down on some of the most flagrant sharers. People will still share files, and if the environment becomes more hostile to them, it will simply drive file sharing underground, to private FTP sites and the like, where it has always been, and always will be.
-- They said FUD was bad, so I started spreading DUF.
"Ms. Harding, an eighth-grade English teacher at Viking Middle School in Guernee, Ill., scribbles the words that have plagued generations of schoolchildren across her whiteboard:
There. Their. They're.
Your. You're.
To. Too. Two.
Its. It's."
It plagues schoolchildren? They obviously don't read Slashdot, or talk to anyone online.;)
So like, you create this "glob" of light in front of your car that travels along with you, and illuminates everything you come across?
Um yeah.. 'cept for the fact that as soon as the light DOES illuminate something, it's pretty much used up. (It will be absorbed by the material or the observer, or disperse)
OR... we could provide justifiable criticism and feedback, by complaining about the countless appalling mistakes in an attempt to improve things, because we generally like this place, instead of just running away.
I mean COME ON!!! This blurb had two mistakes that completely REVERSED THE MEANING! That's completely irresponsible. And this isn't some complex essay, it's just a few lines of text! I don't see how anybody of even average intelligence could possibly let mistakes like this get through, and yet they happen EVERY DAY here on Slashdot. It's pure haphazard laziness. It's just disgusting sometimes. Maybe if enough people complain, they'll get some decent editors. I think it's totally reasonable to expect a certain level of quality. You know, some people PAY for this place.
Oh, and by the way, Slashdot is a web SITE. Geez. No wonder you don't have a problem with Slashdot's mistakes.. you probably don't even see them when they're in plain SIGHT.
"those people you're talking to aren't people, they are simple electronic connections to a server"
YES, THEY ARE PEOPLE. You don't talk TO connections, you USE them. Guess what? I'M a real person too, not just a handful of packets sent to the Slashdot server. People you talk to on the street are also real, not just a sequence of vibrations in the air. The communications medium doesn't change who is ultimately on the other end.
"When the line between reality and fantasy becomes THIS blurred"
WHAT blurring?? 'Blurring the line' would be like, treating his CHARACTER dying as if it was a real event, or vice versa.
These people's grasp of reality is just fine. Their friend died in real life, they chose to commemorate him in the space they knew him best, in a touching and solemn salute... not some "sick display of online emotions".
Your post would in fact be informative if the link had pointed somewhere relevant.
The Hydrogen Audio link you gave just redirects to a message board at audio-illumination.org. Now I didn't go through every post with a magnifying glass or anything, but I did look around a bit, and didn't see any listening tests in any sort of prominent location. Care to comment?
That's right kiddies. One day you can tell your grandchildren how you witnessed the birth of AI, right here on Slashdot. To wit:
"When the two groups were not holding status competitions between themselves, they picked on other characters. But then they ended up in a massive brawl as they picked on each other in an effort to increase their status, trying to impress each other."
If that isn't the true essence of human mentality, I don't know what is. </melancholy cynicism>
Okie.. only 3:45 am.. plenty of time for more Battlefield 1942 before sleep.. zzzz...
Well, you make a lot of very good points, but I still have to vehemently agree with the statement:
"[The RIAA] should move from strongarm anti-piracy attempts to actually improving their product."
People want convenience. They want to have a vast, flexible digital music library. The RIAA, which has a stranglehold monopoly on mainstream contemporary music, is still trying to force everyone to buy overpriced Shiny Plastic Disks.
Why can't they offer their entire music catalog in high quality MP3 or Ogg, and sell em for 50 cents a pop from their web site? Think of the revenue!!! But they won't, for fear of piracy, (which is ridiculous since everything is available on the net now ANYWAY) and they'd rather cripple our technology than try to take advantage of it. I think the quality of their foresight has already been proven by the whole VCR spectacle... ie the "Boston strangler" is now providing them with more than half their revenue.
"If the RIAA wants to stay in business, they should move from strongarm anti-piracy attempts to actually improving their product." -- "This is the most specious argument of all. Firstly, you are basically justifying mob rule."
Democracy \De*moc"ra*cy\, n.; the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group.
(I know.. you're going to argue that a "mob" isn't an "organized group", but that was your word, not mine. The sentiment is sound, however.)
Start small. Projects you can pump out fast and charge a minimal amount for, but do your best work on these, really polish them and make them shine. Be prepared to work a LOT of really long nights, and on boring shit like web design. This is not to make money, it is to build a base of clients who will recommend you to other people. The better your reputation, the more money you can charge for your time.
Where to look for clients? Everywhere. Friends and family. The net. Newspapers, yellow pages, and bulletin boards. People you meet on the street. (I'm serious.. face to face has a really magical quality to it that makes people listen to you 100x more than a phone call, fax, or email) Carry a really cool conversation piece that demonstrates your talent (example: a graphics demo on a PDA)
Want to know what people want in today's economy? (Well, always, really) To save money. To get businesses to spend money on you, you have to demonstrate how what you can do for them will save them money. Show them how they'd be fools NOT to buy your software.
And make you you put a lot of work into building a truly reusable code base, it pays off huge in the long run.
Slashdot Mirror
Other than those two, the only other action I perform really frequently is probably "Back", which I have a side button on my mouse for. I realize most people probably don't have a back button on their mouse; I used to use the keyboard for this rather than drag the cursor up to the toolbar. But still... hyperlink clicking and scrolling is like 90% of web surfing to me. I suppose I could use the arrow or page keys for scrolling (and I tend to for long articles), but switching back and forth between mouse and keyboard all the time is a pain.
"Personally, I almost solely use the keyboard as input device"
Even for web surfing??
"they don't need to make it impossible to break, they just need to make it hard enough that no one other than gurus will be able to do it"
Um, isn't that how it is now already?? A small group of gurus cracks all the software that is put out, and releases an unprotected version to the masses.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say it'll melt. Glad I could be of assistance.
Don't they get sick of using the same template? To wit:
"An article over at [some news site] has an article about [some subject]. Pretty interesting read. They talk about [cut n paste something from article]. Either way, [say something stupidly obvious]."
Sorry. It's monday.
When will people realize that language evolves? Language is only defined as how people use it. Some words or phrases change meaning over time, or even reverse completely. Is the dictionary some rulebook we are eternal slaves to? No. Shakespeare invented over 1600 words. Did you know that "awful" used to mean "deserving of awe"? Or that "sophisticated" used to mean "corrupted"?
Did you ever consider that "Begs the question"'s contemporary meaning is changing for a DAMN GOOD REASON? It's just 3 simple words people. Now, ignoring antiquated idioms, apply language comprehension skills. Is this closer in meaning to "requests the question" or closer to "repeating the question". I think "begs" is WAY closer to "requests" than "repeats", don't you? So why not just accept it, instead of nitpicking a dead horse?
Oh come ON... don't tell me I was the only person who saw this article and immediately thought of the speech given by Patrick Stewart's Xavier at the opening of X-Men: "Every so often, evolution takes a giant leap forward" or something like that... :)
I've invented a new machine that will transform our lives into a video game!
Fry: Yes! I've always wanted to see an animated version of myself!
Bender: Oh great. Now I have to deal with the real you AND the virtual you.
Leela: I want to axe you, will this have stereoscopic goggle support?
Professor: Heavens no, I'm not a MIRACLE worker.
Leela: Oh good.
"if you are completely out of the know, but love gaming, do not but the MX series of cards."
AMEN to that. I helped a buddy pick out a new graphics card last weekend so he could play Battlefield 1942 (which requires hardware T&L). I reccommended a GF4 Ti4200 to him, but he opted for the cheaper GF4 MX 460 instead. (I tried to warn him, really I did)
Hmm... no fan on this heat sink. Oh well.. maybe that's a blessing... no moving parts to break down. I'm sure it won't overheat.. I mean they test this stuff, and if it ran too hot, of course they'd slam a fan on it. Right? Right???
Hmm... Unreal Tourney locks up after 5 minutes.
Hmm... May Payne locks up after 1 minute.
Hmm... BF42 locks up in SECONDS.
How can they sell this shit? Doesn't it get some cursory testing?? I even UNDERclocked the damn thing to minimum speed, it still froze on absolutely everything we threw at it.. the more advanced the graphics, the faster it crashed. Anyway, we returned it and picked up a cheap Radeon 7500 which has been running like a champ. ARE YOU READING THIS, NVIDIA!?
"The door flies open and Bill Gates of Microsoft enters"
:)
Let me try and follow your train of thought here, because I find it rather fascinating.
You typed "Bill Gates".
Then, you concluded this was not enough information to uniquely identify this person to Slashdot (or the entire Solar System), and proceeded to add "of Microsoft", to clear up any confusion.
Does that about sum it up?
(Lighten up.. I'm just kidding!)
OMG you just about made me throw up. And I can't believe you used the word "NEW" in your subject line, and then talk about importing ratings-whore sexpots from Star Dreck.
(I'm not saying they're unattractive or anything, but let's get faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar away from Star Trek for a new sci-fi show, PLEASE)
People say, "After Columbine, do you feel a responsibility about the way you portray violence?" And I'm like, "No, I felt a responsibility about the way I portrayed violence the first time I picked up a pen."
Wow, I think that's just about the most intelligent and responsible thing I've ever read about the influence of culture on behaviour.
I'm really looking forward to this.. Whedon is brimming with talent, and he's really hitting his stride recently. If anyone can breathe new life into sci-fi TV, I believe it's him. He said he used Buffy as a sort of "film school" for himself, and you can really see his art and technique flourish from season 1 to season 4.. then he started putting more energy into Angel. It'll be interesting to see what he can accomplish now with a fresh start.
OK there's like 4 replies to this that all say the same thing... STAY AWAY FROM MY PORT, YOU UNREGULATED SCOUNDREL! :)
So I'll just reply here instead of each one...
While I agree in spirit, you're missing the point...
What if they were to use the same file sharing software you're using, download files from your computer, use software ON THEIR END to figure out what IP you are, and use that to bust ya?
He can do that, right? Nothing to stop him? The point is anyone can find out what you're sharing. In fact, it's rather intrinsic to the nature of sharing something! Getting upset because someone decided to track it won't change anything. It was bound to happen.. the very same technology that enables file sharing enables it to be tracked. IF their methods proves illegal (which is debateable), they will find a legal way. The end result will be the same. That's the heart of the issue, IMHO.
I'm not against file-sharing... in fact I've written file sharing software.
I see a lot of arguments on here about how he shouldn't be able to find out what stuff you're sharing by probing your ports.
This is so stupid.
You're illegally sharing files (I'm not here to debate whether it's right or wrong.. merely that it IS illegal), making them available to be downloaded by complete strangers anywhere in the world. And then you complain that it's possible for someone to find out that you're sharing them!? Get a grip people.. what did you expect was going to happen? Whining about "port probing"... what do you think the file sharing software does when it queries your computer? They probably just reverse engineered the query protocols.
There will be some high profile arrests, and it will probably cut down on some of the most flagrant sharers. People will still share files, and if the environment becomes more hostile to them, it will simply drive file sharing underground, to private FTP sites and the like, where it has always been, and always will be.
--
They said FUD was bad, so I started spreading DUF.
It plagues schoolchildren? They obviously don't read Slashdot, or talk to anyone online.
So like, you create this "glob" of light in front of your car that travels along with you, and illuminates everything you come across?
Um yeah.. 'cept for the fact that as soon as the light DOES illuminate something, it's pretty much used up. (It will be absorbed by the material or the observer, or disperse)
OR... we could provide justifiable criticism and feedback, by complaining about the countless appalling mistakes in an attempt to improve things, because we generally like this place, instead of just running away.
I mean COME ON!!! This blurb had two mistakes that completely REVERSED THE MEANING! That's completely irresponsible. And this isn't some complex essay, it's just a few lines of text! I don't see how anybody of even average intelligence could possibly let mistakes like this get through, and yet they happen EVERY DAY here on Slashdot. It's pure haphazard laziness. It's just disgusting sometimes. Maybe if enough people complain, they'll get some decent editors. I think it's totally reasonable to expect a certain level of quality. You know, some people PAY for this place.
Oh, and by the way, Slashdot is a web SITE. Geez. No wonder you don't have a problem with Slashdot's mistakes.. you probably don't even see them when they're in plain SIGHT.
</RANT DAY="Monday" TIME="AM">
Pardon me, but you're a fucking idiot.
"those people you're talking to aren't people, they are simple electronic connections to a server"
YES, THEY ARE PEOPLE. You don't talk TO connections, you USE them. Guess what? I'M a real person too, not just a handful of packets sent to the Slashdot server. People you talk to on the street are also real, not just a sequence of vibrations in the air. The communications medium doesn't change who is ultimately on the other end.
"When the line between reality and fantasy becomes THIS blurred"
WHAT blurring?? 'Blurring the line' would be like, treating his CHARACTER dying as if it was a real event, or vice versa.
These people's grasp of reality is just fine. Their friend died in real life, they chose to commemorate him in the space they knew him best, in a touching and solemn salute... not some "sick display of online emotions".
Your post would in fact be informative if the link had pointed somewhere relevant.
The Hydrogen Audio link you gave just redirects to a message board at audio-illumination.org. Now I didn't go through every post with a magnifying glass or anything, but I did look around a bit, and didn't see any listening tests in any sort of prominent location. Care to comment?
If that isn't the true essence of human mentality, I don't know what is. </melancholy cynicism>
Okie.. only 3:45 am.. plenty of time for more Battlefield 1942 before sleep.. zzzz...
"I'd buy puppies for orphans"
You MONSTER! Do you know how much it costs to care for and feed a puppy? And you'd inflict this financial burden on poor orphans?
You're sick SICK SICK!!!
Well, you make a lot of very good points, but I still have to vehemently agree with the statement:
"[The RIAA] should move from strongarm anti-piracy attempts to actually improving their product."
People want convenience. They want to have a vast, flexible digital music library. The RIAA, which has a stranglehold monopoly on mainstream contemporary music, is still trying to force everyone to buy overpriced Shiny Plastic Disks.
Why can't they offer their entire music catalog in high quality MP3 or Ogg, and sell em for 50 cents a pop from their web site? Think of the revenue!!! But they won't, for fear of piracy, (which is ridiculous since everything is available on the net now ANYWAY) and they'd rather cripple our technology than try to take advantage of it. I think the quality of their foresight has already been proven by the whole VCR spectacle... ie the "Boston strangler" is now providing them with more than half their revenue.
"If the RIAA wants to stay in business, they should move from strongarm anti-piracy attempts to actually improving their product."
--
"This is the most specious argument of all. Firstly, you are basically justifying mob rule."
Democracy \De*moc"ra*cy\, n.; the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group.
(I know.. you're going to argue that a "mob" isn't an "organized group", but that was your word, not mine. The sentiment is sound, however.)
Start small. Projects you can pump out fast and charge a minimal amount for, but do your best work on these, really polish them and make them shine. Be prepared to work a LOT of really long nights, and on boring shit like web design. This is not to make money, it is to build a base of clients who will recommend you to other people. The better your reputation, the more money you can charge for your time.
Where to look for clients? Everywhere. Friends and family. The net. Newspapers, yellow pages, and bulletin boards. People you meet on the street. (I'm serious.. face to face has a really magical quality to it that makes people listen to you 100x more than a phone call, fax, or email) Carry a really cool conversation piece that demonstrates your talent (example: a graphics demo on a PDA)
Want to know what people want in today's economy? (Well, always, really) To save money. To get businesses to spend money on you, you have to demonstrate how what you can do for them will save them money. Show them how they'd be fools NOT to buy your software.
And make you you put a lot of work into building a truly reusable code base, it pays off huge in the long run.