I think the two terms are basically interchangeable, with nerd having fallen out of heavy use. It seems, though this is of course just my perception of it, that nerd used to refer to a math/computers/physics/etc. type of person, who is more into those pursuits than he/she is into socializing. Even in it's most perjorative use, it implies intelligence. Geek used to, it seems, refer to people who lacked social skills, but don't compensate with technical skills or intelligence. Now the meaning has sort of turned around. I've always considered myself a nerd, but I guess I'd fit into the geek category nowadays. Too bad, I like how the word "nerd" sounds, has a better ring to it I think.
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Well, to be fair transmeta has had their share of fiascos as well. I wish them well, but even after they go public I think they're going to have a tough year. --
Well the question isn't successful vs. unsuccessful, it's good vs. bad. I know plenty of extremely successful muds that I think are just plain bad. If you look at the way MUD design has changed in the last 7 years, it isn't exactly impressive. The games are basically the same,
with mostly cosmetic code changes. The older MUDs at least had the novelty value, which has worn off by now.
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I don't think that MUDs are getting less popular, but just getting diluted by the number that exist now. They're definitely declining in quality I think. I first started on a BBS Circle (without any other players), then when I got internet access, did original Diku, Alexmud, before moving back to Circlemuds. I've encountered some first-rate MUDs which were every bit as good as some commercial games; MUME and Thunderdome spring to mind, but the vast majority tend to be barely modified, if at all, and dull. Even some of the larger/more unique ones like Realms of Despair couldn't really hold my interest (though I've been on and off that one for around 6 years now, mostly to socialize; I stopped playing the game part after a month). The problem most of them seem to share is that the creators have no sense of what atmosphere and storyline means. Even the best MUD can't hold a candle to Infocom imho.
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So I'm a troll, eh. Funny thing is, neither of the posts disputed my point, which is that Republican spending far outpaced Democrat spending. But if you can't argue with someone on the facts, just moderate them down, it's easier. --
Well....I could ask for a lot. Like his stance on issues. I'm not going to vote for someone just because he went to Harvard and is a physicist. That said I became interested in Hagelin a while ago when I checked out the Natural Law party website. However, now that he's with the Reform party I'm actually less likely to vote for him. I really don't like the party's philosophy.
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I still have never understood how console RPGs are so popular. The few that I've tried are mind-numbingly dull, consisting of hours and hours of menu-based combat. If you want to talk about old, GOOD RPGs, we can bring up Ultima 4-7, or Wasteland. --
I think you underestimate how much some people overestimate their skills. I said he/she would be reading a lot of resumes, not that they'd be qualified applicants. Think of how much time an editor at a publishing company wastes reading the slush pile. --
It's scary how many hours I've spent reading fortune. What's scarier is that just when you've thought you've seen them all, up pops a new one.
fortuneenteruparrowenteruparrowenteruparrowenter --
"so-called"? Maybe our kneejerk cynicism is getting a little out of hand. While I don't agree with everything he does, Brill's Content is one of the few magazines I find worth reading. It's also one of the few places where you can get a good, hard look at how the media operates, and probably the only such place that would qualify as mainstream press (as in you can find it in most well-equipped bookstores).
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Your keyboard works after 5 years of continuous use, and you're complaining that it's dirty? That's a pretty good run in my opinion...
Anyway, I usually leave my keyboards battered. It's like a badge of honor. When I do clean them (which rarely happens), I just wipe it with wet paper towels. What's the worst thing that happens? It gets broken and I shell out 20 bucks for another one. If you're more fastidious, you can probably experiment with different kinds of cleaners without too much worry, simply because they tend to be able to take a beating (you wouldn't believe what I've spilled on my keyboard)... --
Mostly it seems like a good UNIX primer rather than a FreeBSD one specifically; most of the commands seemed identical, or nearly so, to those in Linux or any other UNIX/UNIX-like system. Anyone know any primers on the points where FreeBSD differs from Linux? I'm kind of interested in trying it out, but I tend to get easily irritated in working with another OS when a command doesn't work like I expect it (Solaris especially). Still, it's nice to see O'Reilly putting stuff like this online. --
But the point is whether the criminal will even KNOW he or she is being considered one. If you look at the history of wiretapping in the US, people who had not committed a crime were being recorded because their politics weren't popular with some people in power. Let's say we have an activist who is being tracked. Someone unsympathetic to her cause might monitor where she goes. People she visits socially might themselves might be monitored because of their association with her. Local law enforcement might be alerted whenever she enters their area, and they might start watching her. I actually don't think this sort of thing happens that often; agencies mandated with enforcing the law usually do so legally. But all you need is one person in power who feels differently, another Hoover or McCarthy, and suddenly you have a major problem. --
Even if they implement a workaround, we could just implement one around that. Do you really want to admit that we're not smarter than a bunch of advertising executives? --
This is very, very dangerous. The article's a little vague, but it would take a lot to convince me the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits.
For example:
The unit can be turned off by the wearer, thereby making the monitoring voluntary. It will not intrude on personal privacy except in applications applied to the tracking of criminals.
Ok, how exactly do we turn this off? From the remark on "the tracking of criminals" it makes it sound like it would have to be disabled by whoever was running the system. I can easily imagine some governments using it to track dissidents, even outside of criminal investigations. I wouldn't want to tempt law enforcement agencies into this kind of invasion of privacy.
The idea of it drawing it's power from it's host is probably the most interesting part of the article, but I think there would be a lot more beneficial uses for it (medical analysis for example) than creating a worldwide human tracking system.
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I get itchy when I read that, because I've never in my life met the paragon who could do each and every one of
these things at all, much less well. It seems to me that Heinlein's nitpicky educational elitism basically boils down
to this: "Are you fit for the voter's franchise? If and only if you would have been an A+ student at a high school in
the mid-western U.S.A in 1924, then you should be allowed to run the entire world. Any loser who doesn't
measure up to this criterion is fit only to be a serf to those of us who do."
The main sense I got from reading Heinlein's works was one of extreme bitterness over the world ignoring him, and he seemed convinced he was the apogee of human evolution.
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Clinton hasn't done much for the environment, which is one reason why I used the word "finally",
but I don't think you can blame Gore for that; the office of vice president is mostly ceremonial, and they don't usually have too much policy influence.
And I'm quite aware of the toxicity that the semiconductor industry generates; I submitted a story which partly dealt with that, but it was rejected. --
Regarding political tools, http://www.issues2000.org might be helpful; it lists each major candidate's stand on just about every conceivable issue. I haven't really examined it in-depth, but it appears pretty objective and even-handed.
As for who is the "geek" candidate, I'd say Gore probably fits the geek image better than anyone else (George W.'s frat boy "might not know much but I can hire advisors" mentality seems diametrically opposed to what most geeks hold dear). And yes, Gore didn't invent the Internet, but he was instrumental in getting government funding for DARPAnet, and as far as politicians go, he's one of the most informed on technological issues. Personally, I'd like to finally see someone in the White House who's on the right side of environmental issues (while I believe George W. would pretty much try to gut the EPA, which is what Reagan tried to do in the 80's).
--
Personally I can't think of any ways to safeguard against fraud; maybe they exist, but they're not coming to me. Besides which, I don't really see the point of introducing online voting. If you can't spare the effort to walk a few blocks (or request, fill out, and mail an absentee ballot), why should you be allowed to do it at the click of a button? Apathy is the problem, not the fact that not enough votes are recorded. Making it simple to vote won't remove the apathy, it will just flood the system with uninformed votes. --
Slashdot Mirror
I've never been so insulted in my life! How DARE you call me two-legged! Oh, wait...
--
Slashdot already had this, but nothing wrong with revisiting a topic...
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I think the two terms are basically interchangeable, with nerd having fallen out of heavy use. It seems, though this is of course just my perception of it, that nerd used to refer to a math/computers/physics/etc. type of person, who is more into those pursuits than he/she is into socializing. Even in it's most perjorative use, it implies intelligence. Geek used to, it seems, refer to people who lacked social skills, but don't compensate with technical skills or intelligence. Now the meaning has sort of turned around. I've always considered myself a nerd, but I guess I'd fit into the geek category nowadays. Too bad, I like how the word "nerd" sounds, has a better ring to it I think.
--
Well, to be fair transmeta has had their share of fiascos as well. I wish them well, but even after they go public I think they're going to have a tough year.
--
Well the question isn't successful vs. unsuccessful, it's good vs. bad. I know plenty of extremely successful muds that I think are just plain bad. If you look at the way MUD design has changed in the last 7 years, it isn't exactly impressive. The games are basically the same, with mostly cosmetic code changes. The older MUDs at least had the novelty value, which has worn off by now.
--
I don't think that MUDs are getting less popular, but just getting diluted by the number that exist now. They're definitely declining in quality I think. I first started on a BBS Circle (without any other players), then when I got internet access, did original Diku, Alexmud, before moving back to Circlemuds. I've encountered some first-rate MUDs which were every bit as good as some commercial games; MUME and Thunderdome spring to mind, but the vast majority tend to be barely modified, if at all, and dull. Even some of the larger/more unique ones like Realms of Despair couldn't really hold my interest (though I've been on and off that one for around 6 years now, mostly to socialize; I stopped playing the game part after a month). The problem most of them seem to share is that the creators have no sense of what atmosphere and storyline means. Even the best MUD can't hold a candle to Infocom imho.
--
So I'm a troll, eh. Funny thing is, neither of the posts disputed my point, which is that Republican spending far outpaced Democrat spending. But if you can't argue with someone on the facts, just moderate them down, it's easier.
--
What more can you ask for!
Well....I could ask for a lot. Like his stance on issues. I'm not going to vote for someone just because he went to Harvard and is a physicist. That said I became interested in Hagelin a while ago when I checked out the Natural Law party website. However, now that he's with the Reform party I'm actually less likely to vote for him. I really don't like the party's philosophy.
--
I still have never understood how console RPGs are so popular. The few that I've tried are mind-numbingly dull, consisting of hours and hours of menu-based combat. If you want to talk about old, GOOD RPGs, we can bring up Ultima 4-7, or Wasteland.
--
I think you underestimate how much some people overestimate their skills. I said he/she would be reading a lot of resumes, not that they'd be qualified applicants. Think of how much time an editor at a publishing company wastes reading the slush pile.
--
I feel bad for the HR guy who will have to read all the resumes pouring in...quite possibly the first time a human being will be slashdotted...
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It's scary how many hours I've spent reading fortune. What's scarier is that just when you've thought you've seen them all, up pops a new one. fortuneenteruparrowenteruparrowenteruparrowenter
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Steven Brill, so-called "media watchdog"
"so-called"? Maybe our kneejerk cynicism is getting a little out of hand. While I don't agree with everything he does, Brill's Content is one of the few magazines I find worth reading. It's also one of the few places where you can get a good, hard look at how the media operates, and probably the only such place that would qualify as mainstream press (as in you can find it in most well-equipped bookstores).
--
Your keyboard works after 5 years of continuous use, and you're complaining that it's dirty? That's a pretty good run in my opinion...
Anyway, I usually leave my keyboards battered. It's like a badge of honor. When I do clean them (which rarely happens), I just wipe it with wet paper towels. What's the worst thing that happens? It gets broken and I shell out 20 bucks for another one. If you're more fastidious, you can probably experiment with different kinds of cleaners without too much worry, simply because they tend to be able to take a beating (you wouldn't believe what I've spilled on my keyboard)...
--
Mostly it seems like a good UNIX primer rather than a FreeBSD one specifically; most of the commands seemed identical, or nearly so, to those in Linux or any other UNIX/UNIX-like system. Anyone know any primers on the points where FreeBSD differs from Linux? I'm kind of interested in trying it out, but I tend to get easily irritated in working with another OS when a command doesn't work like I expect it (Solaris especially). Still, it's nice to see O'Reilly putting stuff like this online.
--
But the point is whether the criminal will even KNOW he or she is being considered one. If you look at the history of wiretapping in the US, people who had not committed a crime were being recorded because their politics weren't popular with some people in power. Let's say we have an activist who is being tracked. Someone unsympathetic to her cause might monitor where she goes. People she visits socially might themselves might be monitored because of their association with her. Local law enforcement might be alerted whenever she enters their area, and they might start watching her. I actually don't think this sort of thing happens that often; agencies mandated with enforcing the law usually do so legally. But all you need is one person in power who feels differently, another Hoover or McCarthy, and suddenly you have a major problem.
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The perceptive reader should, of course, switch "benefits" and "disadvantages" in the above post.
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Even if they implement a workaround, we could just implement one around that. Do you really want to admit that we're not smarter than a bunch of advertising executives?
--
The idea of it drawing it's power from it's host is probably the most interesting part of the article, but I think there would be a lot more beneficial uses for it (medical analysis for example) than creating a worldwide human tracking system.
--
I get itchy when I read that, because I've never in my life met the paragon who could do each and every one of these things at all, much less well. It seems to me that Heinlein's nitpicky educational elitism basically boils down to this: "Are you fit for the voter's franchise? If and only if you would have been an A+ student at a high school in the mid-western U.S.A in 1924, then you should be allowed to run the entire world. Any loser who doesn't measure up to this criterion is fit only to be a serf to those of us who do."
The main sense I got from reading Heinlein's works was one of extreme bitterness over the world ignoring him, and he seemed convinced he was the apogee of human evolution.
--
Clinton hasn't done much for the environment, which is one reason why I used the word "finally", but I don't think you can blame Gore for that; the office of vice president is mostly ceremonial, and they don't usually have too much policy influence. And I'm quite aware of the toxicity that the semiconductor industry generates; I submitted a story which partly dealt with that, but it was rejected.
--
Regarding political tools, http://www.issues2000.org might be helpful; it lists each major candidate's stand on just about every conceivable issue. I haven't really examined it in-depth, but it appears pretty objective and even-handed.
As for who is the "geek" candidate, I'd say Gore probably fits the geek image better than anyone else (George W.'s frat boy "might not know much but I can hire advisors" mentality seems diametrically opposed to what most geeks hold dear). And yes, Gore didn't invent the Internet, but he was instrumental in getting government funding for DARPAnet, and as far as politicians go, he's one of the most informed on technological issues. Personally, I'd like to finally see someone in the White House who's on the right side of environmental issues (while I believe George W. would pretty much try to gut the EPA, which is what Reagan tried to do in the 80's).
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pine in a terminal window. Can't get more stable than that.
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Drape a sheet over yourself and the computer. Cut a little hole in the sheet for the snorkel.
--
Personally I can't think of any ways to safeguard against fraud; maybe they exist, but they're not coming to me. Besides which, I don't really see the point of introducing online voting. If you can't spare the effort to walk a few blocks (or request, fill out, and mail an absentee ballot), why should you be allowed to do it at the click of a button? Apathy is the problem, not the fact that not enough votes are recorded. Making it simple to vote won't remove the apathy, it will just flood the system with uninformed votes.
--