an actual theater screen which is however many feet tall and wide
I realize that my situation is a bit unusual, but with an InFocus X1 projector and a decent surround sound system, I end up with a screen that is about twelve feet wide and close enough in experience to a 'real' theater. (It's in my basement, where we can control the ambient light). There is only two reasons we ever go to see a movie in the theater: 1) We're going with a really large group of friends, and everyone lives far enough away from each other that it's more polite to meet at a theater that's closer for the group. (Some live in the city and don't have cars...) 2) It's a movie that we really don't want to wait to arrive on video.
The first couple months that we waited for the release of movies on DVD was disappointing, but once you get 'behind' there's a steady flow of movies coming out on DVD to buy. Now, for half (or even a third) of the cost of a trip to the theater (excluding the purchase of the equipment of course) we get to keep the movie and watch it whenever we like and still see it on a big screen. No driving (especially with Amazon or Netflix), more comfortable seats, better and cheaper food, and parties naturally gravitate to our house.
Dear Lord! A mutually benefitial relationship?!? Call the Peoples Liberation Front of Synergism!
I think you've missed the point here. Open Source is a 'give back as you will' system, not a 'give back as you are able' (within, of course, the restrictions of the GPL or what have you). I personally benefit from Open Souce tremendously- why shouldn't Google be given the same opportunity to benefit from the advantages the it brings? Hell, isn't that open source's main benefit in the first place? What is the point of open source if it comes weighted with so many restrictions that it's free-ness becomes a burden? Google 'Gives Back(tm)' in a number of ways, not the least of which is an excellent search engine that I can use or not use as I see fit.
As far as the Summer of Code goes, I'm sure that not a single one of those people applying was doing so specificly to attract Google's attention. Google has a reputation as an excellent employer for a good reason, and SoC provides an excellent opportunity for people willing to participate.
You feel that the SoC takes advantage of it's applicants? Simple: Don't participate. Or even better, seek funding for your own project somewhere else- perhaps you already have, who knows?
To Chris (the GP): It's good to know there's a job title like yours around Google, and I look forward to seeing many more useful and/or open source releases from you in the future- however, for what you've already done, you have my thanks.
I've always thought that games like Tetris or AstroPop were connected to some inter-galactic internet where we loaded space-cargo for some lazy alien race.
Re:No display tech has the longevity required
on
Video Tombstones
·
· Score: 1
Here's the plan- once all these rich kids are hooked on the video-tombs, we hit 'em with the clincher: Would you like to upgrade to premium display technology? Etched permanently by hand with artful renaissance technology, this beautifully marbled nature-made slab, your tribute will last hundreds to thousands of years (At least fifty times longer!), for only four times the cost!
Yes, there truly are people that will drive this far, many of them every day. I wouldn't say this is regular though, they're obviously crazy. Some (as another reply points out) actually have an apartment or a room rented near the city, and then commute to their 'real' home during the weekend.
There's an island near where I live (Camano Island) where it can take 50 minutes of driving just to get off of the island- I know of one person in particular that would drive from the southern end of the island to Boeing's Everett plant (about 70-80 minutes of drive time), when he was transfered to another plant south of Seattle. Part of the problem is growth. Without a restrictive amount of space to guide building and growth legislation, people sprawl because of high costs of living near the city. My $240,000 home would sell for over a million dollars in the city. Combine that with couples who are willing to over-burden themselves with a huge mortgage and prices for property near the city sky-rockets. People are driven out of the city by their desire to get away from 'city living' and the costs associated with it, but are still tied to the higher-paying jobs the area provides.
I'd leave for the UK and refine my culture and accent, but I'd really miss the place despite all the ignorant, self-righteous, intellectually-incestuous do-gooders. Besides, who'd stay behind to give all these morons a kick in the pants?
'Cause the place is huge, and there is a ton of people here.
What you say is true though, it is far (far, far) from an ideal situation. But when I weight the costs and benefits, it's better for me to put up with the terrible traffic.
However, I wouldn't put up with crappy broadband in a rural area. The situation (at least in this area) has improved a great deal very recently. I have 3Mbps cable for about US$40.00, and 4Mbps or 5Mbps is available, but the difference isn't worth the money to me.
Again this idiotic notion buried in the American psyche that they are first at everything. Canada has far more vast, unpopulated regions than the US could ever possibly hope to have.
At least your vast unpopulated spaces aren't spotted with 500 people crammed around a Walmart (now with McDonalds!) every 150 miles...
If that was the reason, you'd have the same excellent communication infrastructure at least in your major cities and associated suburbs and satellite communities.
I think we do, to some extent. Remember that the money that would be spent to cover major areas so well has to be spread (at least in some small amount) to more rural areas. We still have to connect all these spaced out areas too.
Plus, even our larger cities are huge in comparison. I live in the Seattle area, and even well-populated suburbs don't show up for 20-30 miles outside of the city. Most true rural areas (like my hometown of about 5,000) are fifty miles away or more.
Comparing this to my recent trip to Ireland, my drive from Dublin to Ennistymon is a regular drive to work for many people in my area. (I do realize that I'm showing my lack of knowlege of life outside the States here, to some extent.)
Do you (personally) pronouce it Keh-Bek, or Kwuh-bek? I grew up about an hour from the Canadian border in Washington state, where the best TV signals came from CBC and another station so close to the border it played mostly Canadian content.
I still get weird looks for my pronunciation of caramel and Quebec. Could be worse I guess, I've had to vouch for a friend's explanation of Mr. Dress-up's Tickle Trunk. (Now that was an interesting conversation.)
I'm curious what you think the advantages are to it, honestly. I can understand that it's nice to be guaranteed to get a copy of the game, and that you will only have to make one store trip even if there is a sello-out.
Maybe it all comes down to personal taste then? My willingness to drive to another nearby store if someone doesn't have something?
Publicly deny all possible use of OS X on any non-certified platform, but make it easy to break the protection for any power user that knows what they're getting into.
These customers know enough to take care of themselves, and Apple gets plausable deniability.
Me too... and now this research gives me justification to seek punitive damages against your mom Jubalicious, it doesn't count if you're the one that setup the video camera.
Slashdot Mirror
I realize that my situation is a bit unusual, but with an InFocus X1 projector and a decent surround sound system, I end up with a screen that is about twelve feet wide and close enough in experience to a 'real' theater. (It's in my basement, where we can control the ambient light). There is only two reasons we ever go to see a movie in the theater:
1) We're going with a really large group of friends, and everyone lives far enough away from each other that it's more polite to meet at a theater that's closer for the group. (Some live in the city and don't have cars...)
2) It's a movie that we really don't want to wait to arrive on video.
The first couple months that we waited for the release of movies on DVD was disappointing, but once you get 'behind' there's a steady flow of movies coming out on DVD to buy. Now, for half (or even a third) of the cost of a trip to the theater (excluding the purchase of the equipment of course) we get to keep the movie and watch it whenever we like and still see it on a big screen. No driving (especially with Amazon or Netflix), more comfortable seats, better and cheaper food, and parties naturally gravitate to our house.
Additionally, please format any comments of said tests in a double-spaced Word document in at least 1,500 words. Please cite references!
Thanks again!
I think you've missed the point here. Open Source is a 'give back as you will' system, not a 'give back as you are able' (within, of course, the restrictions of the GPL or what have you). I personally benefit from Open Souce tremendously- why shouldn't Google be given the same opportunity to benefit from the advantages the it brings? Hell, isn't that open source's main benefit in the first place? What is the point of open source if it comes weighted with so many restrictions that it's free-ness becomes a burden? Google 'Gives Back(tm)' in a number of ways, not the least of which is an excellent search engine that I can use or not use as I see fit.
As far as the Summer of Code goes, I'm sure that
not a single one of those people applying was doing so specificly to attract Google's attention. Google has a reputation as an excellent employer for a good reason, and SoC provides an excellent opportunity for people willing to participate.
You feel that the SoC takes advantage of it's applicants? Simple: Don't participate. Or even better, seek funding for your own project somewhere else- perhaps you already have, who knows?
To Chris (the GP): It's good to know there's a job title like yours around Google, and I look forward to seeing many more useful and/or open source releases from you in the future- however, for what you've already done, you have my thanks.
Shhhhhh! I'd like used XBoxen to be 5 for $100 come Christmas time...
At least, there's no reason that's benefitial to the customer.
IIRC, you can play online-games on weekends or some-such with Silver.
I've always thought that games like Tetris or AstroPop were connected to some inter-galactic internet where we loaded space-cargo for some lazy alien race.
Here's the plan- once all these rich kids are hooked on the video-tombs, we hit 'em with the clincher: Would you like to upgrade to premium display technology? Etched permanently by hand with artful renaissance technology, this beautifully marbled nature-made slab, your tribute will last hundreds to thousands of years (At least fifty times longer!), for only four times the cost!
I was thinking myself that this should be coming from the ob-Simpsons-reference-dept
Save your cash! You can get a blow in the alley behind the Paramount now, and for only five bucks!
I've said it before, I'll say it again,
and I'll be modded troll again.
For some reason, after reading this, my head echoed with a lilting:
It codes the PHP with zen,
Or else it gets the hose again!
There's an island near where I live (Camano Island) where it can take 50 minutes of driving just to get off of the island- I know of one person in particular that would drive from the southern end of the island to Boeing's Everett plant (about 70-80 minutes of drive time), when he was transfered to another plant south of Seattle.
Part of the problem is growth. Without a restrictive amount of space to guide building and growth legislation, people sprawl because of high costs of living near the city. My $240,000 home would sell for over a million dollars in the city. Combine that with couples who are willing to over-burden themselves with a huge mortgage and prices for property near the city sky-rockets. People are driven out of the city by their desire to get away from 'city living' and the costs associated with it, but are still tied to the higher-paying jobs the area provides.
Heh :)
I'd leave for the UK and refine my culture and accent, but I'd really miss the place despite all the ignorant, self-righteous, intellectually-incestuous do-gooders. Besides, who'd stay behind to give all these morons a kick in the pants?
'Cause the place is huge, and there is a ton of people here.
What you say is true though, it is far (far, far) from an ideal situation. But when I weight the costs and benefits, it's better for me to put up with the terrible traffic.
However, I wouldn't put up with crappy broadband in a rural area. The situation (at least in this area) has improved a great deal very recently. I have 3Mbps cable for about US$40.00, and 4Mbps or 5Mbps is available, but the difference isn't worth the money to me.
Interesting!
:)
Thanks for the reply
Try this post.
Again this idiotic notion buried in the American psyche that they are first at everything. Canada has far more vast, unpopulated regions than the US could ever possibly hope to have.
At least your vast unpopulated spaces aren't spotted with 500 people crammed around a Walmart (now with McDonalds!) every 150 miles...
If that was the reason, you'd have the same excellent communication infrastructure at least in your major cities and associated suburbs and satellite communities.
I think we do, to some extent. Remember that the money that would be spent to cover major areas so well has to be spread (at least in some small amount) to more rural areas. We still have to connect all these spaced out areas too.
Plus, even our larger cities are huge in comparison. I live in the Seattle area, and even well-populated suburbs don't show up for 20-30 miles outside of the city. Most true rural areas (like my hometown of about 5,000) are fifty miles away or more.
Comparing this to my recent trip to Ireland, my drive from Dublin to Ennistymon is a regular drive to work for many people in my area. (I do realize that I'm showing my lack of knowlege of life outside the States here, to some extent.)
Question:
Do you (personally) pronouce it Keh-Bek, or Kwuh-bek? I grew up about an hour from the Canadian border in Washington state, where the best TV signals came from CBC and another station so close to the border it played mostly Canadian content.
I still get weird looks for my pronunciation of caramel and Quebec. Could be worse I guess, I've had to vouch for a friend's explanation of Mr. Dress-up's Tickle Trunk. (Now that was an interesting conversation.)
Really?
I'm curious what you think the advantages are to it, honestly. I can understand that it's nice to be guaranteed to get a copy of the game, and that you will only have to make one store trip even if there is a sello-out.
Maybe it all comes down to personal taste then? My willingness to drive to another nearby store if someone doesn't have something?
What does this have to do with the cost of running the service?
sell you multiplayer games, and then go and charge you to play your own game on top of that....
See: http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=64
Publicly deny all possible use of OS X on any non-certified platform, but make it easy to break the protection for any power user that knows what they're getting into.
These customers know enough to take care of themselves, and Apple gets plausable deniability.
One of your two examples is Software
Me too... and now this research gives me justification to seek punitive damages against your mom
Jubalicious, it doesn't count if you're the one that setup the video camera.
Isn't this how most software companies work?