While I do enjoy taking potshots at Jon (see above), I would never turn off his articles. Even though I consider most of his writing to be highly unorginal, geek elitist wannabe crap, I have actually agreed with him on several occasions, (Hellmouth series, for instance.) For the other 90% of the claptrap he spouts, I mostly like engaging in spirited debate via Slashdot.
For all of Jon's faults, he at least gets people talking (typing). For that reason alone, I keep him on my radar.
MS must have a lot of faith that the new powers that be at the Attorney General's office will not pursue their antitrust case as agressively as Reno's Rangers did.
That may end up being the legacy of the XFL; Making the NFL loosen up and move forward. If the XFL can make the NFL do that, in my mind it's a success. Isn't competition great?
I'll mostly disagree with the opinion that the games sucked. The level of play was at about the first game of the season for a Division 1A college football team. Solid running plays, passing needs some work, defense generally more "gelled" than the offense, etc. I expect the level of play to escalate, just as it does in the college ranks, over the course of the season.
That being said, don't expect NFL level play, it's not going to happen for several years at the least, and maybe not ever. But at least it's entertaining. Just get those damn cameras off the field.
Yeah, well what if we head into a 10000 light-year wide cloud of space dust as we move around the galactic rim? Ice Age, the sequel! Bet you didn't think of that, huh? Then what'll you do, you overreacting, orbit changing, knee-jerking scientists!!
Any idea where an interested party could pick up a copy of True Names? I've heard it's coming back into print, but are there any caches of used ones out there?
I wonder if the great science fiction writers gain satisfaction from seeing things they originally wrote of as fiction come to pass in reality. For instance, the Avatars in "Snow Crash". Do you think Neil got goosebumps when he saw his first avatar oriented chat room?
This just in. The Geek Mafia, after finding out they had been patented, destroyed themselves and the patent holder in a violent spray of paint and shaving cream. An officer at the scene remarked that "it looked like something out of a bad gangsta movie, or Hackers, or both."
Exactly! I was going to put trench coats, instead of combat gear, in my orginal post, but I figured Jon probably does searches for terms like that. Then we would get an article about the Opression of the Geek Mafia, and frankly, I just don't want to be responsible for that
Think about it. A bunch of vigilante geeks dressing up in black combat gear, performing guerilla hit and run operations on the corporate headquarters of idiot companies like Geoworks and Altavista. The group could carry paintball guns and balloons filled with shaving cream. No permanent damage would be done, but the message sent....
I'm going to put on my Captain Obvious costume and state that the administrator has more to do with the system succeeding or failing than the package itself (Unless of course it's MS Exchange, then failure is assured).
I'm not trying to be cute, it's just that any system can be slow and dangerous if not properly administered. Get the best talent you can and give them the support they need; you'll end up with a good system.
Again, I do not agree with most of Bush' stated agendas, but what I'm speaking about is that Jon is making some pretty large assumptions about how Bush will address things such as Internet censorship, filtering software, and related issues. The nomination of John Ashcroft as A.G. or the funding of "faith" based charities is, for the most part, unrelated to the issue Jon is speaking of. My point is that Jon shouldn't make those assumptions, let's see what Bush actually does, then condemn or praise him based on that. By contrast, both Tipper and Joe have long track records of advocating censorship of all sorts, all in the name of "protecting children".
My point is that, again, the Democratic alternative to GWB looked like the greater of two evils, comparativly, when looking at this particular issue
Just couldn't resist getting in a shot or two at George W, could ya Jon? Geez, his administration is only a week old, and already it's the coming of the AntiChrist in your mind, isn't it? While I harbor no love for Bush and his agenda, at least he isn't married to Tipper "PMRC" Gore, and didn't have Joe L. as a running mate (huge proponent of filter software and other censorship)
Again, not that I support Bush' positions necessarily, but it could be worse
Maybe this will start a trend. Big Corp. tries to patent important but universal method/solution, brilliant hacker says "step back, bitch", and pimp slaps them a few times.
Hmmmm, I see your point, but what I'm referring to are comments where people question why they should make their 3000+ MP3 collection available over Napster if others aren't doing the same, or if other have significantly smaller collections. What I'm questioning is that attitude: If the music should be free, shouldn't that belief extent to making your own MP3 collection available for others, no matter what? That's the hypocrisy and selfishness I'm referring to.
I see a lot of comments related to how MP3s are "yours" or "mine". Funny, I thought they were "free" and "music belongs to everyone". Everyone goes on about how music "belongs to the people" and all that, but you worry about someone being able to download more songs from your collection than you can from theirs? Further proof that this isn't about rights, or new ways of doing things, but that people just want free stuff. Selfish and hypocritical.
And before you mod me down for daring to buck the Slashdot party line, give a rebuttal that doesn't involve swearing or being more elite than me.
Frankly, I'm even more unimpressed by this rant than most of John's stuff.
Initative, drive, and focus are still the most important factors in achieving the life you want for yourself and your loved ones. Don't have access to the net? Get creative, or spend time at the library. Need a computer? Make some sacrifices. Yes, I know it's hard, but life is hard in general. And in case you're wondering, I grew up as one of the "have-nots"; below poverty line, broken home, etc, but I did not, and will not, let myself become a statistic. Many years of hard work paid off and now I'm a System Admin with the chance to give my family a better life than I had growing up. Why? Initative, drive, and focus.
Slashdot Mirror
While I do enjoy taking potshots at Jon (see above), I would never turn off his articles. Even though I consider most of his writing to be highly unorginal, geek elitist wannabe crap, I have actually agreed with him on several occasions, (Hellmouth series, for instance.) For the other 90% of the claptrap he spouts, I mostly like engaging in spirited debate via Slashdot.
For all of Jon's faults, he at least gets people talking (typing). For that reason alone, I keep him on my radar.
?????
I thought DEC was bought out by Compaq? Did a division get sold to Intel?
MS must have a lot of faith that the new powers that be at the Attorney General's office will not pursue their antitrust case as agressively as Reno's Rangers did.
That may end up being the legacy of the XFL; Making the NFL loosen up and move forward. If the XFL can make the NFL do that, in my mind it's a success. Isn't competition great?
I'll mostly disagree with the opinion that the games sucked. The level of play was at about the first game of the season for a Division 1A college football team. Solid running plays, passing needs some work, defense generally more "gelled" than the offense, etc. I expect the level of play to escalate, just as it does in the college ranks, over the course of the season.
That being said, don't expect NFL level play, it's not going to happen for several years at the least, and maybe not ever. But at least it's entertaining. Just get those damn cameras off the field.
Just because we can use new technology to read Jon Katz articles doesn't mean we want to.
Touche. Actually, that would be warm fusion, and I have achieved that in my bathtub for years now. :)
Yeah, well what if we head into a 10000 light-year wide cloud of space dust as we move around the galactic rim? Ice Age, the sequel! Bet you didn't think of that, huh? Then what'll you do, you overreacting, orbit changing, knee-jerking scientists!!
(This is all tongue-in-cheek, you know)
I achieved cold fusion in my bathtub this morning.
I will retract the following statement later today, after it has been forwarded to the scientific community ten times over
Is that a spice like Cinnaminiminimon? Sorry, couldn't help it
Any idea where an interested party could pick up a copy of True Names? I've heard it's coming back into print, but are there any caches of used ones out there?
Mmmmm, not just flamebait, but badly spelled flamebait. My favorite!
I wonder if the great science fiction writers gain satisfaction from seeing things they originally wrote of as fiction come to pass in reality. For instance, the Avatars in "Snow Crash". Do you think Neil got goosebumps when he saw his first avatar oriented chat room?
Headline News 11:00
This just in. The Geek Mafia, after finding out they had been patented, destroyed themselves and the patent holder in a violent spray of paint and shaving cream. An officer at the scene remarked that "it looked like something out of a bad gangsta movie, or Hackers, or both."
Exactly! I was going to put trench coats, instead of combat gear, in my orginal post, but I figured Jon probably does searches for terms like that. Then we would get an article about the Opression of the Geek Mafia, and frankly, I just don't want to be responsible for that
Think about it. A bunch of vigilante geeks dressing up in black combat gear, performing guerilla hit and run operations on the corporate headquarters of idiot companies like Geoworks and Altavista. The group could carry paintball guns and balloons filled with shaving cream. No permanent damage would be done, but the message sent....
I'm going to put on my Captain Obvious costume and state that the administrator has more to do with the system succeeding or failing than the package itself (Unless of course it's MS Exchange, then failure is assured).
I'm not trying to be cute, it's just that any system can be slow and dangerous if not properly administered. Get the best talent you can and give them the support they need; you'll end up with a good system.
Again, I do not agree with most of Bush' stated agendas, but what I'm speaking about is that Jon is making some pretty large assumptions about how Bush will address things such as Internet censorship, filtering software, and related issues. The nomination of John Ashcroft as A.G. or the funding of "faith" based charities is, for the most part, unrelated to the issue Jon is speaking of. My point is that Jon shouldn't make those assumptions, let's see what Bush actually does, then condemn or praise him based on that. By contrast, both Tipper and Joe have long track records of advocating censorship of all sorts, all in the name of "protecting children".
My point is that, again, the Democratic alternative to GWB looked like the greater of two evils, comparativly, when looking at this particular issue
Just couldn't resist getting in a shot or two at George W, could ya Jon? Geez, his administration is only a week old, and already it's the coming of the AntiChrist in your mind, isn't it? While I harbor no love for Bush and his agenda, at least he isn't married to Tipper "PMRC" Gore, and didn't have Joe L. as a running mate (huge proponent of filter software and other censorship)
Again, not that I support Bush' positions necessarily, but it could be worse
Commercial companies make damn sure their products are out on time
???????????
Please enlighten us by providing us the names of these esteemed companies, I'm eager to purchase software from them.
Maybe this will start a trend. Big Corp. tries to patent important but universal method/solution, brilliant hacker says "step back, bitch", and pimp slaps them a few times.
Hmmmm, I see your point, but what I'm referring to are comments where people question why they should make their 3000+ MP3 collection available over Napster if others aren't doing the same, or if other have significantly smaller collections. What I'm questioning is that attitude: If the music should be free, shouldn't that belief extent to making your own MP3 collection available for others, no matter what? That's the hypocrisy and selfishness I'm referring to.
Take a look at MP3.com I think their Payback for Playback is a innovative, valid alternative method for paying independent artists.
I see a lot of comments related to how MP3s are "yours" or "mine". Funny, I thought they were "free" and "music belongs to everyone". Everyone goes on about how music "belongs to the people" and all that, but you worry about someone being able to download more songs from your collection than you can from theirs?
Further proof that this isn't about rights, or new ways of doing things, but that people just want free stuff. Selfish and hypocritical.
And before you mod me down for daring to buck the Slashdot party line, give a rebuttal that doesn't involve swearing or being more elite than me.
Frankly, I'm even more unimpressed by this rant than most of John's stuff. Initative, drive, and focus are still the most important factors in achieving the life you want for yourself and your loved ones. Don't have access to the net? Get creative, or spend time at the library. Need a computer? Make some sacrifices. Yes, I know it's hard, but life is hard in general. And in case you're wondering, I grew up as one of the "have-nots"; below poverty line, broken home, etc, but I did not, and will not, let myself become a statistic. Many years of hard work paid off and now I'm a System Admin with the chance to give my family a better life than I had growing up. Why? Initative, drive, and focus.
Peace