If anyone has any recommendations on a well-behaved, friendly security program for Windows XP that isn't in your face all the time, I'd love to hear it.
It's free, it works, and it doesn't pop up stupid stuff all the time. Unless you have a virus, the only pop-up you'll see is the AVG auto-updater once a day, which automatically goes away after 30 seconds once it's finished updating AVG (or if you click the OK button.)
For a firewall, you can use the windows firewall, it works fine. It'll pop up occasionally to ask about this or that program, but it's not bothersome.
For ad-ware or malware, use Ad-aware ( http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ ) and Spybot ( http://www.safer-networking.org/ ) Don't use Spybot's Teatimer thing though, it's horribly annoying and the dialog box is mis-configured so that the buttons are difficult to read. These are manual scanners, you have to run them yourself to check for spyware.
windows defender is supposed to be okay, though I don't use it so I can't comment too much, just that I've heard it's fairly annoying, like Spybot's Teatimer.
That should cover you pretty well security-wise. This doesn't mean you can freely download things like "buckets'o'pr0n.exe" and run them without thinking about it, just that your system will be reasonably protected from the average sort of junk software or websites that you may encounter.
Most of the spyware and malware can be stopped in the first place by using a browser other than ie. There have been a lot of security reports about Firefox, but it's still pretty good. So is Opera. Both are free.
Open Notepad, turn on word wrap, type a bunch of lines long enough to wrap, then save the document. The cursor will change position, and word wrap becomes broken until you turn it off and then back on, otherwise the document may become corrupted if it is edited.
Application naming practices are just one of the many aspects of the Linux/X UI that need to be optimized and standardized, and then carefully tested to examine which features work best and which ones need to be dropped or replaced with something that works.
I'm all for 'Linux on the desktop' but even more for that desktop being usable. No, I'm not saying Linux needs to be 'dumbed-down for the masses', just that it serious UI issues that should be addressed. Unfortunately, those kind of studies require both a major time investment, as well as a monetary investment not usually accessable to OSS projects.
And I know Windows has UI problems too. But that's a poor excuse for not fixing the known problems with the Linux/X UI.
To actually give this post some content, here are other Linux/X UI problems: lack of: interface standardization, menu standardization(both application drop-down menus as well as windowing-system launcher menus), meaningful error messages that actually describe the real problem as well as possible solutions, application location standardization (is *prog* in/bin?/usr/bin?/sbin?/usr/sbin? Or one of the bazillion other possible locations?). And, most importantly, current, frequently-updated, and accurate documentation.
I know that certain distributions correct most of these problems, and that for example anyone choosing Gentoo over Suse can expect to deal with a 'weaker' UI.... Speaking of useability, it took me about 5 tries to post this, counting the times Slashdot timed-out. First it 'lost' my login info, re-loading the page and asking me to log in but not showing a login button. The second time it came up with a page that had one of those "type in the word in this box" things, but with way too much anti-bot junk slathered all over it for me to even read the word. Third and fourth times the page wouldn't even load. I guess Slashdot was Slashdotted.
I have 2 computers at the moment, a windows box and a (gentoo) linux box. I use the windows box for what it's good for: playing games and web browsing (with firefox) and I use the linux box for what it's good for: server and hosting tasks.
Yes, it would be nice if I could install any windows application or game on the linux box and Just Have It Work, as flawlessly as it does on the windows box (insert generic snarky reply about windows stability here) the same way it would be nice to be able to SSH into my windows box, run Screen, and then load up TF. But... why? SSH/Screen/TF works better on a linux box, and the windows applications and games work better on a windows box.
So why change things? To "save" people from having to struggle under the burden of windows? To bring them to see the light of your own personal savior? Nobody likes being converted or proselytized to. A "grand unified OS" isn't really NEEDED anyway, if you think about it. A server going down because someone ran a buggy game on it doesn't sound like a fun time to me. =)
I've loved Enterprise, it's been great so far! You just have to watch it with an open mind, and your fingers out of your ears. Look, if you've already decided you're going to hate the show no matter what, fine, but then admit there's nothing they can really do to make you like it. For the rest of us who ENJOY Enterprise and WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WATCHING IT could you at least not make it sound like everyone in the universe hates it? YOU are NOT EVERYONE ELSE! (goddamn loaded subjects)
As far as continuity goes, there HAVE been recurring themes and elements. The recent "Future Tense" played on that, and there have been references to previous episodes or events in every episode, you just have to watch for them. STAR TREK is NOT BABYLON 5! Go watch B5 again if you want B5. There will be unrelated episodes and events, it's a big goddamned universe.
If you just hate time travel, consider the fact that WE exist in a universe where time travel is possible. - And for some of these changes in the Star Trek plot that you've noticed, congratulations, you are perceptive! And dumb. That is, if you haven't realized that these changes are INTENTIONAL, the results of various races SCREWING with the Star Trek timeline though poor usage of their time travel technology.
And if you didn't know, Enterprise takes place over the time of the war with the Romulans. I think you'd be getting 'continuity' whether you wanted it or not, soon enough.
I realize I'm not "baaing" with the herd here and I don't expect anyone to like what I've written. At least give the damn show another chance, it isn't bad. =P I have every episode available over Kazaa (use the 'lite' version ffs!) and it's THE MOST DOWNLOADED ITEM out of the 36 gigs of data that I'm sharing (But only ~4gb of the total).
This is great news, you can find Myth 1 and 2 in the bargain bin in most gamestores for $5 or so. They're both supposed to be excellent games, and it's refreshing to hear of a developer still willing to support their product after so long.
If you love independent gaming and want to help keep it alive, do the right thing and PAY for those shareware games. And yes, I've paid for mine. =D
There's a LOT of great games made by a few people working together on something they love. But like any other business, if they don't get money they don't stay in business.;)
Remember that Doom started out as shareware, I don't think you could call Id "unsuccessful".
Good and bad points: LOTS to do, it will take weeks just to get much beyond the basic tech tree open. Heavy-investment research and building projects keep the big guilds and groups occupied and allow soloers and small groups time to catch up.
The interface requires a LOT of mousework and has been causing people wrist problems. The proposal is in the works for a complete interface redesign but it's estimated that it will take a month. The developers have it up for a vote, players are able to specify what they want the devs to focus on. (I'm still in shock over this)
You can be in more than one guild, if those guilds will let you.;)
The game is divided up into regions which are a collective of one of each of the schools and universities. Each of these regions has a seperate "research pool" and will have different levels of technologies available depending on where players focus their efforts. Travel time is enormous, going across the short end of the map will take 6 hours of constant travel. Player-player interaction (trading, cooperation, etc) is heavily encouraged this way.
There is no combat, but there is plenty of oppertunity for conflict. There is fierce competition for resources as well as tests that inherently limit the number of successful participants.
The political system allows for passing in-game laws that affect everything except the nature of the game's reality. ("Trees give more wood" or "Players can fly" will be vetoed) The OOC voting system allows players to direct the development of the game, what features they would like to see implemented or improved, etc.
Your best bet for getting started is to find a mentor in the game to walk you through gaining citizenship. Be persistent but don't annoy people. Keep looking near the big banners.
Your mentor will have you gather resources. Some are plentiful and some take time to gather. Mud and sand can be easily gathered, check near water for mud and around sandy areas (sorry =) for sand. Slate is found near shores as well, but is harder to find. Wood comes from trees, the more the better (anything over 5 units/tree is great) Grass grows on the grassy areas, and must be gathered in small handfuls.
Gather 20 of every resource that you can. You now have enough to learn the basics of Architecture.
Learn what skills you can, browse the subjects at the School of Architecture and see what you can learn. Stone blades are forged from slate, and then you'll be able to make a wood plane to create boards from wood. Once you have boards you can learn brickmaking. To make bricks you'll need straw, which can be gained by drying grass. Drop the grass on the ground in small piles so that it can dry quickly. Follow the techs, there will be a very natural progression of skills that you can learn.
Try to learn Pottery. You will receive a jug to help you gather clay. Clay is found near the water, like slate, but only in specific parts. Look for ground that looks like clay. (It's AMAZING! =) Take enough gathered clay back to the school to learn Pottery.
If you find a public pottery wheel, write down it's location, these will be invaluable early on. You won't be able to build your own without oil, leather, and a flystone. (plus more)
You will complete citizenship at some point during this. Inform your mentor, and if they were helpful, write down their name. Build a shrine to them when you are able, and keep in mind that they'll have to meditate at it. This is a test of Leadership for them. There are many different directions you can go once you reach citizenship, check the tech tree and ask your mentor. They'll probably recommend flax from the School of Art, try and get seeds from them. Flax is easy to grow for seeds, just don't do anything to it until it's gone to seed, and then pick 1 seed at a time from the plant as it grows them. There are different varities of flax that have different growing requirements.
Learn Navigation ASAP from as many schools as you can. It allows you to set waypoints and teleport to them with "travel time" gathered while you're offline.
If you want to do "everything" in this game you will need to work with many players trading lots of goods to make your dreams come true. Large guilds or groups of guilds are the only ones who will be able to accomplish the greater tasks. You can still be a successful soloer and trade for what you need, but it will take time before some resources are commonly available.
It looks like it will be fun, if perhaps a little straining on the hand at first and very slow progress until the techs are unlocked.
It's also one of the only MMORPGs that will be sold online only, no box necessary. So yes it costs $14 a month, but that's IT.
It also has a full-featured voting system, players can get laws put up for vote with enough signatures on a petition, and then get that law passed AND IMPLEMENTED by the developers (!) with enough votes. And yes, laws can have unforseen detrimental effects, or even be deliberately designed to cause problems. This game is REALLY political. ^_^
1) Design your own propriatary protocol. 2) Implement it as a primary function of a custom operating system. 3) Leverage this wedge of necessary technology into a monopoly on hardware and software. 4) Profit!
... the No Duh Institute's proclamations... Didn't They say the same thing about sitting in one place too long on airplanes? Wouldn't THIS logically follow?
I know I'm going to get modded down anyway, so: JOKE! JOOOOOOOKE! Yes, joke! Good boy! HUMOR HU-MOR! YES! Humor! GOOD BOY! Cookie?
.... I get movies and TV shows off the P2P networks, and if I really want I can get a TV card for my computer and go that route AND have full PVR support (with the right card) without needing anything else.. Why exactly do I NEED a TV again? (Don't own one =)
Slashdot Mirror
SETI finds signs of intelligent life... on Earth!
If anyone has any recommendations on a well-behaved, friendly security program for Windows XP that isn't in your face all the time, I'd love to hear it.
AVG anti-virus is great. http://free.grisoft.com/
It's free, it works, and it doesn't pop up stupid stuff all the time. Unless you have a virus, the only pop-up you'll see is the AVG auto-updater once a day, which automatically goes away after 30 seconds once it's finished updating AVG (or if you click the OK button.)
For a firewall, you can use the windows firewall, it works fine. It'll pop up occasionally to ask about this or that program, but it's not bothersome.
For ad-ware or malware, use Ad-aware ( http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ ) and Spybot ( http://www.safer-networking.org/ ) Don't use Spybot's Teatimer thing though, it's horribly annoying and the dialog box is mis-configured so that the buttons are difficult to read. These are manual scanners, you have to run them yourself to check for spyware.
windows defender is supposed to be okay, though I don't use it so I can't comment too much, just that I've heard it's fairly annoying, like Spybot's Teatimer.
That should cover you pretty well security-wise. This doesn't mean you can freely download things like "buckets'o'pr0n.exe" and run them without thinking about it, just that your system will be reasonably protected from the average sort of junk software or websites that you may encounter.
Most of the spyware and malware can be stopped in the first place by using a browser other than ie. There have been a lot of security reports about Firefox, but it's still pretty good. So is Opera. Both are free.
Who's got something for me?
We do!
What is it?
Joost!
JOOST?! I WANNA DIP MY BALLS IN IT!
---
When they removed the Louie clips from YouTube, they just gave me a reason to actually pirate their content.
Yes, that's right, it's their fault that I have to steal from them. =P
Does anyone know if I will be able to Dip My Balls In It with Joost?
"Ritalin cures next Picasso"
I'd like you to attempt, on just one game, what you're suggesting the ESRB do. Here's a copy of Nethack. =)
Sincerely,
Someone who's pretending to be a constituent.
There are still bugs in Notepad.
Open Notepad, turn on word wrap, type a bunch of lines long enough to wrap, then save the document. The cursor will change position, and word wrap becomes broken until you turn it off and then back on, otherwise the document may become corrupted if it is edited.
Yes, that's right, they fucked up NOTEPAD.
Application naming practices are just one of the many aspects of the Linux/X UI that need to be optimized and standardized, and then carefully tested to examine which features work best and which ones need to be dropped or replaced with something that works.
/bin? /usr/bin? /sbin? /usr/sbin? Or one of the bazillion other possible locations?). And, most importantly, current, frequently-updated, and accurate documentation.
... Speaking of useability, it took me about 5 tries to post this, counting the times Slashdot timed-out. First it 'lost' my login info, re-loading the page and asking me to log in but not showing a login button. The second time it came up with a page that had one of those "type in the word in this box" things, but with way too much anti-bot junk slathered all over it for me to even read the word. Third and fourth times the page wouldn't even load. I guess Slashdot was Slashdotted.
I'm all for 'Linux on the desktop' but even more for that desktop being usable. No, I'm not saying Linux needs to be 'dumbed-down for the masses', just that it serious UI issues that should be addressed. Unfortunately, those kind of studies require both a major time investment, as well as a monetary investment not usually accessable to OSS projects.
And I know Windows has UI problems too. But that's a poor excuse for not fixing the known problems with the Linux/X UI.
To actually give this post some content, here are other Linux/X UI problems: lack of: interface standardization, menu standardization(both application drop-down menus as well as windowing-system launcher menus), meaningful error messages that actually describe the real problem as well as possible solutions, application location standardization (is *prog* in
I know that certain distributions correct most of these problems, and that for example anyone choosing Gentoo over Suse can expect to deal with a 'weaker' UI.
I have 2 computers at the moment, a windows box and a (gentoo) linux box. I use the windows box for what it's good for: playing games and web browsing (with firefox) and I use the linux box for what it's good for: server and hosting tasks.
Yes, it would be nice if I could install any windows application or game on the linux box and Just Have It Work, as flawlessly as it does on the windows box (insert generic snarky reply about windows stability here) the same way it would be nice to be able to SSH into my windows box, run Screen, and then load up TF. But... why? SSH/Screen/TF works better on a linux box, and the windows applications and games work better on a windows box.
So why change things? To "save" people from having to struggle under the burden of windows? To bring them to see the light of your own personal savior? Nobody likes being converted or proselytized to. A "grand unified OS" isn't really NEEDED anyway, if you think about it. A server going down because someone ran a buggy game on it doesn't sound like a fun time to me. =)
Google search for "MAPS" ... yeah. That works real well. =) You only have to go up to page 6 to find a relevant link.
When all you have are foxes, everything looks like a henhouse.
;)
... or a vixen.
I've heard it pronounced 'Rule-yay'. It's spelled R'lyeh.
Wikipedia says I was close: R'lyeh (pronounced Roo-lee-ah)...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R'lyeh
Supposedly they're pretty good - an interesting note in the article also about how our own media censors the news.
Remember, be sure to mod down only those who can't metamod and defend themselves. And be sure to be totally anonymous.
They already did, they most likely have initiated a mssive civil war on a pre-warp culture. See "The Communicator" (2x08)
Fuck you all. And yes this is a troll. =)
I've loved Enterprise, it's been great so far! You just have to watch it with an open mind, and your fingers out of your ears. Look, if you've already decided you're going to hate the show no matter what, fine, but then admit there's nothing they can really do to make you like it. For the rest of us who ENJOY Enterprise and WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WATCHING IT could you at least not make it sound like everyone in the universe hates it? YOU are NOT EVERYONE ELSE! (goddamn loaded subjects)
As far as continuity goes, there HAVE been recurring themes and elements. The recent "Future Tense" played on that, and there have been references to previous episodes or events in every episode, you just have to watch for them. STAR TREK is NOT BABYLON 5! Go watch B5 again if you want B5. There will be unrelated episodes and events, it's a big goddamned universe.
If you just hate time travel, consider the fact that WE exist in a universe where time travel is possible. - And for some of these changes in the Star Trek plot that you've noticed, congratulations, you are perceptive! And dumb. That is, if you haven't realized that these changes are INTENTIONAL, the results of various races SCREWING with the Star Trek timeline though poor usage of their time travel technology.
And if you didn't know, Enterprise takes place over the time of the war with the Romulans. I think you'd be getting 'continuity' whether you wanted it or not, soon enough.
I realize I'm not "baaing" with the herd here and I don't expect anyone to like what I've written. At least give the damn show another chance, it isn't bad. =P I have every episode available over Kazaa (use the 'lite' version ffs!) and it's THE MOST DOWNLOADED ITEM out of the 36 gigs of data that I'm sharing (But only ~4gb of the total).
This is great news, you can find Myth 1 and 2 in the bargain bin in most gamestores for $5 or so. They're both supposed to be excellent games, and it's refreshing to hear of a developer still willing to support their product after so long.
I've had an e-mail account pretty much since I got online to begin with, and at this point I get over 10 megs of e-mail a month on it, ALL spam.
If you love independent gaming and want to help keep it alive, do the right thing and PAY for those shareware games. And yes, I've paid for mine. =D
;)
There's a LOT of great games made by a few people working together on something they love. But like any other business, if they don't get money they don't stay in business.
Remember that Doom started out as shareware, I don't think you could call Id "unsuccessful".
If you want a list of things to try, Soldat, Space Station Manager, Space Empires IV, and Uplink are all fun.
However, it takes a very long time to get there.
;)
Welcome to space.
Time to invest in FTL research.
Woah, someone modded me up. O.o
;)
Here's a mini-review of the game then.
Good and bad points:
LOTS to do, it will take weeks just to get much beyond the basic tech tree open. Heavy-investment research and building projects keep the big guilds and groups occupied and allow soloers and small groups time to catch up.
The interface requires a LOT of mousework and has been causing people wrist problems. The proposal is in the works for a complete interface redesign but it's estimated that it will take a month. The developers have it up for a vote, players are able to specify what they want the devs to focus on. (I'm still in shock over this)
You can be in more than one guild, if those guilds will let you.
The game is divided up into regions which are a collective of one of each of the schools and universities. Each of these regions has a seperate "research pool" and will have different levels of technologies available depending on where players focus their efforts. Travel time is enormous, going across the short end of the map will take 6 hours of constant travel. Player-player interaction (trading, cooperation, etc) is heavily encouraged this way.
There is no combat, but there is plenty of oppertunity for conflict. There is fierce competition for resources as well as tests that inherently limit the number of successful participants.
The political system allows for passing in-game laws that affect everything except the nature of the game's reality. ("Trees give more wood" or "Players can fly" will be vetoed) The OOC voting system allows players to direct the development of the game, what features they would like to see implemented or improved, etc.
Getting Started:
Check out the Beginner Guides for massive detail.
Your best bet for getting started is to find a mentor in the game to walk you through gaining citizenship. Be persistent but don't annoy people. Keep looking near the big banners.
Your mentor will have you gather resources. Some are plentiful and some take time to gather. Mud and sand can be easily gathered, check near water for mud and around sandy areas (sorry =) for sand. Slate is found near shores as well, but is harder to find. Wood comes from trees, the more the better (anything over 5 units/tree is great) Grass grows on the grassy areas, and must be gathered in small handfuls.
Gather 20 of every resource that you can. You now have enough to learn the basics of Architecture.
Learn what skills you can, browse the subjects at the School of Architecture and see what you can learn. Stone blades are forged from slate, and then you'll be able to make a wood plane to create boards from wood. Once you have boards you can learn brickmaking. To make bricks you'll need straw, which can be gained by drying grass. Drop the grass on the ground in small piles so that it can dry quickly. Follow the techs, there will be a very natural progression of skills that you can learn.
Try to learn Pottery. You will receive a jug to help you gather clay. Clay is found near the water, like slate, but only in specific parts. Look for ground that looks like clay. (It's AMAZING! =) Take enough gathered clay back to the school to learn Pottery.
If you find a public pottery wheel, write down it's location, these will be invaluable early on. You won't be able to build your own without oil, leather, and a flystone. (plus more)
You will complete citizenship at some point during this. Inform your mentor, and if they were helpful, write down their name. Build a shrine to them when you are able, and keep in mind that they'll have to meditate at it. This is a test of Leadership for them. There are many different directions you can go once you reach citizenship, check the tech tree and ask your mentor. They'll probably recommend flax from the School of Art, try and get seeds from them. Flax is easy to grow for seeds, just don't do anything to it until it's gone to seed, and then pick 1 seed at a time from the plant as it grows them. There are different varities of flax that have different growing requirements.
Learn Navigation ASAP from as many schools as you can. It allows you to set waypoints and teleport to them with "travel time" gathered while you're offline.
If you want to do "everything" in this game you will need to work with many players trading lots of goods to make your dreams come true. Large guilds or groups of guilds are the only ones who will be able to accomplish the greater tasks. You can still be a successful soloer and trade for what you need, but it will take time before some resources are commonly available.
It looks like it will be fun, if perhaps a little straining on the hand at first and very slow progress until the techs are unlocked.
I guess if you want to shackle yourself to gender roles, yeah.. O.o
It's also one of the only MMORPGs that will be sold online only, no box necessary. So yes it costs $14 a month, but that's IT.
It also has a full-featured voting system, players can get laws put up for vote with enough signatures on a petition, and then get that law passed AND IMPLEMENTED by the developers (!) with enough votes. And yes, laws can have unforseen detrimental effects, or even be deliberately designed to cause problems. This game is REALLY political. ^_^
1) Design your own propriatary protocol.
2) Implement it as a primary function of a custom operating system.
3) Leverage this wedge of necessary technology into a monopoly on hardware and software.
4) Profit!
... the No Duh Institute's proclamations... Didn't They say the same thing about sitting in one place too long on airplanes? Wouldn't THIS logically follow?
I know I'm going to get modded down anyway, so: JOKE! JOOOOOOOKE! Yes, joke! Good boy! HUMOR HU-MOR! YES! Humor! GOOD BOY! Cookie?
.... I get movies and TV shows off the P2P networks, and if I really want I can get a TV card for my computer and go that route AND have full PVR support (with the right card) without needing anything else.. Why exactly do I NEED a TV again? (Don't own one =)