No dude you're not the only one. I bought it for my girlfriend too. She sits there for hours building houses and decorating them. I started to try that once, got the walls up and one room wallpapered and realized "I have no interest in this."
I just emailed her the link to the interview above and now she's all excited about playing it online.
I can't imagine anything more horrid. It's just way too much like real life. Why do that when I can play TFC and shoot people in the head?
Maybe we should start a SimsWidower's support group...
Nah. Maxis would probably sue us for infringing on their IP as no doubt support groups will be part of the game in the near future. (That's a joke).
I agree. I love rollercoasters and the other thrill rides.
But for every one of us that do like them there are probably just as many others that won't go near them.
There's also the point that few rollercoasters go over 250 ft. up. And the thrill of heading back towards the ground from that height at an 80 degree angle is very exciting.
Imagine then approaching the ground at a 90 degree angle from a height of 5 km. I know it's going to be decelerating (hopefully) but I'd bet any amount of money that there will still be people chanting the "I'm gonna die I'm gonna die I'm gonna die" mantra.
Originally I thought you were going to talk about the decline of pencil-and-paper games in favor of online versions. Silly me...
Anyways. I help run a MUD. I'm assuming that somewhere in there you were talking about what we call roleplay. This is a very popular aspect of the MUDing society. And it's a form of escapism. But quite harmless.
What I found somewhat ironic is that as an Immortal when I had to put down my particular roleplay... it implied that the world I was now in wasn't my first. My first realm was a little blue ball called 'Earth'. I had made an attempt to introduce a thing called 'technology' to my little mortals and everything was running fine until a Demon named Gates ruined everything and turned it into a smoldering cinder.
1) The Kursk didn't have any nukes on board.
This is damn rare. The only time you don't have a nuke sub armed is if you think it might sink in your backyard. Things like inital testing and say testing a new weapon that your not sure about.
Sorry no. At least on the American side. SALT and SALT II made the existence of "tactical" nuclear weapons on fast attack submarines a thing of the past. I know I was there when we had to take them off our fast attacks.
I don't ever remember hearing whether Kursk was a fast attack or a ballistic missile sub. If it was a ballistic missile then yes it is rare. That's what the damned things are built for.
But please don't run around telling people that all subs carry nuclear weapons. There's enough FUD out there about submarines as it is.
Interesting. Although not really surprising. Having spent a number of years in the sub community this one hits a little close to home.
I found it a little humorous that they made that comment about the Americans being hush-hush about it. If it's true that they do have a cavitation weapon of that nature (even money on that I figure) then the Americans are probably scared shitless and adopting their normal "Uh.. we can neither confirm nor deny any knowledge about the existence of that sort of weapon being owned by us or the Russians." (Did that sound bitter?) And of course the Russians aren't going to admit to having one. They may not be the Soviet Union anymore but old habits die hard. Plus there's no one else in the ocean to play with. =)
I seriously doubt it was a collision. The only ones who'd have an observation sub in the area would be the Americans. And having known a few sub captains, paranoid bunch that they are, I'm sure they stayed well away from everything.
I for one mourn the loss of the crew of the Kursk. Crewing a submarine is not easy and I respect anyone that can tough it out. Especially knowing that the consequences are like what happened.
My nephew is slightly autistic with ADD. When he was much younger there was no communicating with the child. None whatsoever. It was very frustrating for his parents and him.
Luckily though, my brother (his father), like me, is a big computer/console game junkie. He discovered early on that my nephew not only would play the games but actually excelled at them in a savant kind of way. God knows he kicked MY ass enough times on N64.
But what this did was provide the child with an avenue for communication. Some of these games were fairly difficult and he needed to ask someone how to get past a part. Now I'm not sure that's what they mean here but ANY avenue in that situation is really a blessing in disguise.
He gets better daily. I still remember the day he initiated a conversation and called me "Uncle". It gave me that warm, gushy feeling.
I've always scoffed at the supposed evil of video games. It's nice to see some scientific evidence saying the same.
Obese Woman Wears Chainmail Bikini: Cutting quite the fetching figure was Lady Emory of Teasdile Dale, a 300-lb. pointy eared woman who optimistically donned a chainmail bikini for the Gen Con show. She reported that she felt quite flattered by the open stares from patrons.
Well that's in my Top 10 Things I Hope I Never See.
44. The point of lifestreams isn't to shift from one software structure to another but to shift the whole premise of computerized information: to stop building glorified file cabinets and start building (simplified, abstract) artificial minds; and to store our electronic lives inside.
Not on your life pal. I have enough aggravation in my cyberlife without having to watch my electronic doppleganger contemplate his existence and run to the nearest virtual bridge to end it all.
First off let me say that I think BDR presented his case well. S/He is obviously not a drummer. (That's a JOKE people. Relax.)
I was left with the impression though that his main complaint was a lack of options about how to get his music out to the public while getting compensated for his work at the same time. It was made pretty clear that they would rather not deal with the major record labels for fear of getting a bad deal.
That is certainly a justifiable concern.
Many moons ago I was an aspiring local musician whose band had a modest following. But I quickly realized when we started discussing being signed that I, like BDR, had no desire to deal with the corporate droids I knew were going to interfere in our work. My worst fear was having some producer who Did Not Get It having veto power on what would go on the record and what wouldn't. I'd also heard horror stories about bad deals involving royalties, compensations and the like. My first concern was always our music and I was really afraid of getting sucked into the business side and having to worry more about that than our creative process.
The other option would have been to sign with an Indie label, but this being the very early 80's, Indie's were just starting to take off and I just couldn't believe that they would have the distributive and promotional resources that we would need. Since then Indie labels have come and gone like BDR stated. It was good while it lasted.
The emergence of MP3/Napster hasn't changed the problem one iota from how it existed back then. It's just added one more shitty method (from the artist's standpoint) of getting your music out. Sure you can record a CD with a local studio, promote it, but all it takes is one person to rip it and share it over Napster and you get nothing for it. Unless (as many people have stated) the people downloading it decide they like it and buy the CD from you. IF they can find away to contact your label, and IF they bother to even try.
So what are we left with? Three options. a) sign with a major label and hope you're lucky enough to get a decent deal. b) go the Indie/MP3.com/Napster route and probably get ripped off. c) Give up and get a real job. (Like I did.)
The problem is not MP3's or Napster. The problem is the same as it was 20 years ago. It's the industry. And until someone comes up with a method of distributing MP3's with compensation going to the artist that's not going to change.
I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you on Falling Down being about failure.
The protagonist in Falling Down (I don't remember his name) had simply decided he'd had enough of playing by society's rules and went on a rampage. He was a DoD employee that had lost his job due to cutbacks, his wife had recently kicked him out, and one day while stuck in traffic he just.... snapped. He stated throughout the movie that all he wanted to do was go see his wife and kid. Granted he didn't want to hurt anybody initially but he did in the end. Significant scenes in the movie are the ones where he goes on a tirade in a fast food restaurant about why the hamburger he's served doesn't look like the one that's pictured on the menu. And also the one in an Army-Navy surplus store where he picks up a gun that he carries for the rest of the movie. Which really annoys the cops. I agree he's an Anti-Hero but it's not for the same reasons Arthur Dent is.
Arthur Dent IMHO just sort of got sucked up into his situation without any prior knowledge or consent then proceeded to whine about it the whole time. Like DNA said he had no control of his life.
Different situation entirely. Falling Down is about then end of someone's patience, the loss of their sanity, and more of a comment about the state of our society. HHGttG is a damned funny story about someone in a constant state of shock.
I do agree that they both had really bad days though.
While cruising at a depth of 400 feet, the USS Dolphin was able to send e-mails up to a distance of three miles to a relayer buoy, which transferred them to land
The Dolphin (SS-555) is the Navy's non-combatant deisel-powered research submarine. That boat is older than most of us and security about it's position is not a major concern.
Having served in the submarine Navy I seriously doubt this will be an option aboard the combatant vessels. Sub captains don't need any more excuses to have litters of kittens underway.
But then again... even having served as long as I did... I was constantly surprised by the military's stupidity.:)
First off let me say that I agree with you. Basic security should be everyone's responsiblity.
However if this indeed does become policy... I think I'd have to refer my Netsurfing father back to your comment because I am certainly not going to be the one to tell that old fart that he has to go back to school before he can use his computer again.
Slashdot Mirror
I just emailed her the link to the interview above and now she's all excited about playing it online.
I can't imagine anything more horrid. It's just way too much like real life. Why do that when I can play TFC and shoot people in the head?
Maybe we should start a SimsWidower's support group...
Nah. Maxis would probably sue us for infringing on their IP as no doubt support groups will be part of the game in the near future. (That's a joke).
Right hand: Seven car pile-up on the freeway with multiple fatalies.
Left hand: Razorfish website.
I'm not seeing much of a difference between the two. Both are so awful you can't help but look in abject horror.
MAN that thing's ugly. Thanks for posting that link... I think...
But for every one of us that do like them there are probably just as many others that won't go near them.
There's also the point that few rollercoasters go over 250 ft. up. And the thrill of heading back towards the ground from that height at an 80 degree angle is very exciting.
Imagine then approaching the ground at a 90 degree angle from a height of 5 km. I know it's going to be decelerating (hopefully) but I'd bet any amount of money that there will still be people chanting the "I'm gonna die I'm gonna die I'm gonna die" mantra.
- "You ever ride that thing?"
Which is probably how half of the population would feel about riding something like this."No."
"I did. I swear, I think my ass sucked up 6 inches of seat foam."
Originally I thought you were going to talk about the decline of pencil-and-paper games in favor of online versions. Silly me...
Anyways. I help run a MUD. I'm assuming that somewhere in there you were talking about what we call roleplay. This is a very popular aspect of the MUDing society. And it's a form of escapism. But quite harmless.
What I found somewhat ironic is that as an Immortal when I had to put down my particular roleplay... it implied that the world I was now in wasn't my first. My first realm was a little blue ball called 'Earth'. I had made an attempt to introduce a thing called 'technology' to my little mortals and everything was running fine until a Demon named Gates ruined everything and turned it into a smoldering cinder.
You're scaring me Jon. Quit it.
The first thought I had on reading the story was that this was an industry using a national government to try and 'protect it's right to make money'.
And we all know how important it is to protect civil rights for an industry.
This is insane. I swear I'm moving to Tahiti or Fiji and I'm going to live in a tribe.
Best scientific answer to date: It beats the shit outta me.
The scientists are just in denial about the really obvious answer.
The inhabitants of Mars are firing these little rocks at us just to mess with our heads.
"Here Earth-scum! Take a gander at *foom* this one! Just quit bombing us with those damned probes!"
Argh. Waaayyyy too much coffee today....
Someone register a new domain and mirror the code there. Then when the case goes to court we'll get the following.
Bailiff: "Case #135987432452 Digital Convergence vs. Flyingbuttmonkeys.com & YourHonorIsAPooPooHead.com"
Judge: "Pardon?"
Hopefully we'll got both legal teams in the slammer for contempt before he realizes what's going on.
This is damn rare. The only time you don't have a nuke sub armed is if you think it might sink in your backyard. Things like inital testing and say testing a new weapon that your not sure about.
Sorry no. At least on the American side. SALT and SALT II made the existence of "tactical" nuclear weapons on fast attack submarines a thing of the past. I know I was there when we had to take them off our fast attacks.
I don't ever remember hearing whether Kursk was a fast attack or a ballistic missile sub. If it was a ballistic missile then yes it is rare. That's what the damned things are built for.
But please don't run around telling people that all subs carry nuclear weapons. There's enough FUD out there about submarines as it is.
I found it a little humorous that they made that comment about the Americans being hush-hush about it. If it's true that they do have a cavitation weapon of that nature (even money on that I figure) then the Americans are probably scared shitless and adopting their normal "Uh.. we can neither confirm nor deny any knowledge about the existence of that sort of weapon being owned by us or the Russians." (Did that sound bitter?) And of course the Russians aren't going to admit to having one. They may not be the Soviet Union anymore but old habits die hard. Plus there's no one else in the ocean to play with. =)
I seriously doubt it was a collision. The only ones who'd have an observation sub in the area would be the Americans. And having known a few sub captains, paranoid bunch that they are, I'm sure they stayed well away from everything.
I for one mourn the loss of the crew of the Kursk. Crewing a submarine is not easy and I respect anyone that can tough it out. Especially knowing that the consequences are like what happened.
Luckily though, my brother (his father), like me, is a big computer/console game junkie. He discovered early on that my nephew not only would play the games but actually excelled at them in a savant kind of way. God knows he kicked MY ass enough times on N64.
But what this did was provide the child with an avenue for communication. Some of these games were fairly difficult and he needed to ask someone how to get past a part. Now I'm not sure that's what they mean here but ANY avenue in that situation is really a blessing in disguise.
He gets better daily. I still remember the day he initiated a conversation and called me "Uncle". It gave me that warm, gushy feeling.
I've always scoffed at the supposed evil of video games. It's nice to see some scientific evidence saying the same.
Hey no problem. Anytime. :)
Well that's in my Top 10 Things I Hope I Never See.
One can only imagine.
*shudder*
That's easy. It makes my head hurt and generates a lovely whooshing sound.
I'll take that karma point now. =)
I'm sorry is it me or does everyone hear the word 'feature' ringing in their skull?
- 44. The point of lifestreams isn't to shift from one software structure to another but to shift the whole premise of computerized information: to stop building glorified file cabinets and start building (simplified, abstract) artificial minds; and to store our electronic lives inside.
Not on your life pal. I have enough aggravation in my cyberlife without having to watch my electronic doppleganger contemplate his existence and run to the nearest virtual bridge to end it all.Thanks but no thanks.
I was left with the impression though that his main complaint was a lack of options about how to get his music out to the public while getting compensated for his work at the same time. It was made pretty clear that they would rather not deal with the major record labels for fear of getting a bad deal.
That is certainly a justifiable concern.
Many moons ago I was an aspiring local musician whose band had a modest following. But I quickly realized when we started discussing being signed that I, like BDR, had no desire to deal with the corporate droids I knew were going to interfere in our work. My worst fear was having some producer who Did Not Get It having veto power on what would go on the record and what wouldn't. I'd also heard horror stories about bad deals involving royalties, compensations and the like. My first concern was always our music and I was really afraid of getting sucked into the business side and having to worry more about that than our creative process.
The other option would have been to sign with an Indie label, but this being the very early 80's, Indie's were just starting to take off and I just couldn't believe that they would have the distributive and promotional resources that we would need. Since then Indie labels have come and gone like BDR stated. It was good while it lasted.
The emergence of MP3/Napster hasn't changed the problem one iota from how it existed back then. It's just added one more shitty method (from the artist's standpoint) of getting your music out. Sure you can record a CD with a local studio, promote it, but all it takes is one person to rip it and share it over Napster and you get nothing for it. Unless (as many people have stated) the people downloading it decide they like it and buy the CD from you. IF they can find away to contact your label, and IF they bother to even try.
So what are we left with? Three options. a) sign with a major label and hope you're lucky enough to get a decent deal. b) go the Indie/MP3.com/Napster route and probably get ripped off. c) Give up and get a real job. (Like I did.)
The problem is not MP3's or Napster. The problem is the same as it was 20 years ago. It's the industry. And until someone comes up with a method of distributing MP3's with compensation going to the artist that's not going to change.
The protagonist in Falling Down (I don't remember his name) had simply decided he'd had enough of playing by society's rules and went on a rampage. He was a DoD employee that had lost his job due to cutbacks, his wife had recently kicked him out, and one day while stuck in traffic he just.... snapped. He stated throughout the movie that all he wanted to do was go see his wife and kid. Granted he didn't want to hurt anybody initially but he did in the end. Significant scenes in the movie are the ones where he goes on a tirade in a fast food restaurant about why the hamburger he's served doesn't look like the one that's pictured on the menu. And also the one in an Army-Navy surplus store where he picks up a gun that he carries for the rest of the movie. Which really annoys the cops. I agree he's an Anti-Hero but it's not for the same reasons Arthur Dent is.
Arthur Dent IMHO just sort of got sucked up into his situation without any prior knowledge or consent then proceeded to whine about it the whole time. Like DNA said he had no control of his life.
Different situation entirely. Falling Down is about then end of someone's patience, the loss of their sanity, and more of a comment about the state of our society. HHGttG is a damned funny story about someone in a constant state of shock.
I do agree that they both had really bad days though.
I showed the article to our CAD monkey. He blinked twice, stood up, walked to the President's office and quit.
Thanks open-source man. Now we gotta find a new CAD clown because this one just went home muttering "Gonna go flip burgers at McDonald's..."
Info on it can be found here.
The Dolphin (SS-555) is the Navy's non-combatant deisel-powered research submarine. That boat is older than most of us and security about it's position is not a major concern.
Having served in the submarine Navy I seriously doubt this will be an option aboard the combatant vessels. Sub captains don't need any more excuses to have litters of kittens underway.
But then again... even having served as long as I did... I was constantly surprised by the military's stupidity. :)
to continue to bounce pencils off the Marketing guy's head when he walks by my office.
Seriously though you have to wonder how many superior products have been bankrupted by the Brand/Logo-centric attitude that's so pervasive.
But in answer to the question.. I'm wearing a Slackware T-shirt right now so I guess I'm as guilty as the rest. *shrug*
Not sure they exist?
C'mon!
What about that big one in Redmond sucking in lawyers, oodles of cash, and system resources?
First off let me say that I agree with you. Basic security should be everyone's responsiblity.
However if this indeed does become policy... I think I'd have to refer my Netsurfing father back to your comment because I am certainly not going to be the one to tell that old fart that he has to go back to school before he can use his computer again.
Nope. Not me.
Oh that's nice. Make me use Bad English Apo-
gee.
Bah. Sue me. Blood from a turnip.