but to kklein (from a previous discussion, sorry i don't have another way to respond) - i definitely agree that Tokyo is not Japan! I meant only 1) when people outside of Japan talk about Japan, they often (wrongly) mean Tokyo, and 2) technology is not limited to personal computer technology - Japan uses lots of interesting technology in agriculture, transportation, energy, and communication - and that is not limited to Tokyo.
forgive my off-topicness - but to bring it back, even if just a little... email (if you count SMS) is very very young in Japan, it seems...
I agree, at some level, with a lot of the things in your post. But:
>>Everyone seems to think Japan is this super techno-wonderland. It's not. Not in the way that Westerners assume it is. My toilet washes my butt and my water heater can also fill my tub to a precise depth and temperature and tell me when it's ready. But internet access is a major hassle to set up (see some of my other posts), PC components are so expensive sometimes that I get them cheaper by ordering from the US and paying the international shipping, keitai contracts are even more limited and abusive than the US, and houses aren't heated. In so many ways, Japan is so, so far behind even countries like Korea.
Hmm... at one level, i must agree. Ibaraki-ken, for instance, is not super techno-wonderland. But Tokyo? (and i think Tokyo is what people outside of Japan often mean by "Japan")
I have 100mbit internet to my apartment. I can use the net at a random train station, via wireless to my PSP. And my work is related to more internet bandwidth that most people have seen in their lifetime, combined. (yes, including porn torrents) (more specifically, Tokyo and Osaka combine to form one of, if not singularly, the largest peering points in Eastern Asia)
And that's just super techno-wonderland related to internet... how about all the daily magic that makes Tokyo work? Akiba?
I dunno... sating my technolust is among the top reasons i live here.
Wow... cool. Somehow we went from ghostbusters to secular vs. non-secular (science vs. religion?)... which is kind of a problematic dichotomy. But i like how you sort of turned this on its side a little... knowable vs. unknowable.
When people say "science is a method" - i can't disagree (but i was trained that way). But when people say "science is based on faith" - i think they are not talking about the scientific method (unless they are talking about faith in perception compared to an external reality) - but rather the body of knowledge that the scientific method has brought about, and people's acceptance of that system of knowledge "on faith." People don't replicate every experiment, they trust certain authoritative peoples or texts, and the institution of science (broadly speaking).
Why do you think Japanese phones are nothing like that? I can't watch the video (at work) - but looking at th 20 item list, the only thing my phone isn't: scented.
And i could mod that...
(actually, i don't use most of the ID services, so my phone may be lacking in some of those areas too - but it's also cheap and old)
If there's something particular you want to confirm, i could probably verify for ya.
I think this is close, but not quite right. [bg info, i have only been living in japan for about 2 years, but i have some training in epistemology and cognitive science]
it seems incorrect to say that "it does not even cross the minds" of most people here to take advantage of others. i think it is important to make the distinction that it seems to cross peoples' minds just as often as where i used to live (US, in NJ and OH) - it's just that people know it's wrong, and choose to do the right thing. of course, this is related to your idea of free will and choice.
morality, we would say in English. it may not be the correct meme here though, as organized religion means something altogether much different here - "religion" is something that is generally avoided.
In Japan (well, Tokyo) it is really easy to get a linux pc too. Lots of used pc shops in Akihabara sell a set of systems with Linux - generally Suse or Turbolinux. Otto sells IBM machines with Linux - but i don't know if it was OEM installed.
After a very small random sampling, even the new hardware parts places won't be surprised if you say you're installing linux on some hardware or other.
I don't know what the support is like. I should hit up the Tokyo LUG one of these days... Anybody want to start a Linux OEM shop in Tokyo?;)
To continue your unrelated note: yes, Japan still has hella awesome arcades. Google "Senjou no Kizuna" for an example why. (in brief: the basic game mechanic is something like mechwarrior 2 + multiplayer - nothing new, nothing fancy. but you're in a Gundam cockpit, and your view is a dome screen bigger than you, unless you are very big. generally 4 machines per arcade, 4 vs 4 and 8 vs 8 game inter-arcade game play is the norm, with skill matching. the pilot roster interface is a separate system in the arcade. essentially - you can't replicate this experience at home without a lot of yen.)
aside from game experiences that are separate from console experiences, there is a... sociological aspect to this. i won't dilute the discussion further - but if you are interested let me know, and look into the movie Avalon.
geeks are every where - in every nook and cranny, in every crook and crevice, and yes, even in the myspace. i know at least two geeks on myspace, three if i count. (one hacks web apps and rhythmic noise, the other used to help me build linux servers for gov and vpn boxen for biz)
myspace code sucks. css defeats myspace "style" if one so desires.
ok, i admit it. i was invited by a girl. but she's a geek too.;) - that makes four.
is there a cool SNS? (even mixi is not much better, in a technical sense. but it does reflect a different set of social groups.) my social stat may be a little high for a geek (only since i came to japan), but even with my occasional desire to socialize, no SNS is worth my coding time. there's to much other stuff to do. (like playing with ZFS!)
Yep, i just went from a quarterly account to this new option. It means you get to play the game but only have to pay once, no monthly fee. However, you get no land. (recall that the second part of this update in economics is that the capability to build is tied directly to your ownership of the land) There are public build areas (sandboxes) where you could still build, but there may not be much point as you'll have no where to put the stuff. I suppose this is a good option for those who prefer the Events or just exploring. There is a lot of good content in Secondlife...
I suppose one could build in those areas, and sell to gamers who do have land... (i am not an expert; i'm not sure about that)
It's not a bad system (the overall changes, not just this one-time pay account). If you're good, you can build things that will earn you real money. That's US Dollars, not L$.
If you're curious, download the free trial, try it out for seven days. Talk to actual Linden people in game. Get better data than from a cranky old gamer like me.
Region codes... feh. I just got a flip-top mod for my ps2 (basically it's a new case - no electronics), so i could play the UK version of ICO. It works fine for skipping the region check on PS2 games, but it doesn't work for PS1 games. (i'm using the swap magic discs)
I too would love to play some japanese imports - particularly PS1. I hear that if you boot with a Gameshark 2 disc, it will work... but don't know for sure.
It's been mentioned in passing within this thread, but i think it worth reiterating: i whole heartedly recommend Pikmin. I bought the GC and Pikmin for my lady a while back, so i only play it off and on. (Zelda, for instance.)
But Pikmin... wow - totally caught me off guard - it's a great little game! Rent it first, if you must... but i have yet to meet a "gamer" who tries it and doesn't enjoy it.
My GF also enjoys Animal Crossing (from what i've seen of her play, it doesn't seem much like Harvest Moon at all) and Rayman. Might be worth a rental.
I have a similar setup. I only use PAL to play the UK version of ICO (beautiful game, available US but i wanted the Collector's Edition - give it a try if you haven't and like adventure/puzzle... anyway:)
A great program (open source! but windows only) to do the "full screen preview" is: dScaler
It also deinterlaces the video signal if you want, and has various other nifty filters you can apply.
Get in shape? What are you talking about??? Nerds do not have time for such earthly pursuits. There is only the hardware, the software... the hacking! The things that really matter - not this petty mortal dancing bologna.
How much time do you think Gandalf spends worrying about what he looks like?
Actually, only some parts of the PS2 are encumbered in the Sony environment provided by the Linux kit. The CPU, vector processors, most of the memory, and other juicy bits are directly accessible.
I am extremely interested in knowing through which sources you have reached the conclusion that "it's not "minority" of Muslims who consider terrorism a valid thing, and not a "minority" of their clerics who preach "death to infidels"."
From the numbers i've heard - there are nearly 1.5 billion Muslims in the world. If a majority of them are out to get us (i'm an American)... we might just be in as much trouble as the media portrays.
*note - i do not think a majority of them feel the way you suggest, but i would like to evaluate the sources of your opinion.
First, i don't think many people care about MOO3 all that much - certainly not enough for a corporate name change.:)
Second, MOO3 is GREAT (to me). There's a high learning curve (in that you have to get your mind into the system) - but it's incredibly fun in it's current incarnation. Sure, i'll get the code patch when it comes out - but i love this game even without the data patch that's already out.
Lots of people gave, what seems to me, instant reactions to a hard core strategy game. But if you spend some time with it (which i was only willing to do because of MOO and MOO2), there is a true beauty to be found there.
It's not easy. Games can easily last an order of magnitude (in hours) longer than a *craft, etc., type of game. But it's fun! (again, imho)
Lots of people agree with me, though they don't seem to have popular websites to broadcast their opinion on.:) (perhaps... they're too busy becoming Master of Orion! or not.)
Re:Real gamers use Win32, not linux
on
Mesa 5.0 Released
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· Score: 1
Last time i checked, the Driver Development Kit is no longer free. It's not expensive (relatively... just shipping), but you can't download it anymore.
i am have worked for corporate America in IT for about a decade now. If there was no RedHat - i would not have been able to convince even one of my bosses to let me put Linux on a server. Since i had RedHat to point to, i was able to convert a relatively significant amount of businesses and government offices in this area to Linux. I was able to get in the paper a couple times, in the business section, and evangelize a bit.
Also, i have used RedHat's support and have never had a problem with their language skills. Though, for disclosure's sake, i'm pretty good at wading through "accents." (or rather, i don't always notice them)
One thing for Microsoft is that their support is great, and i can't say that RedHat's is better or worse... except that community support for Linux is superior.
Quite honestly, RedHat specifies what their OS is compatible with (HCLs), and if you're in a corporate environment you check the HCL before you load the OS. You don't get support unless you're on a supported config, etc. etc.
This post is so dry (i would normally do something about it). doomo sumimasen
Almost... The EE is: one MIPS CPU, COP1 (FPU), COP2 (VPU0), VPU1, the GIF, plus DMAC, IPU, i/o, main memory interface, etc.
Both VPUs consist of: VU, data memory, and a data decompression engine. Both VPUs can handle integers. (microinstructions IADD*, IAND, IOR, ISUB*)
However, VU1 is indeed different from VU0. It only operates in micro mode (ie, not as a coprocessor to the CPU). It also has more memory (both data and program) and an EFU (exponential and trig functions). Realize though, VU0 can operate in micromode as well, and thus has both program and data memory itself.
But the thing about it is... VPU0 is coupled with the CPU, while VPU1 is coupled with the GS through the GIF. (graphic synthesizer and its interface) The transfer between VU1 and the GIF is the highest priority transfer of the PS2.
It is a glorious architecture. I realize you can't see that from the little i have described here. Ars Technica had a couple articles a while ago; PS2 vs. PC (system level comparison) and an overview of the EE. They were written... well, a while ago. Perhaps even before the PS2 was in production - but they do catch the beauty of the EE.
It really is a better way of computing, for "dynamic applications." (better than the PC architecture) PCs still rule for word processors though...
A storm approaches, and i have no UPS. Please forgive any lack of polish - i fear losing this post to preview alone.
"Communications would spread propaganda--the "Big Lie"--and electronics would be used for surveillance and thought control."
This article is such a communication. Sadly, there are those in this country (the U.S.) that would welcome the "safety" of an Orwellian state... and those that would spread propaganda to bring it about.
Why is it not acceptable? He wants a standard distribution of files across the various *nix directory layouts; OS and vendor agnostic. If you don't like it, you have the power to change it. All he asks is that you have a separate patch that does so, thus end users don't think that he's the one throwing files every which way. Another post spoke of this "hole" in his license - it's not a hole, exactly... perhaps concession is more correct. It's been talked about often within the djbware mailing lists.
Now... there's nothing wrong with complaining about this kind of thing. Perhaps, for some, this restriction in freedom is too much. For me, it is a petty price to pay (say that thrice fast:) for dns server, cache, mta and mailing list software that works. I mean it REALLY WORKS. Using BIND is like using visual basic. Using djbware is like using C++ (or C, if that's your pleasure).
[ To blow a huge gaping hole in every atheist's personal beliefs and theories... ]
God == the Universe... an concept many have no doubt considered. Many atheists even. How does it blow a hole in an atheist's beliefs though? Couldn't it just be that 'god == universe' means a lot of people who don't want to use the specifics (that is, math) use god as a metaphor for that which they don't understand? It would seem to me that an atheist who agrees 'god == universe' is just saying "Ok, since you don't want try for a deeper understanding of what's going on in this world that we perceive, you can call math + science god, if you want."
Well, that's the way i look at it anyway... at least sometimes.
Slashdot Mirror
apologies for offtopic post,
but to kklein (from a previous discussion, sorry i don't have another way to respond) - i definitely agree that Tokyo is not Japan! I meant only 1) when people outside of Japan talk about Japan, they often (wrongly) mean Tokyo, and 2) technology is not limited to personal computer technology - Japan uses lots of interesting technology in agriculture, transportation, energy, and communication - and that is not limited to Tokyo.
forgive my off-topicness - but to bring it back, even if just a little... email (if you count SMS) is very very young in Japan, it seems...
I agree, at some level, with a lot of the things in your post. But:
>>Everyone seems to think Japan is this super techno-wonderland. It's not. Not in the way that Westerners assume it is. My toilet washes my butt and my water heater can also fill my tub to a precise depth and temperature and tell me when it's ready. But internet access is a major hassle to set up (see some of my other posts), PC components are so expensive sometimes that I get them cheaper by ordering from the US and paying the international shipping, keitai contracts are even more limited and abusive than the US, and houses aren't heated. In so many ways, Japan is so, so far behind even countries like Korea.
Hmm... at one level, i must agree. Ibaraki-ken, for instance, is not super techno-wonderland. But Tokyo? (and i think Tokyo is what people outside of Japan often mean by "Japan")
I have 100mbit internet to my apartment. I can use the net at a random train station, via wireless to my PSP. And my work is related to more internet bandwidth that most people have seen in their lifetime, combined. (yes, including porn torrents) (more specifically, Tokyo and Osaka combine to form one of, if not singularly, the largest peering points in Eastern Asia)
And that's just super techno-wonderland related to internet... how about all the daily magic that makes Tokyo work? Akiba?
I dunno... sating my technolust is among the top reasons i live here.
Wow... cool. Somehow we went from ghostbusters to secular vs. non-secular (science vs. religion?)... which is kind of a problematic dichotomy. But i like how you sort of turned this on its side a little... knowable vs. unknowable.
When people say "science is a method" - i can't disagree (but i was trained that way). But when people say "science is based on faith" - i think they are not talking about the scientific method (unless they are talking about faith in perception compared to an external reality) - but rather the body of knowledge that the scientific method has brought about, and people's acceptance of that system of knowledge "on faith." People don't replicate every experiment, they trust certain authoritative peoples or texts, and the institution of science (broadly speaking).
I do it, unless i'm feeling contrary.
Aside... is god non-computable?
Why do you think Japanese phones are nothing like that? I can't watch the video (at work) - but looking at th 20 item list, the only thing my phone isn't: scented.
And i could mod that...
(actually, i don't use most of the ID services, so my phone may be lacking in some of those areas too - but it's also cheap and old)
If there's something particular you want to confirm, i could probably verify for ya.
I think this is close, but not quite right.
[bg info, i have only been living in japan for about 2 years, but i have some training in epistemology and cognitive science]
it seems incorrect to say that "it does not even cross the minds" of most people here to take advantage of others. i think it is important to make the distinction that it seems to cross peoples' minds just as often as where i used to live (US, in NJ and OH) - it's just that people know it's wrong, and choose to do the right thing. of course, this is related to your idea of free will and choice.
morality, we would say in English. it may not be the correct meme here though, as organized religion means something altogether much different here - "religion" is something that is generally avoided.
In Japan (well, Tokyo) it is really easy to get a linux pc too. Lots of used pc shops in Akihabara sell a set of systems with Linux - generally Suse or Turbolinux. Otto sells IBM machines with Linux - but i don't know if it was OEM installed.
;)
After a very small random sampling, even the new hardware parts places won't be surprised if you say you're installing linux on some hardware or other.
I don't know what the support is like. I should hit up the Tokyo LUG one of these days... Anybody want to start a Linux OEM shop in Tokyo?
To continue your unrelated note: yes, Japan still has hella awesome arcades. Google "Senjou no Kizuna" for an example why. (in brief: the basic game mechanic is something like mechwarrior 2 + multiplayer - nothing new, nothing fancy. but you're in a Gundam cockpit, and your view is a dome screen bigger than you, unless you are very big. generally 4 machines per arcade, 4 vs 4 and 8 vs 8 game inter-arcade game play is the norm, with skill matching. the pilot roster interface is a separate system in the arcade. essentially - you can't replicate this experience at home without a lot of yen.)
aside from game experiences that are separate from console experiences, there is a... sociological aspect to this. i won't dilute the discussion further - but if you are interested let me know, and look into the movie Avalon.
geeks are every where - in every nook and cranny, in every crook and crevice, and yes, even in the myspace. i know at least two geeks on myspace, three if i count. (one hacks web apps and rhythmic noise, the other used to help me build linux servers for gov and vpn boxen for biz)
;) - that makes four.
myspace code sucks. css defeats myspace "style" if one so desires.
ok, i admit it. i was invited by a girl. but she's a geek too.
is there a cool SNS? (even mixi is not much better, in a technical sense. but it does reflect a different set of social groups.) my social stat may be a little high for a geek (only since i came to japan), but even with my occasional desire to socialize, no SNS is worth my coding time. there's to much other stuff to do. (like playing with ZFS!)
Yep, i just went from a quarterly account to this new option. It means you get to play the game but only have to pay once, no monthly fee. However, you get no land. (recall that the second part of this update in economics is that the capability to build is tied directly to your ownership of the land) There are public build areas (sandboxes) where you could still build, but there may not be much point as you'll have no where to put the stuff. I suppose this is a good option for those who prefer the Events or just exploring. There is a lot of good content in Secondlife...
I suppose one could build in those areas, and sell to gamers who do have land... (i am not an expert; i'm not sure about that)
It's not a bad system (the overall changes, not just this one-time pay account). If you're good, you can build things that will earn you real money. That's US Dollars, not L$.
If you're curious, download the free trial, try it out for seven days. Talk to actual Linden people in game. Get better data than from a cranky old gamer like me.
-s
Region codes... feh. I just got a flip-top mod for my ps2 (basically it's a new case - no electronics), so i could play the UK version of ICO. It works fine for skipping the region check on PS2 games, but it doesn't work for PS1 games. (i'm using the swap magic discs)
I too would love to play some japanese imports - particularly PS1. I hear that if you boot with a Gameshark 2 disc, it will work... but don't know for sure.
It's been mentioned in passing within this thread, but i think it worth reiterating: i whole heartedly recommend Pikmin. I bought the GC and Pikmin for my lady a while back, so i only play it off and on. (Zelda, for instance.)
But Pikmin... wow - totally caught me off guard - it's a great little game! Rent it first, if you must... but i have yet to meet a "gamer" who tries it and doesn't enjoy it.
My GF also enjoys Animal Crossing (from what i've seen of her play, it doesn't seem much like Harvest Moon at all) and Rayman. Might be worth a rental.
I have a similar setup. I only use PAL to play the UK version of ICO (beautiful game, available US but i wanted the Collector's Edition - give it a try if you haven't and like adventure/puzzle... anyway:)
A great program (open source! but windows only) to do the "full screen preview" is: dScaler It also deinterlaces the video signal if you want, and has various other nifty filters you can apply.
Get in shape? What are you talking about??? Nerds do not have time for such earthly pursuits. There is only the hardware, the software... the hacking! The things that really matter - not this petty mortal dancing bologna.
How much time do you think Gandalf spends worrying about what he looks like?
^_^
Actually, only some parts of the PS2 are encumbered in the Sony environment provided by the Linux kit. The CPU, vector processors, most of the memory, and other juicy bits are directly accessible.
Try it, you'll like it!
sili
I am extremely interested in knowing through which sources you have reached the conclusion that "it's not "minority" of Muslims who consider terrorism a valid thing, and not a "minority" of their clerics who preach "death to infidels"."
From the numbers i've heard - there are nearly 1.5 billion Muslims in the world. If a majority of them are out to get us (i'm an American)... we might just be in as much trouble as the media portrays.
*note - i do not think a majority of them feel the way you suggest, but i would like to evaluate the sources of your opinion.
First, i don't think many people care about MOO3 all that much - certainly not enough for a corporate name change. :)
:) (perhaps... they're too busy becoming Master of Orion! or not.)
Second, MOO3 is GREAT (to me). There's a high learning curve (in that you have to get your mind into the system) - but it's incredibly fun in it's current incarnation. Sure, i'll get the code patch when it comes out - but i love this game even without the data patch that's already out.
Lots of people gave, what seems to me, instant reactions to a hard core strategy game. But if you spend some time with it (which i was only willing to do because of MOO and MOO2), there is a true beauty to be found there.
It's not easy. Games can easily last an order of magnitude (in hours) longer than a *craft, etc., type of game. But it's fun! (again, imho)
Lots of people agree with me, though they don't seem to have popular websites to broadcast their opinion on.
Last time i checked, the Driver Development Kit is no longer free. It's not expensive (relatively... just shipping), but you can't download it anymore.
http://www.microsoft.com/ddk/
Why did they do that? Beats me.
silic
So the next question is... how do we make "doing what's right" popular?
Just to provide a dissenting viewpoint:
i am have worked for corporate America in IT for about a decade now. If there was no RedHat - i would not have been able to convince even one of my bosses to let me put Linux on a server. Since i had RedHat to point to, i was able to convert a relatively significant amount of businesses and government offices in this area to Linux. I was able to get in the paper a couple times, in the business section, and evangelize a bit.
Also, i have used RedHat's support and have never had a problem with their language skills. Though, for disclosure's sake, i'm pretty good at wading through "accents." (or rather, i don't always notice them)
One thing for Microsoft is that their support is great, and i can't say that RedHat's is better or worse... except that community support for Linux is superior.
Quite honestly, RedHat specifies what their OS is compatible with (HCLs), and if you're in a corporate environment you check the HCL before you load the OS. You don't get support unless you're on a supported config, etc. etc.
This post is so dry (i would normally do something about it). doomo sumimasen
siliC
Almost... The EE is: one MIPS CPU, COP1 (FPU), COP2 (VPU0), VPU1, the GIF, plus DMAC, IPU, i/o, main memory interface, etc.
Both VPUs consist of: VU, data memory, and a data decompression engine. Both VPUs can handle integers. (microinstructions IADD*, IAND, IOR, ISUB*)
However, VU1 is indeed different from VU0. It only operates in micro mode (ie, not as a coprocessor to the CPU). It also has more memory (both data and program) and an EFU (exponential and trig functions). Realize though, VU0 can operate in micromode as well, and thus has both program and data memory itself.
But the thing about it is... VPU0 is coupled with the CPU, while VPU1 is coupled with the GS through the GIF. (graphic synthesizer and its interface) The transfer between VU1 and the GIF is the highest priority transfer of the PS2.
It is a glorious architecture. I realize you can't see that from the little i have described here. Ars Technica had a couple articles a while ago; PS2 vs. PC (system level comparison) and an overview of the EE. They were written... well, a while ago. Perhaps even before the PS2 was in production - but they do catch the beauty of the EE.
It really is a better way of computing, for "dynamic applications." (better than the PC architecture) PCs still rule for word processors though...
A storm approaches, and i have no UPS. Please forgive any lack of polish - i fear losing this post to preview alone.
"Communications would spread propaganda--the "Big Lie"--and electronics would be used for surveillance and thought control."
This article is such a communication. Sadly, there are those in this country (the U.S.) that would welcome the "safety" of an Orwellian state... and those that would spread propaganda to bring it about.
Why is it not acceptable? He wants a standard distribution of files across the various *nix directory layouts; OS and vendor agnostic. If you don't like it, you have the power to change it. All he asks is that you have a separate patch that does so, thus end users don't think that he's the one throwing files every which way. Another post spoke of this "hole" in his license - it's not a hole, exactly... perhaps concession is more correct. It's been talked about often within the djbware mailing lists.
:) for dns server, cache, mta and mailing list software that works. I mean it REALLY WORKS. Using BIND is like using visual basic. Using djbware is like using C++ (or C, if that's your pleasure).
Now... there's nothing wrong with complaining about this kind of thing. Perhaps, for some, this restriction in freedom is too much. For me, it is a petty price to pay (say that thrice fast
JMHO.
[ To blow a huge gaping hole in every atheist's personal beliefs and theories... ]
God == the Universe... an concept many have no doubt considered. Many atheists even. How does it blow a hole in an atheist's beliefs though? Couldn't it just be that 'god == universe' means a lot of people who don't want to use the specifics (that is, math) use god as a metaphor for that which they don't understand? It would seem to me that an atheist who agrees 'god == universe' is just saying "Ok, since you don't want try for a deeper understanding of what's going on in this world that we perceive, you can call math + science god, if you want."
Well, that's the way i look at it anyway... at least sometimes.