In a rare turn of events on Slashdot, I apologise. I actually meant "bzzt!" in the sense of "I disagree, this is not the case" rather than "You're just so WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, ner-ner-n'ner-ner!!" But clearly, it's an overly ambiguous turn of phrase (not surprising given the lack of vowels:-).
Thanks for the opportunity to correct this impression.
To clarify: I'm not against Internet provision in libraries, but there is a gross imbalance if we're providing PCs while letting the stacks suffer bit rot. Is it sensible to diversify if you're already having problems servicing your current competency, particularly if it then means neglecting that area? (I don't blame library managers, as I'm sure they were offered the extra funding on the proviso that it went towards IT.)
I agree that libraries need to be sufficiently well funded to adequately fulfill both roles. To Libri's credit, they've highlighted the fact that this is not presently the case.
More interestingly, the story mentions that despite increases in funding for libraries, spending on books has sharply declined! Presumably, at least some of that money went on Internet provision instead - that's great as a means of broadening access, but not if it diverts money from a core function.
More, newer books are obviously required, but increased rotation of stock between libraries would help too. As it stands, the average secondhand or remainders shop offers a wider range.
> London and Manchester's huge libraries are great.
Bzzzt! Manchester has some fine library buildings, and arguably some good collections, but the general room at the Central library is a classic example of an inadequate, underfunded and mismanaged public library. Worse, this is the main branch for a major city. There is a limited selection of old books (almost outnumbered by the videos for hire), badly catalogued and, despite the small number, confusingly laid out. On the day I went, a radio was clearly audible from the storeroom at the rear - if you can't even rely on the staff for "SILENCE", what use are they? (They certainly can't look after books.) Manchester seems determined to prove that public libraries cannot be a viable proposition, and when they finally - I almost add deservedly - close this shoddy excuse for a library service, the council will doubtless claim it is due to a lack of demand.
Before anyone else does that joke, please get thee to a vid store and rent (or buy, it's worth it) "Elizabeth" and note his performance as the papal assassin (although in the end, Geoffrey Rush's Walsingham is the more ruthless and effective).
I take Eric's general points about poor usability and UI design, but you're right - Fedora (and RHL 9) config tools don't work very well for CUPS. Whenever I upgrade or run the redhat-config-printer tool, it routinely tightens up my CUPS configuration so much that networked printing is impossible (removes Port and Listen directives, inserts individual ACLs for each printer that restrict access to localhost, removes more general ACLs that allow commands like lpq to work...). Maybe their config system does this stuff right if you figure out how to enable it from within their system, but I'm darned if I've ever seen the option.
So in fact, that config system even pisses off the technical users who just want to get it working and are prepared to hack the config file around to make it work (and would rather not become experts in CUPS, foomatic, GhostScript and whatever else has been thrown in there).
Regarding CUPS, the httpd-alike config syntax is...weird (are print servers and web servers directly comparable?), and its use of the root password for authentication makes me uneasy.
From experience (in a "do as I say, not as I do" way): look up from the monitor and talk to their faces occasionally, or even frequently. I found that managing the people on a personal basis was a distraction from the (more directly appealing) technical aspects of the team's actual role, and I resented it. This was not a happy situation for me or them, and I've since strongly resisted all attempts to put me in a similar position again.
Teams containing inexperienced people usually want a lot of one-to-one help, and if you're not comfortable with providing it then you're not the best person to lead them.
They've brought out that C-41 B&W film to try and get people to buy film, but I won't use it. It's the same price as color, and has the same orange tinting to the negatives as color film, an added pain when I'm scanning them in.
Use VueScan, it removes the mask colour automatically if you select the film type. T400CN is a good film and very easy for minilabs to handle.
UnitedLinux is DEAD??? It can't be! I run my entire enterprise on that OS! Oh man, this is worse than the Solaris 2.0 EOL announcement!! Or the Betamax thing!...Thank ghod my Red Hat 9 boxes are OK.
Maybe... it's enough to be aware of what's happening behind the scenes as we enjoy this cornucopia of bargains.
Dear Lowly Chinese Worker,
Sorry about the appalling conditions you work in, and the crap wages, lack of unionisation and general squalor. I'm not going to do squat about it, but please be assured that I am aware of your plight and will endeavour to appall my fellow man with tales of your suffering at every dinner party I attend.
By the way, the DVD player works great but when you get a minute, could you add S-Video output? It shouldn't cost much.
Don't forget the commentaries! Enjoy the experience of someone talking through the whole movie, in the comfort of your own home!
The only extras I've enjoyed were: LotR documentaries: despite showing exactly how the films were made, I came away with a new respect for the achievements of the whole crew. Amelie director's commentary: at the start, Jeunet basically says "Don't listen to me if you want the magic preserved." I took his advice and stopped it.
I don't think the EM is as bad a choice as others here are making out. If you can find one in provably good condition, it's a cheap body that leaves more money to buy some good lenses (particularly in the Series E line).
Yes, it's mainly aperture-priority but, unless you're shooting action, controlling the aperture (and thus depth of field) is the key to many great photographs anyway. (Arguably, you have indirect control of shutter speed as well, since the meter shows the intended setting and the aperture size influences it. You can change the ISO dial to apply compensation.)
As mentioned, the electronics are the biggest problem. The variable resistors for the aperture ring and ISO dial are the weakest parts; if they're worn, you may notice that the meter needle in the viewfinder will jump around and/or the readings are inaccurate. Compare it to a known good meter or camera at various ISO ratings, and check that a one stop change in aperture across the range is accompanied by a corresponding change in indicated shutter. (NB. The EM meter only activates when the film counter gets to 1 and the shutter button is lightly pressed.) Repair is likely to cost almost as much as the camera, unless you have access to spare parts and the tools to do it yourself.
(Don't know what the visibility of this post will be now. Seems like everyone has an opinion.)
You seem to know what you want and few should quibble about buying a manual body. Here are some straight model recommendations, but it's up to you to research them and decide your needs. None of these is a total dog.
Nikon: FE, FE2, FM, FM2, FA, F2. Price may be an issue with the later models. If you can't afford the AI lenses, look for the Series E ones instead. The 50mm f/1.8 is usually a bargain (people who say it's "boring" mean that they themselves produce boring images). Note that upgrading to an AF body later means you will have to buy a high end model such as F100 or D1H to keep using your lenses; other bodies can't meter with MF lenses. As I usually add, if you're looking at Nikon then you must join Nikonians.
Canon: I know very little about Canon other than a good lens range and that everyone raves about the AE-1 as a manual body.
Olympus: OM system has many fans, lenses are good value. No upgrade path.
Something older, like Pentax K-compatible or Eastern European brands like Praktica that accept Pentax screw-mount (M42) lenses. Not the greatest mount but the gear is capable and lenses are cheap enough to throw away when you upgrade to a modern system later.
Desirable features: DOF preview; match needle on meter; self-timer; thread for standard cable release; large ISO (film speed) range.
Ah yes, but there's going to be a great scene in which the CGI Kong argues with himself about whether or not he loves the girl or just wants to eat her. ("You're a liar! And a chimp!" - "Not listening!")
Look, in this country, Prince Charles will doubtless be attending the premiere (hey, free seats, best in the house!) and he isn't in it either so Christopher Lee can just stop being so damn petty!
That's before we've even got to the reams of c-list celebs and ex-Big Brother contestants who always show up at these events....Come to think of it, you can't really blame Lee at all.
Ade_
/
Written by Dian Fossey?
on
Effective XML
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· Score: 1
> On these first pages the author started earning my trust and admiration
...Next thing I know, I was shot with a tranquiliser dart and woke up on a table with a gloved finger exploring my rectum.
Pah, this shallow review tells us almost nothing about the DVD! What about:
The thickness of card used for the outer packaging;
The exact reflective index of the disc surfaces (individually for 1-4);
The exact wavelength of the red light used in the Moria sequences;
The precise modulation of Elijah Wood's voice in the commentary when he says, "Yeah, working with Andy was rilly cool";
How much smaller my life will be after digesting every second of the documentaries, and whether my remaining friend will also desert me when I tell them all about it like I did the others after watching FotR extended.
Slashdot Mirror
In a rare turn of events on Slashdot, I apologise. I actually meant "bzzt!" in the sense of "I disagree, this is not the case" rather than "You're just so WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, ner-ner-n'ner-ner!!" But clearly, it's an overly ambiguous turn of phrase (not surprising given the lack of vowels :-).
/
Thanks for the opportunity to correct this impression.
Ade_
To clarify: I'm not against Internet provision in libraries, but there is a gross imbalance if we're providing PCs while letting the stacks suffer bit rot. Is it sensible to diversify if you're already having problems servicing your current competency, particularly if it then means neglecting that area? (I don't blame library managers, as I'm sure they were offered the extra funding on the proviso that it went towards IT.)
/
I agree that libraries need to be sufficiently well funded to adequately fulfill both roles. To Libri's credit, they've highlighted the fact that this is not presently the case.
Ade_
Ack, ya beat me to it.
/
More interestingly, the story mentions that despite increases in funding for libraries, spending on books has sharply declined! Presumably, at least some of that money went on Internet provision instead - that's great as a means of broadening access, but not if it diverts money from a core function.
More, newer books are obviously required, but increased rotation of stock between libraries would help too. As it stands, the average secondhand or remainders shop offers a wider range.
Ade_
> London and Manchester's huge libraries are great.
/
Bzzzt! Manchester has some fine library buildings, and arguably some good collections, but the general room at the Central library is a classic example of an inadequate, underfunded and mismanaged public library. Worse, this is the main branch for a major city. There is a limited selection of old books (almost outnumbered by the videos for hire), badly catalogued and, despite the small number, confusingly laid out. On the day I went, a radio was clearly audible from the storeroom at the rear - if you can't even rely on the staff for "SILENCE", what use are they? (They certainly can't look after books.) Manchester seems determined to prove that public libraries cannot be a viable proposition, and when they finally - I almost add deservedly - close this shoddy excuse for a library service, the council will doubtless claim it is due to a lack of demand.
Ade_
Munich decided that Linux was cheap, extendable, powerful and usable enough to suit their purpose...so Microsoft hired the guy who told them all this?
/
If I write a database engine that even an idiot can administer, will Microsoft then hire the idiot?
Ade_
Before anyone else does that joke, please get thee to a vid store and rent (or buy, it's worth it) "Elizabeth" and note his performance as the papal assassin (although in the end, Geoffrey Rush's Walsingham is the more ruthless and effective).
/
Ade_
The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one (he said). But the chances of this film being much cop are...zero.
/
Ade_
Nice try, Darl.
I take Eric's general points about poor usability and UI design, but you're right - Fedora (and RHL 9) config tools don't work very well for CUPS. Whenever I upgrade or run the redhat-config-printer tool, it routinely tightens up my CUPS configuration so much that networked printing is impossible (removes Port and Listen directives, inserts individual ACLs for each printer that restrict access to localhost, removes more general ACLs that allow commands like lpq to work...). Maybe their config system does this stuff right if you figure out how to enable it from within their system, but I'm darned if I've ever seen the option.
/
So in fact, that config system even pisses off the technical users who just want to get it working and are prepared to hack the config file around to make it work (and would rather not become experts in CUPS, foomatic, GhostScript and whatever else has been thrown in there).
Regarding CUPS, the httpd-alike config syntax is...weird (are print servers and web servers directly comparable?), and its use of the root password for authentication makes me uneasy.
Ade_
From experience (in a "do as I say, not as I do" way): look up from the monitor and talk to their faces occasionally, or even frequently. I found that managing the people on a personal basis was a distraction from the (more directly appealing) technical aspects of the team's actual role, and I resented it. This was not a happy situation for me or them, and I've since strongly resisted all attempts to put me in a similar position again.
Teams containing inexperienced people usually want a lot of one-to-one help, and if you're not comfortable with providing it then you're not the best person to lead them.
Ade_
/
Use VueScan, it removes the mask colour automatically if you select the film type. T400CN is a good film and very easy for minilabs to handle.
Ade_
/
UnitedLinux is DEAD??? It can't be! I run my entire enterprise on that OS! Oh man, this is worse than the Solaris 2.0 EOL announcement!! Or the Betamax thing! ...Thank ghod my Red Hat 9 boxes are OK.
Ade_
/
Woo-hoo, we get to pay two quid more to support fat pig record company execs drowning in coke and whores! Thank you BPI for ending our pain!
Of course, if CD Wow can make a lot of money from cheap CDs, why are record companies struggling to make any money from hugely expensive ones?
Ade_
/
Dear Lowly Chinese Worker,
Sorry about the appalling conditions you work in, and the crap wages, lack of unionisation and general squalor. I'm not going to do squat about it, but please be assured that I am aware of your plight and will endeavour to appall my fellow man with tales of your suffering at every dinner party I attend.
By the way, the DVD player works great but when you get a minute, could you add S-Video output? It shouldn't cost much.
Regards,
Western Consumer
Ade_
/
For UK folk, the BBC are showing it this xmas.
Ade_
/
Don't forget the commentaries! Enjoy the experience of someone talking through the whole movie, in the comfort of your own home!
The only extras I've enjoyed were:
LotR documentaries: despite showing exactly how the films were made, I came away with a new respect for the achievements of the whole crew.
Amelie director's commentary: at the start, Jeunet basically says "Don't listen to me if you want the magic preserved." I took his advice and stopped it.
Ade_
/
I don't think the EM is as bad a choice as others here are making out. If you can find one in provably good condition, it's a cheap body that leaves more money to buy some good lenses (particularly in the Series E line).
Yes, it's mainly aperture-priority but, unless you're shooting action, controlling the aperture (and thus depth of field) is the key to many great photographs anyway. (Arguably, you have indirect control of shutter speed as well, since the meter shows the intended setting and the aperture size influences it. You can change the ISO dial to apply compensation.)
As mentioned, the electronics are the biggest problem. The variable resistors for the aperture ring and ISO dial are the weakest parts; if they're worn, you may notice that the meter needle in the viewfinder will jump around and/or the readings are inaccurate. Compare it to a known good meter or camera at various ISO ratings, and check that a one stop change in aperture across the range is accompanied by a corresponding change in indicated shutter. (NB. The EM meter only activates when the film counter gets to 1 and the shutter button is lightly pressed.) Repair is likely to cost almost as much as the camera, unless you have access to spare parts and the tools to do it yourself.
Ade_
/
You seem to know what you want and few should quibble about buying a manual body. Here are some straight model recommendations, but it's up to you to research them and decide your needs. None of these is a total dog.
As I usually add, if you're looking at Nikon then you must join Nikonians.
Desirable features: DOF preview; match needle on meter; self-timer; thread for standard cable release; large ISO (film speed) range.
Ade_
/
Ah yes, but there's going to be a great scene in which the CGI Kong argues with himself about whether or not he loves the girl or just wants to eat her. ("You're a liar! And a chimp!" - "Not listening!")
Ade_
/
I dunno, something about Darl McBride being Sauron and the Ring is his IP rights or something equally hilarious...
</SCO joke>
There, we can end this story now.
Ade_
/
Yes, you are The One.
Ade_
/
Look, in this country, Prince Charles will doubtless be attending the premiere (hey, free seats, best in the house!) and he isn't in it either so Christopher Lee can just stop being so damn petty!
...Come to think of it, you can't really blame Lee at all.
That's before we've even got to the reams of c-list celebs and ex-Big Brother contestants who always show up at these events.
Ade_
/
Ade_
/
Ade_
Wait, these movies are still meant to be viewed after five years?? I thought they were popcorn promos.
Ade_
/