Consider too that failing to watch every minute of every commercial means you're "stealing" content. Jack Valenti said so. That's the mindset of the studios -- they, not you, are in charge and you will obey. Can't you almost hear them muttering "damn customers" under their breath?
>>viewers will be able to pause, fast forward, and rewind
What's this about not being able to skip commercials? Any commercials?
Say I want to watch just the final ten minutes of something, does that mean I must sit through SEVENTEEN minutes of commercials first before I'm "allowed" to view the ending?
No thanks. I (and everyone else, I suspect) will just wait for the Torrent.
Dorky name, but GREAT software! I'd call it "indespensible" when it comes to learning, practicing and transcribing music.
I transcribe complex guitar music, occasionally from live concert recordings. Being able to slow down a passage to tiny fraction of orignial speed (20%!) while preserving pitch is essential to hearing the phrase and understanding the component notes. ASD also lets me play along at low tempo, then gradually increase the speed as I learn the parts and confirms I have the correct phrasing and voicing. Plus ASD can play a passage in an endless loop, then save those loops with a meaningful label ("fast run before bridge", "minor transition", "harmonic triplets", "pentatonic run", etc.) Great for making the part "stick" in your brain.
Another useful feature: Musicians at "live" concerts may be tuned slightly off pitch, I can adjust the pitch up to a440 or adjust the pitch up/down to match my instrument if I'm feeling lazy and don't want to retune.:)
Convince him to change his character name to CmdrTaco.
Or if that doesn't work, change it to "CmdrScriptBot". Walk up to large groups of people and say "Wassup? Impress! For Thanks You. Visual for best price V1agra, r V1c0d1n? mycheapfakedrugs.com."
>>I just didn't get the reason for the minutes and minutes of nothing but travel on Japanese tunnel roadway systems as the protagonist travels to the launch site in the Soviet version. A Russian friend told me it just looked very High Tech to Russians at the time.
There's a story behind this. Tarkovsky was allowed to leave Russian to attend the World's Fair in Japan (a *remarkable* achievement for that period of Iron Curtain history!). He had hoped to film futuristic scenes from the fair, but due to delays with passports and importing their film equipment, they arrived too late, missing the event! Rather than go home from this hugely expensive (both in terms of money and political capitol spent) trip empty-handed, they filmed highway scenes with a hand-held and added sound effects. Your friend is correct. To the average Russian, the "modern" Japanese highway system (not to mention it's automobiles) would have seemed very futuristic. In the same way that the Modified Ford Taurus police cruisers from 1984's Terminator now seem dated, so does this scene.
The book is one of the great works of scifi. The movies really miss the point. About a week ago, in a discussion about PlaneScape:Torment I wrote:
"I mean, what better quest can there be, than a Quest to learn who you are? A chance to discover yourself and, just maybe, make amends for past sins and save your own soul and prevent the suffering of others. Beautifully written, IMO it is the high-water mark of videogames.
P.S. For those who enjoyed PST, I highly recommend Stanislaw Lem's novel, Solaris. The central character (Kelvin) asks many of the same questions. If you've seen the Russian film version or the pathetic watered-down Hollywood adaptation but not read the novel, then you're cheating yourself. Go read the book -- it is rich, emotionally moving, haunting and you will never forget it."
Seriously, go read this book. You will find yourself thinking about the characters years from now.
Another vote for Planescape Torment as the all-time greatest RPG.
I mean, what better quest can there be, than a Quest to learn who you are? A chance to discover yourself and, just maybe, make amends for past sins and save your own soul and prevent the suffering of others.
Beautifully written, IMO it is the high-water mark of videogames.
P.S. For those who enjoyed PST, I highly recommend Stanislaw Lem's novel, Solaris. The central character (Kelvin) asks many of the same questions. If you've seen the Russian film version or the pathetic watered-down Hollywood adaptation but not read the novel, then you're cheating yourself. Go read the book -- it is rich, emotionally moving, haunting and you will never forget it.
You have a right to speak your mind. You don't have a right to harm someone else. Organizing an effort to mess up a store stocking system is injurious and you would, rightly so, be liable in court for the cost incurred to make things right.
If you have something to say, then say it. If your audience chooses not to listen, then that's the end of it. Don't be a vandal. Don't be a prick.
DDR Pad? Nah. Give me a little voodoo doll of BillG. A poke with a needle deletes spam, a good choking does an anti-spyware sweep and a virus scan, and a healthy stomp reinstalls WinXP.
Problem solved. The Voodoo Doll Interface(tm). You heard it here first.
You're right... it is a little disturbing. So far, it's said "Touch me. Hello. Do you know me? Do you know what I can do? and where i can go? or how I can change your life?"
Sheesh.. Next it'll ask "What are you wearing?" and "What's your credit card #, baby"?
Thompson: '...I did actually get a line added into my divorce decree that guaranteed me three days a week that I could get on the computer with my kids, via web cam. So I could communicate and see them.'
And that's supposed to be a good thing? I think it's just sad.
I know I'm pointing out the obvious, but perhaps he had spent more time with the family and less time gaming he wouldn't be divorcing and could be more than a face on the webcam or a guild member.
Yeah, so I'm judgemental. At least you'll get over it. His kids probably won't.
>>As you've noted that most of the features in Vista (Music management / photo management / drm / desktop search / etc are already present (or have equivilants) in OS X.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but i would say, not only are they available, on Mac OS X, they are superior. iTunes, GarageBand, Final Cut, iDVD. Etc. Apple's been shipping this stuff for years. MSFT's just talking about what they hope to release, and talk is cheap.
Given Microsoft's tendancy to cut features like a boot camp barber cuts hair, I'm not too hopeful everything's going to make it to the final release.
Noted. Listening to music is a big deal. And I suppose I also forgot IM/Chat.
However, the #ofpeople running Visual Studio is exceptionally low. 1%, tops? Same goes for those making videos, doing number crunching or analysis or whatever. The Fark and/. crowds are very different from the rest of the world when it comes to using computers. We're powerusers and just like the gamers, most of us will upgrade. I was simply trying to argue that most of those running WinXP will have no compelling reason to do so.
Good luck MSFT - you've got a hell of a challenge ahead of you.
The age of the compelling application is mostly over because existing hardware (even systems several years old, and thus dirt cheap) fulfill almost all of the average person's computing needs. I'd wager that 90% (or more) of average household computer usage is spent in two applications: email and internet browser. (the other 10% is word processing, accounting/taxes, etc.)
And no, gamers aren't "average" computer users. They're always looking for state-of-the-art.
Seriously -- other than as a new game platform, why would the average person buy a new computer? Mom & Pop don't understand/care about new video production, DVD ripping, file sharing, etc. They just want to occasionally look something up on the net, buy something off eBay, or get a photo of the grandkids. If they already have a system (and market saturation ##'s suggest that they do) convincing them to shell out a grand for a new box that doesn't offer them anything more than the old one is going to be a tough sell.
>>Did we start wars because the WTC was bombed in 1992 (maybe 93, sue me >>if it's wrong). Did the US President at the time use it as an excuse to >>start a fear campaign across the US and drag us into further conflicts?
Don't forget USS Cole, the African embassy bombings, Khobar Towers, etc.
No the "president at the time" (can't bring yourself to say Clinton, can you?) didn't fight back. Too bad, it probably would have saved the Twin Towers and thousands of lives.
According to Marc Genest, professor of Strategy and Policy at the Naval War College, the overall lesson from the Cole is that not responding to terrorists attacks only emboldens them.
And just in case you're dense, we're talking about murderous societies based on intolerant religions that start with the letters "Islam", of which there are many and soon to be fewer.
If they're going to "-1 Flamebait" you, screw 'em. It's just because they know you're right. This is the crowd of America-haters that defended Johnny Taliban ("poor misguided youth on a spiritual journey") right to take up arms against his country. Having their disagreement and scorn is a sure indicator that you are on the right side of the issue.
Bravo, dfenstrate. And a big hearty "F U pinkos" to your moderators.
(By the way, moderators, my Freaks and Foes list is full up.)
You people are either ignorantly parroting what the left-leaning media has labeled this issue or else you are deliberately misstating the case: It's not "domestic" when a person in the US receives or places calls to someone OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY.
Want to beat piracy? I'll tell you a little secret... here's all it takes:
Give up on all this DRM crap which just pisses off your customer base. How 'bout putting less "suck" in each album, paying artists fairly (e.g. no more "breakage/spoilage" fees based on shellac record trasportation, billing your musicians at absurd rates for manditory "promotional" services, failing to advertise new talent, hell -- failing to RECOGNISE and SIGN new talent, etc.)? Oh, and don't forget selling that music at a competitive price?
You bellyache that your industry is in trouble! Well, no one would ever know it by your business practice. Most companies, in order to attract new sales, put everything on discount and make it really easy and enjoyable for the consumer to buy your product. Not so in the record business. Your industry obviously wants to keep everything the same and, unbelievably, acts even MORE hostile toward the customer. Yet you wonder why year-on-year sales have taken a dive. Who was your macroeconomics professor, Seinfeld's Soup Nazi?
Anyway, at this point I don't really care if your industry lives or dies. I, and my family, have learned to do without your products -- we just stopped buying. Or in the rare event we want music we buy it, just not from you. See, that's significant. In a lot of cases, we can now buy directly from the artist or purchase a used CD. Judging from your sales figures, we're not alone.
Slashdot Mirror
Jason Becker playing Paganini's 5th Caprice.= becker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRtxz6mwbPc&search
Impressive.
Consider too that failing to watch every minute of every commercial means you're "stealing" content. Jack Valenti said so. That's the mindset of the studios -- they, not you, are in charge and you will obey. Can't you almost hear them muttering "damn customers" under their breath?
>>viewers will be able to pause, fast forward, and rewind
What's this about not being able to skip commercials? Any commercials?
Say I want to watch just the final ten minutes of something, does that mean I must sit through SEVENTEEN minutes of commercials first before I'm "allowed" to view the ending?
No thanks. I (and everyone else, I suspect) will just wait for the Torrent.
Amazing Slow Downer, for Windows and Mac OSX.
:)
Windows: http://www.ronimusic.com/amsldowin.htm
Mac OSX: http://www.ronimusic.com/amsldox.htm
Dorky name, but GREAT software! I'd call it "indespensible" when it comes to learning, practicing and transcribing music.
I transcribe complex guitar music, occasionally from live concert recordings. Being able to slow down a passage to tiny fraction of orignial speed (20%!) while preserving pitch is essential to hearing the phrase and understanding the component notes. ASD also lets me play along at low tempo, then gradually increase the speed as I learn the parts and confirms I have the correct phrasing and voicing. Plus ASD can play a passage in an endless loop, then save those loops with a meaningful label ("fast run before bridge", "minor transition", "harmonic triplets", "pentatonic run", etc.) Great for making the part "stick" in your brain.
Another useful feature: Musicians at "live" concerts may be tuned slightly off pitch, I can adjust the pitch up to a440 or adjust the pitch up/down to match my instrument if I'm feeling lazy and don't want to retune.
Convince him to change his character name to CmdrTaco.
Or if that doesn't work, change it to "CmdrScriptBot". Walk up to large groups of people and say "Wassup? Impress! For Thanks You. Visual for best price V1agra, r V1c0d1n? mycheapfakedrugs.com."
You are exactly right, it was Robocop not Terminator. Thanks.
>>I just didn't get the reason for the minutes and minutes of nothing but travel on Japanese tunnel roadway systems as the protagonist travels to the launch site in the Soviet version. A Russian friend told me it just looked very High Tech to Russians at the time.
There's a story behind this. Tarkovsky was allowed to leave Russian to attend the World's Fair in Japan (a *remarkable* achievement for that period of Iron Curtain history!). He had hoped to film futuristic scenes from the fair, but due to delays with passports and importing their film equipment, they arrived too late, missing the event! Rather than go home from this hugely expensive (both in terms of money and political capitol spent) trip empty-handed, they filmed highway scenes with a hand-held and added sound effects. Your friend is correct. To the average Russian, the "modern" Japanese highway system (not to mention it's automobiles) would have seemed very futuristic. In the same way that the Modified Ford Taurus police cruisers from 1984's Terminator now seem dated, so does this scene.
Seriously, go read this book. You will find yourself thinking about the characters years from now.
Another vote for Planescape Torment as the all-time greatest RPG.
I mean, what better quest can there be, than a Quest to learn who you are? A chance to discover yourself and, just maybe, make amends for past sins and save your own soul and prevent the suffering of others.
Beautifully written, IMO it is the high-water mark of videogames.
P.S. For those who enjoyed PST, I highly recommend Stanislaw Lem's novel, Solaris. The central character (Kelvin) asks many of the same questions. If you've seen the Russian film version or the pathetic watered-down Hollywood adaptation but not read the novel, then you're cheating yourself. Go read the book -- it is rich, emotionally moving, haunting and you will never forget it.
Sorry, that's not "fun fun fun" it's vandalism.
You have a right to speak your mind. You don't have a right to harm someone else. Organizing an effort to mess up a store stocking system is injurious and you would, rightly so, be liable in court for the cost incurred to make things right.
If you have something to say, then say it. If your audience chooses not to listen, then that's the end of it. Don't be a vandal. Don't be a prick.
Good advice! Let's see...
To: CEO@mycompany.com
fr: anonymous
re: Security Cameras
Shitcock!
DDR Pad? Nah. Give me a little voodoo doll of BillG. A poke with a needle deletes spam, a good choking does an anti-spyware sweep and a virus scan, and a healthy stomp reinstalls WinXP.
Problem solved. The Voodoo Doll Interface(tm). You heard it here first.
You're right... it is a little disturbing.
So far, it's said "Touch me. Hello. Do you know me? Do you know what I can do? and where i can go? or how I can change your life?"
Sheesh.. Next it'll ask "What are you wearing?" and "What's your credit card #, baby"?
...if he can't even manage to tell a joke. Here's how it goes:
Q: How do you make a small fortune?
A: Start with a large fortune, and join the rocket business.
Testing the HR Department's ability to find a new webmaster.
I know I'm pointing out the obvious, but perhaps he had spent more time with the family and less time gaming he wouldn't be divorcing and could be more than a face on the webcam or a guild member.
Yeah, so I'm judgemental. At least you'll get over it. His kids probably won't.
>>As you've noted that most of the features in Vista (Music management / photo management / drm / desktop search / etc are already present (or have equivilants) in OS X.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but i would say, not only are they available, on Mac OS X, they are superior. iTunes, GarageBand, Final Cut, iDVD. Etc. Apple's been shipping this stuff for years. MSFT's just talking about what they hope to release, and talk is cheap.
Given Microsoft's tendancy to cut features like a boot camp barber cuts hair, I'm not too hopeful everything's going to make it to the final release.
Noted. Listening to music is a big deal. And I suppose I also forgot IM/Chat.
/. crowds are very different from the rest of the world when it comes to using computers. We're powerusers and just like the gamers, most of us will upgrade. I was simply trying to argue that most of those running WinXP will have no compelling reason to do so.
However, the #ofpeople running Visual Studio is exceptionally low. 1%, tops? Same goes for those making videos, doing number crunching or analysis or whatever. The Fark and
Good luck MSFT - you've got a hell of a challenge ahead of you.
The age of the compelling application is mostly over because existing hardware (even systems several years old, and thus dirt cheap) fulfill almost all of the average person's computing needs. I'd wager that 90% (or more) of average household computer usage is spent in two applications: email and internet browser. (the other 10% is word processing, accounting/taxes, etc.)
And no, gamers aren't "average" computer users. They're always looking for state-of-the-art.
Seriously -- other than as a new game platform, why would the average person buy a new computer? Mom & Pop don't understand/care about new video production, DVD ripping, file sharing, etc. They just want to occasionally look something up on the net, buy something off eBay, or get a photo of the grandkids. If they already have a system (and market saturation ##'s suggest that they do) convincing them to shell out a grand for a new box that doesn't offer them anything more than the old one is going to be a tough sell.
>>Did we start wars because the WTC was bombed in 1992 (maybe 93, sue me
>>if it's wrong). Did the US President at the time use it as an excuse to
>>start a fear campaign across the US and drag us into further conflicts?
Don't forget USS Cole, the African embassy bombings, Khobar Towers, etc.
No the "president at the time" (can't bring yourself to say Clinton, can you?) didn't fight back. Too bad, it probably would have saved the Twin Towers and thousands of lives.
According to Marc Genest, professor of Strategy and Policy at the Naval War College, the overall lesson from the Cole is that not responding to terrorists attacks only emboldens them.
And just in case you're dense, we're talking about murderous societies based on intolerant religions that start with the letters "Islam", of which there are many and soon to be fewer.
Damned well said!
If they're going to "-1 Flamebait" you, screw 'em. It's just because they know you're right. This is the crowd of America-haters that defended Johnny Taliban ("poor misguided youth on a spiritual journey") right to take up arms against his country. Having their disagreement and scorn is a sure indicator that you are on the right side of the issue.
Bravo, dfenstrate. And a big hearty "F U pinkos" to your moderators.
(By the way, moderators, my Freaks and Foes list is full up.)
>>this whole "domestic spying" thingy.
You people are either ignorantly parroting what the left-leaning media has labeled this issue or else you are deliberately misstating the case: It's not "domestic" when a person in the US receives or places calls to someone OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY.
Dear RIAA,
Want to beat piracy? I'll tell you a little secret... here's all it takes:
Give up on all this DRM crap which just pisses off your customer base. How 'bout putting less "suck" in each album, paying artists fairly (e.g. no more "breakage/spoilage" fees based on shellac record trasportation, billing your musicians at absurd rates for manditory "promotional" services, failing to advertise new talent, hell -- failing to RECOGNISE and SIGN new talent, etc.)? Oh, and don't forget selling that music at a competitive price?
You bellyache that your industry is in trouble! Well, no one would ever know it by your business practice. Most companies, in order to attract new sales, put everything on discount and make it really easy and enjoyable for the consumer to buy your product. Not so in the record business. Your industry obviously wants to keep everything the same and, unbelievably, acts even MORE hostile toward the customer. Yet you wonder why year-on-year sales have taken a dive. Who was your macroeconomics professor, Seinfeld's Soup Nazi?
Anyway, at this point I don't really care if your industry lives or dies. I, and my family, have learned to do without your products -- we just stopped buying. Or in the rare event we want music we buy it, just not from you. See, that's significant. In a lot of cases, we can now buy directly from the artist or purchase a used CD. Judging from your sales figures, we're not alone.
But then what do I know, I'm only the customer.
Speaking of product names, perhaps Microsoft should name their antivirus tool Microsoft Methadone(tm)?