3.3% of the data is good enough for me!
on
Working Hard?
·
· Score: 1, Insightful
[quote] According to the EPI study, which used Labor Department and General Accounting Office data about worker pay and qualifications, the total effect of the three changes is to exclude at least 8.025 million workers from overtime -- and probably more, the study said, since the EPI only looked at 78 of the 257 "white collar" occupations identified by the Labor Department. [/quote]
So, the EPI looked at only 3.3% (257 / 78) of the facts and came up with this doom and gloom proclimation?
What about the rest of the stats from the Labor Dept and GAO? Don't you think they would have an impact on the figures? It doesn't matter if the results would further prove their point or not. They didn't consider all the facts.
[quote] Will Linux do to OS X what it already has done to Tru64, Irix, HP/UX, AIX and Solaris and emerge as the only viable competitor to Windows on the desktop? [/quote]
Linux may one day pass Apple by on the Desktop arena. But that day will come only when Linux can be used by those without intimate knowledge of their PC.
Think about it this way: When the average person is driving his car, he's not thinking about the intricacies of the engine that powers his car. The only things he thinks about are (1) steering wheel, (2) pedals, (3) signals, (4) gear shifter. In other words, he's only thinking about the "interface" to the engine, and not the engine itself.
The average person wants his computer to be this way. Turn it on and do what needs to be done, and not have to figure out what why package so-and-so says "failed depencendy" during an install, or figure out all the work arounds needed in order to view, say, a Microsoft Word document.
Currently, Linux is no match for the ease of use that Apple and Microsoft (compared to Linux) offer in the desktop market. If the Linux community really wants their favorite OS to be accepted by the average Joe, the presentation (i.e. interface, documentation, simplicity of design) needs a lot of work. KDE is getting there, but it still can't match Apple or Microsoft. Try again when my grandmother can look at Linux, and with a short time (say, 30 minutes) of on-screen tutorials and simple instructions, she can send Email.
possible direction Apple is heading?
on
Jaguar is Over
·
· Score: 1
Looking at the screen shots of the Panther Finder (http://www.apple.com/macosx/panther/finder.html), I noticed that the windows are using the same widgets, and generally has the same "feel" as the Safari browser.
Now, Safari is based on KHTML - KDE's Konqueror rendering engine. Konqi is a web AND local file browser in one. All Apple needs to do is add a "Web" button on the left (next to "Applications", "Home", etc) and build the KHTML rendering engine into the Finder, and there you go: Web and file browser in one.
Note that the Mail program in Panther uses the KHTML rendering engine in Safari to render HTML messages, so the framework to do this is already there.
Square-ENIX did the multiplayer online game RIGHT. A friend of mine participated in the Japanese closed beta over the past few months (testing network transmissions from North America). It's so much fun! I can't wait.
I got used to free hi-speed when I was in college. Nothing like a T-1 connection right at your fingertips (this was before Napster, so the network actually PERFORMED like a T-1 connection). But what you want just won't happen. Bandwidth IS NOT CHEAP. (NOTE: I work at an ISP, so I know what I'm talking about). A whole node of service could be taken out by one person abusing what is provided. That's why there are different rates for service. Those who want more speed pay more to offset the costs of hooking up more fast pipes to the network.
[quote] Now, the interesting question is, how many people are still using 3.x on OS 9? [/quote]
My father is the editor and publisher for four quarterly magazines. He has the latest Apple hardware, and uses OS 9 and Quark 3.32 exclusively. He'll never upgrade, and here's why: "If it aint broke, don't fix it".
You know the kind - the ones that threaten to beat you up if you don't give them your lunch money. From the ABC article: [quote]
But Jordan did agree to pony up $12,000, his entire savings account, to the RIAA. Jordan and his father, Andy Jordan, felt the settlement was their best option.
"They agreed to allow Jesse to deny their allegations. They agreed to dismiss the case and all allegations against him," Andy said. "Basically they agreed that he didn't do anything wrong, but [they're] taking his 12 grand." [/quote]
"You're evil - the spawn of satan, stealing food from the poor execut...uhh, artists. REPENT!! Or if you want to settle for whatever you have, you can state in court that you did no wrong-doing, and we'll keep quiet."
On the other hand, sounds like a mafia protection racket, too.
It looked kick-ass in 1998 (or was it 99) when it was demoed at MacWorld Expo - the weapons, large maps, vehicles, etc. But now it's just old news.
Being a huge fan of the Marathon games, Myth, and the other Bungie offerings, I was excited to see what Bungie would make with Halo. But it's been so long since that demo at MacWorld, and Bungie being bought by Microsoft, "Yes, we're making it for Mac/PC", "No, it's going to be XBox Only", "We may make it for Mac/PC, but XBox first", "We just don't know about other platforms", etc. My patience has limits.
Speaking as a Mac user, we have been snubbed by game companies time and time again. The Mac port of Half Life was around 90% ready for release when Sierra pulled the plug on it. Then Bungie essentially did the same thing with Halo.
As for now, I'm more looking forward to the physics engine of Half Life 2...
(Sketch opens with a pan across Bolton. Voice of reporter.)
Voice Over: This is a frightened city. Over these houses, over these streets hangs a pall of fear. Fear of a new kind of violence which is terrorizing the city. Yes, gangs of old ladies attacking defenceless fit young men.
(Film of old ladies beating up two young men; then several grannies walking aggressively along street, pushing passers-by aside.)
First Young Man: Well they come up to you, like, and push you - shove you off the pavement, like. There's usually four or five of them.
Second Young Man: Yeah, this used to be a nice neighbourhood before the old ladies started moving in. Nowadays some of us daren't even go down to the shops. '
Third Young Man: Well Mr Johnson's son Kevin, he don't go out any more. He comes back from wrestling and locks himself in his room.
(Film of grannies harassing an attractive girl.)
Voice Over: What are they in it for, these old hoodlums, these layabouts in lace?
First Granny: (voice over) Well it's something to do isn't it?
Second Granny: (voice over) It's good fun.
Third Granny: (voice over) It's like you know, well, innit, eh?
....
Fourth Young Man: Oh well we sometimes feel we're to blame in some way for what our gran's become. I mean she used to be happy here until she, she started on the crochet.
Reporter: (off-screen) Crochet?
Fourth Young Man: Yeah. Now she can't do without it. Twenty balls of wool a day, sometimes. If she can't get the wool she gets violent. What can we do about it?
Since all the submitted faqs are copyrighted by the author, not any particular website, they could be hosted elsewhere. Perhaps a "tip jar" system to help the cost of hosting, or a distrubited server system where documents are on a series of mirrors all over, and a php or cgi script redirects the reader to a mirror...?
Movies have ratings. It's good form to restrict minor access to a rated R film without being accompanied by an adult. Games have ratings on them now, based on roughly the same criteria. Why is it bad to prevent minor access to rated-M games without permission from a parent/guardian/adult? Please, somebody explain this to me. If it's ok for one, why is it not ok for the other?
Some game franchises just don't translate well to 3D. A few months ago I found video and screenshots of the upcoming MegaMan 7 for PS2. In my mind, making MegaMan a 3D adventure destroys the gameplay. My take on it can be found here:
[quote] because a ZIP+4 DOES resolve down to a single house [/quote]
According to the USPS ZIP-code FAQ (http://www.usps.com/zip4/zipfaq.htm):
Q. Why are ZIP+4 Codes used? A. In 1983, the Postal Service began using an expanded ZIP Code called "ZIP+4." A ZIP+4 Code consists of the original 5-digit ZIP Code plus a 4-digit add-on code. The 4-digit add-on number identifies a geographic segment within the 5-digit delivery area, such as a city block, office building, individual high-volume receiver of mail, or any other unit that would aid efficient mail sorting and delivery. Use of the 4-digit add-on is not mandatory, but it helps the Postal Service direct mail more efficiently and accurately because it reduces handling and significantly decreases the potential for human error and possibility of misdelivery. It also will lead to better control over USPS costs and, in turn, postage rate stability. ZIP+4 is intended for use primarily by business mailers who prepare their mail with typewritten, machine-printed, or computerized addressing formats that can be read by the Postal Service's automated scanners during processing. Mailers who qualify receive a rate discount on First-Class, non-presorted, ZIP+4 mailings of at least 250 pieces and on presorted ZIP+4 mailings of at least 500 pieces. There are also ZIP+4 discounts for bulk business mail.
--end USPS text--
For example, the city I live in, Mt. Shasta, the +4 extension is the same for every piece of mail in the city. (it's a small town)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but since the second-rev G3 machines (blue and white towers), hasn't the Apple BIOS been unnecessary? Or am I confusing the Software-ROM (that the New World mac architecture introduced, ROM-in-RAM) with something else?
The second season episode "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum" features the creation of an earth government agency called "the Ministry of Peace (nicknamed "Minipax" by its employees,) with the alleged goal of helping reduce internal tensions among the EA's [Earth Alliance] populace. Its first visible action was to establish a program called the Night Watch, paying people 50 credits a week to wear black armbands and report suspicious people to the authorities so that troublemakers can be reformed before they disrupt the peace." (quote from above link).
I was watching that particular episode last night, and the quiet, subtle way it was introduced and promoted scared the shit out of me. I can't help seeing parallels between the Night Watch and this new "US Home Guard".
"The shadows have come. The shadows have come for us all..."
(Mod -1 Babylon 5 fanboy)
High speed connection, privacy, fresh supply of TP for cleanup, convenient place to flush evidence... A portable spank-your-monkey machine, powered by MSN!
Actually, there may be a market for these things...
Sheesh. Unreal had a fantastic storyline, but with this demo, I am not impressed. On the contrary, this demo convinced me to NOT buy the game. Big disappointment.
Change Unchained: New Aliens, New Weapons, New Hairdos, New Mission a TREK "First" Berman Tells TVG
Posted: 12:45:27 on May 01 2003 By: Steve Krutzler Dept: Enterprise | stenterprise.com The news about ENTERPRISE's radical new direction for season three is going mainstream in the May 10th issue of TV Guide, according to a press release from the magazine. Executive producer Rick Berman will reveal all new details about the prequel series' finale "The Expanse" and what it means for the third season of the struggling UPN show that TV Guide recently lambasted for lack of imagination (story).
In the season finale, "a mysterious probe from space will blast a swath of destruction across North and Central America, causing epic explosions and annihilating everything between Florida and Venezuela," according to the article. "As viewers will learn, this is a preemptive strike by an alien race known as the Xindi (that's Zin-dee), who have obtained knowledge that Earth will destroy their home world 400 years in the future. The hour ends on a chilling threat of more devastation to come, but this is no mere summer cliff-hanger. In fact, it marks a whole new direction for the series."
Rick Berman says the new direction will be a first for the STAR TREK franchise.
"What we are about to do is a first for STAR TREK," Berman tells TVG. "In the past, our captains have had the general mission to explore outer space and, in the case of Voyager, a mission to find a way back home. But there has never been a Trek series built around a specific mission and specific stakes-in this case, the very future of mankind."
He goes on to say that the new Xindi threat will be the greatest that Captain Archer's Earth will yet have faced.
"We find out that the Xindi space probe was merely a test and that they are creating an even more powerful weapon," Berman says. "It's up to Captain Archer to go there and stop them from destroying us altogether."
TV Guide also reveals new details about the repercussions of the finale for next season, writing that the Enterprise NX-01 will be "retrofitted for war" and that we'll get our first glimpse at the use of photon torpedos in Starfleet's history. Furthermore, the dangerous Delphic Expanse, likened to the Bermuda Triangle, causes those who enter to "become anatomically inverted (skin on the inside, organs on the outside)." Furthermore, even Jolene Blalock's 'T'Pol', as a result of resigning from the Vulcan High Command, "will sport a new cat suit and hairdo next season."
All the grisly details will be on newsstands May 10th.
I don't see a problem with this. AMD will only guarantee its equipment with parts they provide. Use your own parts, and you're responsible for damage. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
Slashdot Mirror
[quote]
According to the EPI study, which used Labor Department and General Accounting Office data about worker pay and qualifications, the total effect of the three changes is to exclude at least 8.025 million workers from overtime -- and probably more, the study said, since the EPI only looked at 78 of the 257 "white collar" occupations identified by the Labor Department.
[/quote]
So, the EPI looked at only 3.3% (257 / 78) of the facts and came up with this doom and gloom proclimation?
What about the rest of the stats from the Labor Dept and GAO? Don't you think they would have an impact on the figures? It doesn't matter if the results would further prove their point or not. They didn't consider all the facts.
[quote]
Will Linux do to OS X what it already has done to Tru64, Irix, HP/UX, AIX and Solaris and emerge as the only viable competitor to Windows on the desktop?
[/quote]
Linux may one day pass Apple by on the Desktop arena. But that day will come only when Linux can be used by those without intimate knowledge of their PC.
Think about it this way:
When the average person is driving his car, he's not thinking about the intricacies of the engine that powers his car. The only things he thinks about are (1) steering wheel, (2) pedals, (3) signals, (4) gear shifter. In other words, he's only thinking about the "interface" to the engine, and not the engine itself.
The average person wants his computer to be this way. Turn it on and do what needs to be done, and not have to figure out what why package so-and-so says "failed depencendy" during an install, or figure out all the work arounds needed in order to view, say, a Microsoft Word document.
Currently, Linux is no match for the ease of use that Apple and Microsoft (compared to Linux) offer in the desktop market. If the Linux community really wants their favorite OS to be accepted by the average Joe, the presentation (i.e. interface, documentation, simplicity of design) needs a lot of work. KDE is getting there, but it still can't match Apple or Microsoft. Try again when my grandmother can look at Linux, and with a short time (say, 30 minutes) of on-screen tutorials and simple instructions, she can send Email.
Looking at the screen shots of the Panther Finder (http://www.apple.com/macosx/panther/finder.html), I noticed that the windows are using the same widgets, and generally has the same "feel" as the Safari browser.
Now, Safari is based on KHTML - KDE's Konqueror rendering engine. Konqi is a web AND local file browser in one. All Apple needs to do is add a "Web" button on the left (next to "Applications", "Home", etc) and build the KHTML rendering engine into the Finder, and there you go: Web and file browser in one.
Note that the Mail program in Panther uses the KHTML rendering engine in Safari to render HTML messages, so the framework to do this is already there.
Walk.
Square-ENIX did the multiplayer online game RIGHT. A friend of mine participated in the Japanese closed beta over the past few months (testing network transmissions from North America). It's so much fun! I can't wait.
I got used to free hi-speed when I was in college. Nothing like a T-1 connection right at your fingertips (this was before Napster, so the network actually PERFORMED like a T-1 connection).
But what you want just won't happen. Bandwidth IS NOT CHEAP. (NOTE: I work at an ISP, so I know what I'm talking about). A whole node of service could be taken out by one person abusing what is provided. That's why there are different rates for service. Those who want more speed pay more to offset the costs of hooking up more fast pipes to the network.
[quote]
My old Quark 4 recommended 12MB "for graphic intensive documents"
[/quote]
Quark 3 is overjoyed with 6MB. It was the last, great XPress.
[quote]
Now, the interesting question is, how many people are still using 3.x on OS 9?
[/quote]
My father is the editor and publisher for four quarterly magazines. He has the latest Apple hardware, and uses OS 9 and Quark 3.32 exclusively. He'll never upgrade, and here's why: "If it aint broke, don't fix it".
Quark 6 finally shipping. What's next, Duke Nukem Forever coming out next week?
You know the kind - the ones that threaten to beat you up if you don't give them your lunch money. From the ABC article:
[quote]
But Jordan did agree to pony up $12,000, his entire savings account, to the RIAA. Jordan and his father, Andy Jordan, felt the settlement was their best option.
"They agreed to allow Jesse to deny their allegations. They agreed to dismiss the case and all allegations against him," Andy said. "Basically they agreed that he didn't do anything wrong, but [they're] taking his 12 grand."
[/quote]
"You're evil - the spawn of satan, stealing food from the poor execut...uhh, artists. REPENT!! Or if you want to settle for whatever you have, you can state in court that you did no wrong-doing, and we'll keep quiet."
On the other hand, sounds like a mafia protection racket, too.
It looked kick-ass in 1998 (or was it 99) when it was demoed at MacWorld Expo - the weapons, large maps, vehicles, etc. But now it's just old news.
Being a huge fan of the Marathon games, Myth, and the other Bungie offerings, I was excited to see what Bungie would make with Halo. But it's been so long since that demo at MacWorld, and Bungie being bought by Microsoft, "Yes, we're making it for Mac/PC", "No, it's going to be XBox Only", "We may make it for Mac/PC, but XBox first", "We just don't know about other platforms", etc. My patience has limits.
Speaking as a Mac user, we have been snubbed by game companies time and time again. The Mac port of Half Life was around 90% ready for release when Sierra pulled the plug on it. Then Bungie essentially did the same thing with Halo.
As for now, I'm more looking forward to the physics engine of Half Life 2...
(Sketch opens with a pan across Bolton. Voice of reporter.)
Voice Over: This is a frightened city. Over these houses, over these streets hangs a pall of fear. Fear of a new kind of violence which is terrorizing the city. Yes, gangs of old ladies attacking defenceless fit young men.
(Film of old ladies beating up two young men; then several grannies walking aggressively along street, pushing passers-by aside.)
First Young Man: Well they come up to you, like, and push you - shove you off the pavement, like. There's usually four or five of them.
Second Young Man: Yeah, this used to be a nice neighbourhood before the old ladies started moving in. Nowadays some of us daren't even go down to the shops. '
Third Young Man: Well Mr Johnson's son Kevin, he don't go out any more. He comes back from wrestling and locks himself in his room.
(Film of grannies harassing an attractive girl.)
Voice Over: What are they in it for, these old hoodlums, these layabouts in lace?
First Granny: (voice over) Well it's something to do isn't it?
Second Granny: (voice over) It's good fun.
Third Granny: (voice over) It's like you know, well, innit, eh?
....
Fourth Young Man: Oh well we sometimes feel we're to blame in some way for what our gran's become. I mean she used to be happy here until she, she started on the crochet.
Reporter: (off-screen) Crochet?
Fourth Young Man: Yeah. Now she can't do without it. Twenty balls of wool a day, sometimes. If she can't get the wool she gets violent. What can we do about it?
--text lifted from Pythonet.org
Since all the submitted faqs are copyrighted by the author, not any particular website, they could be hosted elsewhere. Perhaps a "tip jar" system to help the cost of hosting, or a distrubited server system where documents are on a series of mirrors all over, and a php or cgi script redirects the reader to a mirror...?
Movies have ratings. It's good form to restrict minor access to a rated R film without being accompanied by an adult. Games have ratings on them now, based on roughly the same criteria. Why is it bad to prevent minor access to rated-M games without permission from a parent/guardian/adult?
Please, somebody explain this to me. If it's ok for one, why is it not ok for the other?
[quote]
:)
someone from northern california, who is not GPS equipped, routienly crosses the boarder to get gas for 20-30 cents cheaper?
[/quote]
That would be me
Cheaper gas, cheaper groceries, just all around cheaper!
Oregon should just start a sales tax and deal with it like most of the country.
Some game franchises just don't translate well to 3D. A few months ago I found video and screenshots of the upcoming MegaMan 7 for PS2. In my mind, making MegaMan a 3D adventure destroys the gameplay. My take on it can be found here:
Why, Capcom?[quote]
because a ZIP+4 DOES resolve down to a single house
[/quote]
According to the USPS ZIP-code FAQ (http://www.usps.com/zip4/zipfaq.htm):
Q. Why are ZIP+4 Codes used?
A. In 1983, the Postal Service began using an expanded ZIP Code called "ZIP+4." A ZIP+4 Code consists of the original 5-digit ZIP Code plus a 4-digit add-on code. The 4-digit add-on number identifies a geographic segment within the 5-digit delivery area, such as a city block, office building, individual high-volume receiver of mail, or any other unit that would aid efficient mail sorting and delivery. Use of the 4-digit add-on is not mandatory, but it helps the Postal Service direct mail more efficiently and accurately because it reduces handling and significantly decreases the potential for human error and possibility of misdelivery. It also will lead to better control over USPS costs and, in turn, postage rate stability. ZIP+4 is intended for use primarily by business mailers who prepare their mail with typewritten, machine-printed, or computerized addressing formats that can be read by the Postal Service's automated scanners during processing. Mailers who qualify receive a rate discount on First-Class, non-presorted, ZIP+4 mailings of at least 250 pieces and on presorted ZIP+4 mailings of at least 500 pieces. There are also ZIP+4 discounts for bulk business mail.
--end USPS text--
For example, the city I live in, Mt. Shasta, the +4 extension is the same for every piece of mail in the city. (it's a small town)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but since the second-rev G3 machines (blue and white towers), hasn't the Apple BIOS been unnecessary? Or am I confusing the Software-ROM (that the New World mac architecture introduced, ROM-in-RAM) with something else?
The second season episode "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum" features the creation of an earth government agency called "the Ministry of Peace (nicknamed "Minipax" by its employees,) with the alleged goal of helping reduce internal tensions among the EA's [Earth Alliance] populace. Its first visible action was to establish a program called the Night Watch, paying people 50 credits a week to wear black armbands and report suspicious people to the authorities so that troublemakers can be reformed before they disrupt the peace." (quote from above link).
I was watching that particular episode last night, and the quiet, subtle way it was introduced and promoted scared the shit out of me. I can't help seeing parallels between the Night Watch and this new "US Home Guard".
"The shadows have come. The shadows have come for us all..."
(Mod -1 Babylon 5 fanboy)
High speed connection, privacy, fresh supply of TP for cleanup, convenient place to flush evidence...
A portable spank-your-monkey machine, powered by MSN!
Actually, there may be a market for these things...
Sheesh. Unreal had a fantastic storyline, but with this demo, I am not impressed. On the contrary, this demo convinced me to NOT buy the game. Big disappointment.
Something similar to this has been in place for emulation. Check out Console Classix (http://www.consoleclassix.com) for more information.
Change Unchained: New Aliens, New Weapons, New Hairdos, New Mission a TREK "First" Berman Tells TVG
Posted: 12:45:27 on May 01 2003
By: Steve Krutzler
Dept: Enterprise | stenterprise.com
The news about ENTERPRISE's radical new direction for season three is going mainstream in the May 10th issue of TV Guide, according to a press release from the magazine. Executive producer Rick Berman will reveal all new details about the prequel series' finale "The Expanse" and what it means for the third season of the struggling UPN show that TV Guide recently lambasted for lack of imagination (story).
In the season finale, "a mysterious probe from space will blast a swath of destruction across North and Central America, causing epic explosions and annihilating everything between Florida and Venezuela," according to the article. "As viewers will learn, this is a preemptive strike by an alien race known as the Xindi (that's Zin-dee), who have obtained knowledge that Earth will destroy their home world 400 years in the future. The hour ends on a chilling threat of more devastation to come, but this is no mere summer cliff-hanger. In fact, it marks a whole new direction for the series."
Rick Berman says the new direction will be a first for the STAR TREK franchise.
"What we are about to do is a first for STAR TREK," Berman tells TVG. "In the past, our captains have had the general mission to explore outer space and, in the case of Voyager, a mission to find a way back home. But there has never been a Trek series built around a specific mission and specific stakes-in this case, the very future of mankind."
He goes on to say that the new Xindi threat will be the greatest that Captain Archer's Earth will yet have faced.
"We find out that the Xindi space probe was merely a test and that they are creating an even more powerful weapon," Berman says. "It's up to Captain Archer to go there and stop them from destroying us altogether."
TV Guide also reveals new details about the repercussions of the finale for next season, writing that the Enterprise NX-01 will be "retrofitted for war" and that we'll get our first glimpse at the use of photon torpedos in Starfleet's history. Furthermore, the dangerous Delphic Expanse, likened to the Bermuda Triangle, causes those who enter to "become anatomically inverted (skin on the inside, organs on the outside)." Furthermore, even Jolene Blalock's 'T'Pol', as a result of resigning from the Vulcan High Command, "will sport a new cat suit and hairdo next season."
All the grisly details will be on newsstands May 10th.
I don't see a problem with this. AMD will only guarantee its equipment with parts they provide. Use your own parts, and you're responsible for damage. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
Why does it sound like Apple?
Just curious...