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User: sgant

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  1. Re:Fair and Balanced... on Microsoft Spinning Against OpenDocument Via Fox News · · Score: 1

    Give me an example of the NYTimes doing this then. Actual examples. Don't give me the sensational stories where the writer was making things up and got discovered and was canned....which they were up-front about and didn't try to cover it up. Unlike CBS and Dan Rather did.

    It's amusing to see the NYTimes get labeled as too conservative and then too liberal. (yes, I know you did neither...just making an observation on others).

    But I'd be interested in a story that the NYTimes did that you found was like the parent said. Not a challenge to you, I'm genuinely curious.

  2. Re:Ah but we must plan for the future. on EU Claims Internet Could Fall Apart Next Month · · Score: 1

    Also, do you really thing the site "red-rose-stories" will stay quiet? The ACLU is all over this. This is a site that had erotica...yes, S&M and B&D type stories...but stories about consenting adults or just pure fantasy. No images...just words. Yes, this woman had her house broken into by the FBI and her computer equipment stolen for words. Just words.

    This has the potential to become huge.

  3. Re:Ah but we must plan for the future. on EU Claims Internet Could Fall Apart Next Month · · Score: 1

    The current SCOTUS is conservative. When was the last justice put in by a liberal democrat?

    The thing with the SCOTUS is that when these judges get to the bench, who everyone fears will overturn Roe v. Wade or undermine the 1st amendment, they rise above all this and actually DO try to make decisions that are good for the health of the country. Else they would have voted against Larry Flint, Roe v. Wade would have been struck down years ago etc etc. They're there for life...a person worried about their jobs tend to play favorites. They rise above all this. They DO tend to put aside their personal feelings and try to interpret what the Constitution is trying to say and protect. Plus we have those pains in the asses the ACLU to look out for bullshit.

    Also, the task force being put together by the FBI is a joke. It consists of 8 men, that's it. Even the FBI agents think it's a joke as some have even said "I guess we won the war on terror". Congress and the FBI can rattle their sabers all they want...until they get in front of a judge or SCOTUS then it's just empty threats. Yes, pornographers are getting raided etc etc. But that's more harassment than anything. They're not in jail, nor are they out of business, nor are they censored.

  4. EU should be careful on EU Claims Internet Could Fall Apart Next Month · · Score: 4, Funny

    Al Gore gave us the Internet...and he can just as easily take it away.

    Don't taunt the Gore.

  5. Re:Fair and Balanced... on Microsoft Spinning Against OpenDocument Via Fox News · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I thought it was always:

    "We decide what to report, you listen and repeat"

    What a joke

  6. Re:Erm...TV Shows? on iPod Video Coming to a Car Near You · · Score: 1

    Found my answers:

    Yes, you can buy current episodes, and you can buy them the day after they are broadcast. They're ad free so you don't need to fast forward through the commercials, 320 x 240 again. An hour show is about the size of five albums. Depending on your speed it's about 10-20 minute to download an episode. What are they going to cost? $1.99 an episode for current season and past seasons. We have free previews on every episode.

    OK, not to complain or anything...I mean, this is certainly a step in the right direction. But 320x240? For 2 bucks?

    Well, I don't want to seem ungrateful...

  7. Re:Erm...TV Shows? on iPod Video Coming to a Car Near You · · Score: 1

    We can only hope.

    I totally welcome this. Now, are these shows like Lost going to be available at the same time they're playing Live? Or will we have to wait a few days afterwards? Also, what will the resolution be?

    HD rez would be the best of course and they would have SO many people buying these things...but I doubt they'll do that. At least have it at 640x480 resolution.

    Any word yet on what the actual rez will be on these things? Did they announce that?

  8. Re:Batten down the hatches (Quake Install Troll) on Novell's Releases Linux Usability Testing Videos · · Score: 1

    Yeah! I'm an architect...and an engineer! um...yeah.

    But no...I wasn't commenting on anything he said...was myself trying to show a well crafted troll...which I obtained and you obviously fell for. Re-read what I said and read between the lines. Of COURSE the point was I was being to literal.

    Perhaps my post was a little too high-concept. But I achieved what I wanted, which was to amuse myself and no one else.

  9. Re:Batten down the hatches (Quake Install Troll) on Novell's Releases Linux Usability Testing Videos · · Score: -1, Troll

    Yes yes...we all know this is a troll and trying to be funny. But the flaw in your troll came around the time when you wanted to compile the Quake source...since in your troll you eluded to the fact that you "bought" Windows to install (which by the way is much more than just a hundred bucks if you're buying it from scratch and not the upgrade path) why wouldn't you have "bought" Quake as well, since you could probably buy it for like 10 bucks. PLUS it would come with the original WADs of the game that isn't included in the source.

    Ok, back to the compiling of the source for Quake. Why? Why do that when you could download compiled versions of this game...hell you can even download compiled versions for Linux too. Tsk tsk...you were doing so well too.

    Come on...let's construct a bulletproof troll next time! Slashdot is too sophisticated now to let sloppy work like this slide.

  10. Re:Just put them in your microwave on You Need Not Be Paranoid To Fear RFID · · Score: 1

    You're in the UK aren't you? You're in a place where the people actually see the use of coins that are worth more than a few pence.

    Here in America...they've tried several times to come out with a dollar coin, only to have it fail time and again. Even when they try to change the color of the dollar coin so it's not confused with a quarter, people still balk at it. People want their paper money here.

  11. Re:An Open Letter to HBO on HBO Attacking BitTorrent · · Score: 1

    Yes, I stopped watching HBO when they cancelled "Carnivale". I stopped watching CBS because they canceled "The Wild Wild West" back in 1969. I stopped watching NBC because they cancelled "Star Trek". No more Fox because of "Firefly" being treated badly. ABC is off my list because they cancelled "The Love Boat".

    I don't watch much TV anymore...

  12. Re:Platforms on City of Villains and Heroes Combine Monthly Fee · · Score: 1

    Ah, that's cool. It also makes sense.

    Thanks for clearing all that up.

  13. Re:Platforms on City of Villains and Heroes Combine Monthly Fee · · Score: 1

    I thought "City of Villains" was just an expansion to "City of Heroes"...you know, so you could play either good or bad and have great PvP battles between the two. Didn't know it was separate games.

    Sounds boring now.

  14. Re:This sort of thing... on RIAA Sues a Child · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Your logic and reason are not welcome here.

    Only waiting now for the people that can't argue the actual facts start in on your spelling. But regardless, why do they have such a hard time seeing the difference between theft and copyright violation? This isn't "newspeak" definition of "theft"...it's copyright violation. Also, being copyright violation instead of theft still doesn't mean one should condone it. But please, get the terms right.

    Would you call murder the "theft" of ones life?

  15. Re:End of the Line on Autodesk Acquires Alias · · Score: 1

    At some point, inevitably, some piece of your work will appear (somewhere) together with your contact info, and what app you used to create it. A simple comparo to some vendor's licensee record is enough to find out if they should suddenly become interested in you.

    While this would indeed get you noticed...the lesson the would-be pirate or evil student would be not to share which program you used.

    But as the to the comment to the this thread about "Autodesk is known in the CAD world as being very proactive about coming after users who are using the Student Version for commercial work", how else would they come after these users other than the user themselves blatantly stating that they're using the program? And as far as I know, the student "version" is simply a licencing issue and you actually are using the final product. No watermarks. But I'll admit I could be totally wrong about this as I've never owned a student version of anything. I know the free learning edition of Maya has watermarks all over the thing though. But then again, that's free. With the student version of 3DS Max or Maya you're laying out cash.

  16. Re:Incredibly cheap on Autodesk Acquires Alias · · Score: 1

    You always hear "studios develop their own software" quite a bit...but this is mainly smoke and mirrors. A large part is off-the-shelf software that is then customized. Rarely do they use built from scratch software on major projects for the simple reason they have to get the product out and relying on unproven software can slow production.

    Yes, they use a slew of software and many times the custom software written is mainly for the pipeline itself or interaction between software. But places like ILM and Weta are mainly Maya/Renderman centric with other software thrown in like XSI/3DS/Lightwave.

    But to say that Maya is weak in modeling and rendering...when the renderer built into Maya is Mental Ray and it has close ties to Renderman plus it has a great (though not the best) NURBS and sub-d toolset...is interesting. Even Pixar is a major Maya user and they themselves started out with totally proprietary modeling and animation software only to switch over to Maya for a good portion of their productions.

  17. Re:End of the Line on Autodesk Acquires Alias · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Question though...how do they do this? I mean, let's say someone has a student version of 3DS or even a pirated copy. They use that software to make an animation or model or whatever for a client or perhaps even a film. How is ANYONE to know what software was uses when and where?

    I'm not saying it's right or wrong or anything...just wondering how any company would know that this movie or this effect or this animation was used with a pirated copy of their software? It would seem to me to be either very very hard or impossible for a company to pursue something like this.

  18. Re:What if? on Google & Sun Planning Web Office · · Score: 1

    Yes, as I read more and more from people commenting on my original post I can see the logic in not doing a full blown OS.

    Doing it all web based keeps everything on their turf and they don't have to branch out into well trodden paths. This web based Open Office is another step in that direction.

    Who says you don't learn things on Slashdot!

  19. Re:What if? on Google & Sun Planning Web Office · · Score: 1

    Do frogs actually bump their asses when they hop? Those poor frogs.

    I'll get to work on the new "Wings For Frogs" initiative right away! Perhaps a grant from Google will do the trick?

  20. Re:What if? on Google & Sun Planning Web Office · · Score: 1

    This is true, Dell is pretty efficient in how they do things.

    The way I build my machines...and it's the only way I really can..is buy a piece here that's on sale, then hold on to it. Buy another piece over here that just got reduced. Etc etc. If I had to build a machine from start to finish in a few days, I'd end up spending about the same if I'd just bought it from Dell. And actually more as I'd not scrimp on the quality of the hardware as Dell does here and there...not that it's a bad thing mind you.

    I did come across as meaning I could build a more powerful machine cheaper than Dell could. I didn't mean it that way and the way I wrote it made it seem like I could. But as I said, the way I build a system works better for me personally than if I were to lay out all the cash at once for a Dell with the same power...it just takes me a month or two to gather all the parts.

  21. Re:What if? on Google & Sun Planning Web Office · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Correct, they didn't have the time..but they certainly have the time now to work on it in the next 5 years. And I see them doing this, though not to the extent that I suggested.

    As others have said, perhaps they're working on a minimum OS that loads in a few seconds and just provides a browser to access the Googleverse.

    Companies always fall short in making products that are really revolutionary. Why couldn't Google create a small, bootable OS that works on a piece of hardware bigger than a PDA yet smaller than a full blown laptop. Large screen with great contrast to be able to read in very high or low light situations. Make it Wifi and touch screen. Surf the web, check your email, do work with the new Star/Open office through Google, chat, do your calender etc etc. Many many many companies have tried and failed to bring something like this to the masses. Why? Well, not only are they expensive, they are also limited. How many reviews of such devices are always "didn't have this...it had this but would be nice if it had that..." kind of thing. Well, MAKE it have things people will actually need and use. Make it the size of an average paperback book...only thinner. Don't worry about storage because everything will be online...just provide plenty of memory and processing power to do things. And here's the clincher...make it affordable.

    Do I see Google doing something like this? Nah, not really. Would be nice though. Would be nice to have something like the little data-pads that were on Star Trek: The Next Generation. They were almost a perfect size. Maybe one day before I die I'll see a company that actually does it right and is a success with it.

  22. Re:What if? on Google & Sun Planning Web Office · · Score: 3, Interesting

    True, OSX already does this...but I can't run it on my machine. Not a zealot here, I'd love to run OSX...but I can't afford the hardware and I need something with much more power than the Mac mini. I make my own machines for a fraction of what Dell/Gateway/Apple charge and yet they're still very powerful. Now if I had a kick-ass OS to go with it on top if it would be very nice. And one thing that OSX doesn't do for you, it's not free nor can you load it on a machine of your choice.

    And I said "what if". Though what if they're making a very small OS that just gets you booted, loads a browser and then gets you online where you can access the googleverse?

    Meh...what do I know. Hey, at least they're making neat things...just not revolutionary things.

  23. What if? on Google & Sun Planning Web Office · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What if, behind closed doors at Google they're working on an OS? An OS that's based on Linux, yet with the UI and ease-of-use similar to OSX. And on x86 machines it will be able to run Windows software. And then they make the whole thing all open source.

    Google has the resources to pull this off. Sure, they're draining talent away from Microsoft to come work for them...why not do the same to Apple? Make a kick-ass UI, have it run on top of Linux...hell, you could even make your own API instead of using X-windows if you really wanted to. Start from scratch, why not? They have the money, the time, the personnel. Write the drivers for the hardware yourselves.

    I mean, come on. They have all that talent working there now and quite frankly, they've only come out with "neato" little things here and there. Yes, great search engine. But take all that talent and make something really cool! Something revolutionary!

  24. Re:Thanks...I'll be leaving the US now...it's over on Jack Thompson Tasked With Writing Law · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It isn't about running away from anything. I've been fighting an uphill battle all those years. Everyone says "if you don't like things, then get out and vote". Well, I get out and vote. I try to get out and work in the community. I go to city council meetings. I am part of the school board. I write my congressman and Senator constantly almost to the point where I'm a nuisance. All to no avail.

    When I have to sit in on meetings about teaching intelligent design in our school system, I try to object that it's not even science at all I get people looking at me like I'm nuts. I even had a guy tell me to move to France as he said they're Godless over there too...to which he had a bit of applause from the group! It's a long story on that one, but you get my point I hope.

    So you say it's running away when things happen I don't like. Well, I suppose you would say that anyone that in the past has left an oppressive country and government were "running away when things happen" also? You seem to be one of these people that look down on people that bad-mouth their country...pathetic you call them. You even want to pass a law that if anyone says they want to leave the country would be deported in a month. And how dare I "cry" about it here. Sorry to muck up your perfect world order by my crying. I know you're just spouting off, but I'm not so sure that one day they would indeed pass this law...as our free speech that some still hold dear is eroding away year by year along with other freedoms...like the new bill about how the police would be able to take DNA samples from anyone detained. That's detained, not even arrested. Yes, this means that a minor traffic stop you "could" be required to give a DNA sample. More about this here.

    I'm tired. I just now want to live my life in peace and quiet now. This Jack Thompson thing is just another straw on a very over burdened camel.

  25. Thanks...I'll be leaving the US now...it's over. on Jack Thompson Tasked With Writing Law · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I give up. The religious idiots have won. I give up. I'm moving out of this theocracy and going to live somewhere else.

    Question though, what are my options? Where is a decent place to live without the christian assholes that want to run every ones lives? I've lived in this country for 43 years and even served in the military. Yet I've seen the christian morons take greater and greater control over my country. Especially when they've made it known that their top priority now is porn and videogames...no folks, not the terrorists or drug dealers or the other criminals. Porn and videogames are the true evil Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales has listed. He wants to gather evidence against "manufacturers and purveyors" of pornography -- not the kind exploiting children, but the kind that depicts, and is marketed to, consenting adults. You know, just your basic humping and pumping. Next on the list will be videogames. I guess they've won the war on terror. They are saying porn is bad because it victimizes women. That they are the ones that are hurt through regular porn. So I suppose that gay porn between two men is ok with them?

    Yeah, I know, this is flamebait...troll...whatever. Mod me down, I don't care anymore. So again, goodbye America. I'm sick of your bullshit and I want out. Now, where to go?