I was in "Earth and Beyond" from late beta until about a year in. Indeed: good game, great community. But it was shipped unfinished, content at the high end just wasn't there. And then EA moved the dev team from Vegas to Silicon Valley less than a month after it went live, effectively killing expansion plans. . . it took a year-plus for the first real content update. . . by that time, people maxed out and were leaving. .
Before the PC, was the,<a href="http://www.digibarn.com/collections/systems/ wang2200a/">Wang Word Processor</a>
The link shows some of the later ones. I remember one, in the Air Force, the size of an <a href="http://www.columbia.edu/acis/history/026.htm l">old keypunch machine</a>.
Some of us started coding on keypunch. . . then some rich kid brought some fad called an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC">IBM PC</a> into the dorm. 4.77 Mhz. 16 K of RAM. No graphics whatsoever.
We figured it would never last. Guess we were wrong. . .
VOID WHERE PROHBITED BY LAW.
I'm waiting for them to at least be honest, and stamp it on the document. . .
I also expect to wait a LONG time. . . this is, after all, not just the Imperial Federal Government, but the TSA we're talking about....
. ..because someone, somewhere might just be enjoying themselves, and certain portions of the population don't happen to approve of that kind of fun. . .
. . . the reason those with high clearances don't discuss them much, is that, officially, it's better to be close-mouthed than to accidentally leak something.
But there's a deeper truth, that I'd found while I was in the Air Force. 99.999999% of classified data is MIND-NUMBINGLY BORING.
I did electronic warfare back then, and while it's useful to know the frequency ranges, etc of every type of radar you're likely to go up against, knowing that the BULL SHIT's radar's microfleems are, in fact, subradiate, is more than you really need to know, or even professionally care about.
(and yes, I did steal that line from Dilbert, just in case the radar data I remember from 25 years ago is still sensitive. ..you still have no need to know. ..)
But the bottom line on classified, is that you can probably get most of it from open source, the classified stuff is generally from "special" sources and we have a definite read on both the source of the data, and how good it really is. . .
Do you have ANY idea of the paperwork we have to fill out when we kill someone ??
Instead, the current preferred technique is to strap the. ..person in question. . into a chair, clamp their eyes open, and start playing episodes of "Barney and Friends". Even in the most resistant of cases, no more than 8-10 hours is required, and the subject is now a brainless, drooling, utterly mindless specimen perfectly suited for janitorial duties or corporate management. . .
The problem is with Politicians, and the way they do business. Ideology is but a minor factor.
The process is this:
Problem "foo" pops up, generally as the result of some sensational news coverage of an otherwise relatively common event.
One or more vocal pressure groups decide that "foo" is a problem.
One or more politicians decide that taking up the cause of "foo" is a route to higher polls, re-election, more donations, waxy yellow buildup, or just will get them more sex from the cute young interns.
Politician(s) decry the problem of "foo". Others join the chorus, seeing that there are donations and cute interns at stake, and much publicity to be had.
One or more politicians introduce a bill to control/tax/ban/ etc "foo". Whether it actually addresses an actual problem is a minor consideration, if any consideration whatsoever. After all, we're talking publicity, donations and intern sex, not minor things like actual results. ..
Politicians rally behind the bill, pass it, and get it signed into law. After which, there is much publicity, donations go up, and much screwing goes on. Especially of the citizens, who generally just got ROYALLY screwed. . . .
The two other replies nailed it: Get thee to Baen's Website.
Peruse the Baen Free Library, where you can read books online, or download them in any of several formats for reading on your palmtop, 'puter, or even some dead trees. And, even better, ZERO CRM. That's right, a publisher who DOESN'T ASSUME THE CUSTOMERS ARE THIEVES. . . .
And, afterwards, pull up a chair at the Baen Bar, where we talk. ..
Methinks you'll be both welcomed AND feel at home. . ..
That sounds like a NAC, a National Agency Check. That's NOT a Secret. Even with prior clearances, it's 3-6 months to RENEW a Secret. I just got my TOP SECRET re-upped, and it took nearly a year, and that's with prior SECRET and TOP SECRET.
Going in for a first-time clearance, we've been telling people 9-15 months for SECRET, and multiple YEARS for TS (That's as contractors. OF course, Government Employees and Soldiers/Sailors/Airmen/Marines have priority, it's somewhat quicker for them. ..)
You seem to be confusing corporate subsidies with political pork. In the case of the Boeing deal, you'll also find that is was being pushed (at the time) by former South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD). Whose WIFE was a lobbyist for Boeing.
Gee, Hubby pushes pork, wifey gets BIG bonus, roll credits, cut to commercial. As I said elsewhere. ..greed and stupidity are the players here, not subsidies. . . .
Let me get this straight: buying jets from Boeing Military Aircraft Corp susbsidizes production at Boeing Commercial Aircraft Corporation ??
At least we get jets and missiles from BMAC... what does the EU get for its' subsidy of Airbus ??
I'm not sure about "calculating" evil. Greed and stupidity are sufficient to explain the situation: I've seen exactly ZERO bald men in grey Nehru jackets controlling things behind the scenes. . . .
So what ? EVERY nation spies on every other nation, be it for national security or economic advantage. The French and Chinese govenments make no bones about it, they OPENLY ADMIT IT. . .
As a tool for national industrial advantage, no big deal. . .
Re:more proof the RIAA/MPAA are insane
on
Death By DMCA
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· Score: 1
Well, let's see. . . I don't GET broadcast, I get cable. For which I pay a fee each and every month for the content delivered to me.
Let the broadcasters figure out how to make a profit off of that, the cable companies are ALREADY paying them for the rights to pipe their content into my home and countless others. . .
Slashdot Mirror
I was in "Earth and Beyond" from late beta until about a year in. Indeed: good game, great community. But it was shipped unfinished, content at the high end just wasn't there. And then EA moved the dev team from Vegas to Silicon Valley less than a month after it went live, effectively killing expansion plans. . . it took a year-plus for the first real content update. . . by that time, people maxed out and were leaving. .
A lot of history.
,<a href="http://www.digibarn.com/collections/systems/ wang2200a/">Wang Word Processor</a>
m l">old keypunch machine</a>.
Before the PC, was the
The link shows some of the later ones. I remember one, in the Air Force, the size of an <a href="http://www.columbia.edu/acis/history/026.ht
Some of us started coding on keypunch. . . then some rich kid brought some fad called an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC">IBM PC</a> into the dorm. 4.77 Mhz. 16 K of RAM. No graphics whatsoever.
We figured it would never last. Guess we were wrong. . .
Because companies think they might actually get some additional cash out of a customer ? They're highly unlikely to get any from a pirate. . .
Yeah. . .but with MOST guys' luck, she'll be Alliance, and they'll be Horde . . .
Last time I saw a pay telephone booth ?? On an episode of Firefly. . . .
(cue theme to "Pinky and the Brain")
. . . yes, but do TPS report cover sheets COME in Hindu or Chinese versions ????
VOID WHERE PROHBITED BY LAW. I'm waiting for them to at least be honest, and stamp it on the document. . . I also expect to wait a LONG time. . . this is, after all, not just the Imperial Federal Government, but the TSA we're talking about....
. . .because someone, somewhere might just be enjoying themselves, and certain portions of the population don't happen to approve of that kind of fun. . .
But there's a deeper truth, that I'd found while I was in the Air Force. 99.999999% of classified data is MIND-NUMBINGLY BORING. I did electronic warfare back then, and while it's useful to know the frequency ranges, etc of every type of radar you're likely to go up against, knowing that the BULL SHIT's radar's microfleems are, in fact, subradiate, is more than you really need to know, or even professionally care about.
(and yes, I did steal that line from Dilbert, just in case the radar data I remember from 25 years ago is still sensitive. . .you still have no need to know. . .)
But the bottom line on classified, is that you can probably get most of it from open source, the classified stuff is generally from "special" sources and we have a definite read on both the source of the data, and how good it really is. . .
Instead, the current preferred technique is to strap the. . .person in question. . into a chair, clamp their eyes open, and start playing episodes of "Barney and Friends". Even in the most resistant of cases, no more than 8-10 hours is required, and the subject is now a brainless, drooling, utterly mindless specimen perfectly suited for janitorial duties or corporate management. . .
. . . and two Wrights make an airplane, but that's not important right now . . .
The process is this:
Problem "foo" pops up, generally as the result of some sensational news coverage of an otherwise relatively common event.
One or more vocal pressure groups decide that "foo" is a problem.
One or more politicians decide that taking up the cause of "foo" is a route to higher polls, re-election, more donations, waxy yellow buildup, or just will get them more sex from the cute young interns.
Politician(s) decry the problem of "foo". Others join the chorus, seeing that there are donations and cute interns at stake, and much publicity to be had.
One or more politicians introduce a bill to control/tax/ban/ etc "foo". Whether it actually addresses an actual problem is a minor consideration, if any consideration whatsoever. After all, we're talking publicity, donations and intern sex, not minor things like actual results. . .
Politicians rally behind the bill, pass it, and get it signed into law. After which, there is much publicity, donations go up, and much screwing goes on. Especially of the citizens, who generally just got ROYALLY screwed. . . .
Sounds more like the old DC-X / Delta Clipper project. . . In fact, according to Wikipedia, Blue Origin has hired a number of DC-X engineers . . .
No. . . . but a **good** HOWTO might get permanently Slashdotted. . .
Frankly, it's stamping a block on a form, but if you want to advance, well, a Grad degree is the defacto union card. . .
. . you forgot the sexy Marine sniper who wore her uniform skirt tight and spike heels . . .
Peruse the Baen Free Library, where you can read books online, or download them in any of several formats for reading on your palmtop, 'puter, or even some dead trees. And, even better, ZERO CRM. That's right, a publisher who DOESN'T ASSUME THE CUSTOMERS ARE THIEVES. . . .
And, afterwards, pull up a chair at the Baen Bar, where we talk. . .
Methinks you'll be both welcomed AND feel at home. . . .
(Slashdotter since 1998, Barfly since 1999)
Going in for a first-time clearance, we've been telling people 9-15 months for SECRET, and multiple YEARS for TS (That's as contractors. OF course, Government Employees and Soldiers/Sailors/Airmen/Marines have priority, it's somewhat quicker for them. . .)
I don't think so. . .
Gee, Hubby pushes pork, wifey gets BIG bonus, roll credits, cut to commercial. As I said elsewhere. . .greed and stupidity are the players here, not subsidies. . . .
Let me get this straight: buying jets from Boeing Military Aircraft Corp susbsidizes production at Boeing Commercial Aircraft Corporation ?? At least we get jets and missiles from BMAC... what does the EU get for its' subsidy of Airbus ??
I'm not sure about "calculating" evil. Greed and stupidity are sufficient to explain the situation: I've seen exactly ZERO bald men in grey Nehru jackets controlling things behind the scenes. . . .
So what ? EVERY nation spies on every other nation, be it for national security or economic advantage. The French and Chinese govenments make no bones about it, they OPENLY ADMIT IT. . . As a tool for national industrial advantage, no big deal. . .
Let the broadcasters figure out how to make a profit off of that, the cable companies are ALREADY paying them for the rights to pipe their content into my home and countless others. . .