Big G, Newton's Constant for Universal Gravitation has been under much controversy this century. They sceintific community has been scrutinizing this number for quite some time, mostly due to the fact that there are too many uncertainites in the theory, (ie. All the Matter in the Universe) and that it is very hard to reproduce the experiment in the most ideal conditions.
This of course has had it's ramifications in the modern view of the Universe. See this Slashdot Story, and the recent developments which suggest that is it "flat".
What I say is, this is a good start, but we have a long way to go.
AND, does this also include the all ellusive, but ever present Dark Matter in the calculation? It's 95% of the universe, you know.... *Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
Spectrographic Analysis has already determined this years ago. And as mentioned, it's the Begining of the CNO Cycle: Carbon, Nitrogen and Oxygen.
In this theory, Stars produce every element on the Periodic Table, up to Iron. While Supernovae produce the heavier elements which in turn deposit into dust clouds and then produce more stars and planetary debris.
The way mass merchandised software is produced today, the public just swallows it, because it's NEW!
"Windows 2000, I have to have it"
I remember back several years ago, when this new revolutionary Windows 95 was being released, people were floccking to the stores getting in line so they could have it FIRST.
Do THESE people care how many bugs there are?
I've always had a beef for commercial software. It was ORIGINALLY designed to be a shortcut for those who didn't know how to code the application themselves.
The only think I can think of, but cannot say, is "Well, this is software that you bought, of course it is not going to do what you want, because YOU didn't create it."
(That was probably off-topic, but I digress)
Back to WIN2K. Like some of the above write-ups are stating, the public will not care if there are PUBLISHED bugs, defects, etc.
There will STILL be people lining the malls, shopping centers, and Software Outlets just to get this defective, bug filled Operating System on their machine.
Just because, the computer public is the computer public. They eat this stuff up and complain about it later.
Bill Gates.... he's a genius, he has marketed to the Lowest Common Denominator. *Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
If anyone has every worked in a Technical Support Capacity, especially in a large Cubicle Jungle, one soon realizes that MOST of the Technical Support humor in UserFriendly is TRUE!!!!
Granted, I love my job, I love solving problems and giving our customer's the security they need to sleep at night, knowing that their financial data for the past 5 years is not ruined. But there is a side of the job where one needs to laugh at the circumstances.
Tech Rep: "Ma'am, do you still have the box your computer came in?"
Customer: "Why, yes I do, I keep all my unopened manuals in there."
Tech Rep: "What you need to do, ma'am, is get that box, put your computer back in, and ship it back to the company with a note saying that you are too stupid to use a computer."
On the true end of things, I have taken all of the funny UFie Tech Support Cartoons (and some personal favorites) and hung them on my cubicle walls. I have become a mecca to some of my co-workers who need a good laugh.
But, I can see why some would not find it funny, but to attack it as this article did, was uncalled for. Humor comes in many levels, and personally, this is what gets me through my day. *Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
This is old news to the Astronomy Community. Until recently, the Universe was thought as closed (or that it will slow and contract back as Energy dictates). Recently, with deep space observations with a larger array of data to work with, Astronomers have calculated that the Universe it Open (under constant accelleration and would not slow down). This baffled much of the scientific community for awhile and soon lots of theories about a variable speed of light arose. (I think this appeared in the December 1998 issue of Scientific American, a summary of the Special Report exists here.) This latest observation, though as limited as it is, makes some sense that it is a balancing compromise between two seperate observations/beliefs. I can't say which is true, or which is false, just that it fits with everything else that has been said. *Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
Though this is probably one story in a billion, I was affiliated with a site called xfiles.com, in which X-Files fans could gather, talk and trade files on their favorite TV show.
The Fox Network soon saw upset that xfiles.com existed and wanted the domain name.
The webmaster, whom I worked under, fought hard, and he retold his story Here.
The eventual downfall came when Fox threatened to litigate in expensive lawsuits. My boss had the legal right, but the big money of FOX could muscle his middle class income into poverty with just one legal battle.
So we caved, and created Chatphiles.com instead. *Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
I must also concur to this assessment that it's already begun.
Two Years ago, QuickBooks changed their policy of using Netscape as their included Web Browser, in their Version 5.0, to IE. Now, Intuit has released both Version 6.0 and Version 99 of Quickbooks with Microsoft Internet Explorer actually imbedded into the Quickbooks Software, and from what I hear, QuickBooks 2000 uses a seemless integration of internet and desktop software in it's operation.
Intuit has not shown signs of changing their policy again, at least not in the near future.
From what I understand, when Version 5.0 was released, Netscape had lacked several integration features that were key to Quickbooks' Online features, and the software stuck. (I do not believe that it was due to a political/economic reason.)
CowboyNeal HAS to be Tom Servo in disguise. Now that MST3K is off the air, and is out of work, Servo went to work for BSI and his smooth radio voice put him in such high standings on Geeks in Space.
As a Tech Rep for Quickbooks, I know that the "company line" is that it only works under Windows and Mac. (Though some have gotten it to work under a Linux/Samba Network (but that took some imagination)) I have not personally tried to work Quickbooks under any other platform, including WINE, but I DO know that there is a plan in the works for later versions of the program (Quicken also) to work under a Linux Kernel.
Stay tuned for more details. *Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
If you look for yourself, it is indeed refreshing to have some Geek Humor in this paper, and it is something to smile about in the morning, which, I'm sorry to say, cannot be said about the other comic stips.
I was, indeed, pleased to see this article on Slashdot.
I believe the best use of the mysterious hook on the Swiss Army Knife (Champ models and up) is the the emergency use, in case you are in a bind, and need to escape from an above ground structure.
Example, it could be used to maneuver down a zipline.
This is, of course, written in all sarcasm. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!
Looking back on the history of civilization and specifically the advancements of science and Technology, I rarely find a public institution, or civil government acting as a driver, or even a source.
NASA is such an institution. (Granted, NASA took us to the moon and lifted us out of the Atmosphere, but what ELSE has it done?)
Back in the day, when a new technology was created, it wasn't the "inventor" that banked off of it. See the Lightbulb, the Printing Press, the Railroad, the automobile..., but rather it was commercialized industries and markets that not onlky banked on the invention/discovery but made measurable advancements on those inventions and discoveries, and would reap the benefits and latter discoveries of such ventures.
Commercial industries would find ways to make the same product, perform better, with less cost. That is what they do. Because it's their money. As opposed to NASA which has a budget of someone else's money, mainly the American Taxpayer.
Being a scientist, I've always applauded when the Republican Congress cut funding for NASA and SETI, because frankly, I don't like seeing a scientific institution under the control of a civil authority, there are too many parrallels of when the Roman Catholic Church controlled the scientific institution, and things like a geocentric universe were upheld as truth.
But that is another dissertation.
But try an imagine a world where privitized organizations are using space technologies, which are made more availiable, or even "Open Source" for all to use, if they have the means to do so, where they reap what they sow, (meaning if they do it well, they profit, if they do it poorly, they fail) where they consumer decides.
If that was the case, we'd be colonizing Mars by now. (If you doubt, remember that North America was initially colonized for economic gain.) *Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
From this Field reporter's personal experience, all employees had to sign an agreement that ALL calls, voice mail, E-mail, Webbrowsing, etc, would be monitored. (And this is typical to most networked corporations and companies). I have a feeling that your organization has the same policy.
Carlosian Advice: Follow your orders, your concerns for privacy do not apply here, since there is no privacy that you possess to be concerned with.
And typically, anyone who is foolish enough to use a company server (or any server for that matter) to relay unencripted private correspondance is simply tempting fate, and deserves what is comming to them.
We, in Tucson, accept your wrath. (Gain Tech is a pretty big name around here, in terms of technology (amoungst others)). And they are probably working with some Microwave Astronomers at the Universtiy of Arizona (who have a corner market on "piping" Mircowaves. But it will not be long before this lecks out to the rest of the planet.
But now I know it was a good move to reside in the Sonoran Desert. *Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
Hughes Missle Systems are now Raytheon and they have been hiring CS Geeks, (not to mention Aerospace Engineering and Physics Geeks) by the truck load here in Tucson. Lots of future opportunity here as well, if you don't mind the idea of being a Geek of Defence. *Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
Though I'm not too thrilled with the University Networks (way too much downtime for anyone's liking). The University of Arizona does have a full graduate program in the Computer Science Department. This Website should tell you more then I would be able to do.
Enjoy!
P.S. Plus with the advances of Optical Sciences and Optical Engineering in the Computing Industry, Tucson, Arizona looks to be the next home to data storage, due to the fact of the monopoly it has in Optical Engieering. (Some free food for thought.)
There are several companies looking to "Bank" on the bulk of the postal mail delivered today. I cannot quote the exact number, but it is very believeable that over 70% of the Postal Mail in the United States is the sending or a payment of a bill.
As Online banking takes it's hold (as it has already begun doing) Intuit is responding with software like Quicken, Quickbooks, and Turbo Tax. (Along with a small Redmond Ba$ed Company). And it has become a goal of these companies to absorb the bulk of this large portion of postal mail usage. (And with the resources that that are inplace, online checking is on the verge of dawning on the electronic finance field.)
My timetable for a purely electronic mail system is quite short (at least for my position) - since bills are the only thing that I use postage stamps for.
This little factoid has been known to me, and my Astronomy Associates in Tucson AZ for some time now. For those of you who do not know, Tucson AZ is perhaps the Astronomy Captital of the World, with Kitt Peak National Observatory in our back-yard and perhaps the highest per capita population of Astronomers (especially Ph.D.s) in the World.
I'm mostly Familiar with Steward Observatory and the University of ArizonaDepartment of Astronomy. There, we primarily use Sun Workstation and the IRAF project, while most of the software applications revolve around FORTRAN Language, due to the industry standard in the Astronomy Community. I know from personal experience, that Linux Platforms like Red Hat and Caldera are often "passed" around from office to office and home to home so that the PC fleet can network to the Unix severs and scientists can do a majority of their Data reduction at the comfort of their home or Office PC and not some slow terminal connection.
Also on the horizon, the Astronomy community is eager to network everything together (with security and what-knot, so that some hacker kid can't get access to the HST) so that the Astronomer doing research can sit in his lab/office and do his research over a computer connection, rather then spend his precious time in an observatory maneuvering the Telescope and doing menial tasks of adaptive optics and taking dark images to adapt for errors in the telescope, that could easily be done remotely. All the while, while porting Unix software like qphot, emacs, super mongo, and IRAF to their Linux PC and working with their data instantly.
That ends this report from the field, this is BaronCarlos. *Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
Slashdot Mirror
This of course has had it's ramifications in the modern view of the Universe. See this Slashdot Story, and the recent developments which suggest that is it "flat".
What I say is, this is a good start, but we have a long way to go.
AND, does this also include the all ellusive, but ever present Dark Matter in the calculation?
It's 95% of the universe, you know....
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
Geeks in Space just score 5 more points in culture, and 3 for style.
It was great, it was powerful, and spontaneous.
Carlos loved it!!!
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
In this theory, Stars produce every element on the Periodic Table, up to Iron. While Supernovae produce the heavier elements which in turn deposit into dust clouds and then produce more stars and planetary debris.
Information exists on the NASA Observatorium
The process is called Nucleosynthesis.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
So historicly, the State of Michigan has been the GOP's Backyard.
.... Just to answer a question.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
The way mass merchandised software is produced today, the public just swallows it, because it's NEW!
"Windows 2000, I have to have it"
I remember back several years ago, when this new revolutionary Windows 95 was being released, people were floccking to the stores getting in line so they could have it FIRST.
Do THESE people care how many bugs there are?
I've always had a beef for commercial software. It was ORIGINALLY designed to be a shortcut for those who didn't know how to code the application themselves.
Now it's the norm...
Now, I can sit in a Technical Support Cubicle in the Cubicle Jungles of a not-so-small software organization based in San Diego and listen to people whine and complain about what this Software can or can't do.
The only think I can think of, but cannot say, is "Well, this is software that you bought, of course it is not going to do what you want, because YOU didn't create it."
(That was probably off-topic, but I digress)
Back to WIN2K. Like some of the above write-ups are stating, the public will not care if there are PUBLISHED bugs, defects, etc.
There will STILL be people lining the malls, shopping centers, and Software Outlets just to get this defective, bug filled Operating System on their machine.
Just because, the computer public is the computer public. They eat this stuff up and complain about it later.
Bill Gates.... he's a genius, he has marketed to the Lowest Common Denominator.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
Along this same analogy:
Rob is Crow
and Jeff is Joel.
Any MST3K fan would agree that all the characters are lovable, but all still have their favorite.
Tom Servo, and CowboyNeal, are both super sarcastic, in the passive sense.
He's the thinking man's comic.
We love that.
Another great episode.
And E-mail is being sent.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
Granted, I love my job, I love solving problems and giving our customer's the security they need to sleep at night, knowing that their financial data for the past 5 years is not ruined. But there is a side of the job where one needs to laugh at the circumstances.
Tech Rep: "Ma'am, do you still have the box your computer came in?"
Customer: "Why, yes I do, I keep all my unopened manuals in there."
Tech Rep: "What you need to do, ma'am, is get that box, put your computer back in, and ship it back to the company with a note saying that you are too stupid to use a computer."
On the true end of things, I have taken all of the funny UFie Tech Support Cartoons (and some personal favorites) and hung them on my cubicle walls. I have become a mecca to some of my co-workers who need a good laugh.
ie.
June 13, 1998
June 14, 1998
But, I can see why some would not find it funny, but to attack it as this article did, was uncalled for. Humor comes in many levels, and personally, this is what gets me through my day.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
Can you guys check it, I cannot from my present location.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
Until recently, the Universe was thought as closed (or that it will slow and contract back as Energy dictates).
Recently, with deep space observations with a larger array of data to work with, Astronomers have calculated that the Universe it Open (under constant accelleration and would not slow down). This baffled much of the scientific community for awhile and soon lots of theories about a variable speed of light arose. (I think this appeared in the December 1998 issue of Scientific American, a summary of the Special Report exists here.)
This latest observation, though as limited as it is, makes some sense that it is a balancing compromise between two seperate observations/beliefs.
I can't say which is true, or which is false, just that it fits with everything else that has been said.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
The Fox Network soon saw upset that xfiles.com existed and wanted the domain name.
The webmaster, whom I worked under, fought hard, and he retold his story Here.
The eventual downfall came when Fox threatened to litigate in expensive lawsuits. My boss had the legal right, but the big money of FOX could muscle his middle class income into poverty with just one legal battle.
So we caved, and created Chatphiles.com instead.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
Or is he a Muppet?
Or is he both?
In reguards to alter egos, I think BaronCarlos has enough of them to keep his dysfunctional mind occupied for the rest of the millenium.
Great Show guys, keep it up.
Perhaps in next week's show you could use the background noise in MST3K format and really go.
Hemos: Joel
CmdrTaco: Crow
CowboyNeal: Tom Servo
T'would be great laughs.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
Two Years ago, QuickBooks changed their policy of using Netscape as their included Web Browser, in their Version 5.0, to IE.
Now, Intuit has released both Version 6.0 and Version 99 of Quickbooks with Microsoft Internet Explorer actually imbedded into the Quickbooks Software, and from what I hear, QuickBooks 2000 uses a seemless integration of internet and desktop software in it's operation.
Intuit has not shown signs of changing their policy again, at least not in the near future.
From what I understand, when Version 5.0 was released, Netscape had lacked several integration features that were key to Quickbooks' Online features, and the software stuck. (I do not believe that it was due to a political/economic reason.)
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
CowboyNeal HAS to be Tom Servo in disguise. Now that MST3K is off the air, and is out of work, Servo went to work for BSI and his smooth radio voice put him in such high standings on Geeks in Space.
That can be the only conclusion.
Aside: What boat do you use in HydroThunder?
I use Tidal Blade myself.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
I have not personally tried to work Quickbooks under any other platform, including WINE, but I DO know that there is a plan in the works for later versions of the program (Quicken also) to work under a Linux Kernel.
Stay tuned for more details.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
If you look for yourself, it is indeed refreshing to have some Geek Humor in this paper, and it is something to smile about in the morning, which, I'm sorry to say, cannot be said about the other comic stips.
I was, indeed, pleased to see this article on Slashdot.
Kudos!
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
I see him, just sitting there, handing out his side comments, and getting the laughs.
(Mind you, I LIKED Tom Servo from MST3K)
And he even has the voice!
Kudos!
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
Example, it could be used to maneuver down a zipline.
This is, of course, written in all sarcasm.
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
NASA is such an institution. (Granted, NASA took us to the moon and lifted us out of the Atmosphere, but what ELSE has it done?)
Back in the day, when a new technology was created, it wasn't the "inventor" that banked off of it. See the Lightbulb, the Printing Press, the Railroad, the automobile..., but rather it was commercialized industries and markets that not onlky banked on the invention/discovery but made measurable advancements on those inventions and discoveries, and would reap the benefits and latter discoveries of such ventures.
Commercial industries would find ways to make the same product, perform better, with less cost. That is what they do. Because it's their money.
As opposed to NASA which has a budget of someone else's money, mainly the American Taxpayer.
Being a scientist, I've always applauded when the Republican Congress cut funding for NASA and SETI, because frankly, I don't like seeing a scientific institution under the control of a civil authority, there are too many parrallels of when the Roman Catholic Church controlled the scientific institution, and things like a geocentric universe were upheld as truth.
But that is another dissertation.
But try an imagine a world where privitized organizations are using space technologies, which are made more availiable, or even "Open Source" for all to use, if they have the means to do so, where they reap what they sow, (meaning if they do it well, they profit, if they do it poorly, they fail) where they consumer decides.
If that was the case, we'd be colonizing Mars by now. (If you doubt, remember that North America was initially colonized for economic gain.)
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
Carlosian Advice: Follow your orders, your concerns for privacy do not apply here, since there is no privacy that you possess to be concerned with.
And typically, anyone who is foolish enough to use a company server (or any server for that matter) to relay unencripted private correspondance is simply tempting fate, and deserves what is comming to them.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
But now I know it was a good move to reside in the Sonoran Desert.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
Enjoy!
P.S. Plus with the advances of Optical Sciences and Optical Engineering in the Computing Industry, Tucson, Arizona looks to be the next home to data storage, due to the fact of the monopoly it has in Optical Engieering. (Some free food for thought.)
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
As Online banking takes it's hold (as it has already begun doing) Intuit is responding with software like Quicken, Quickbooks, and Turbo Tax. (Along with a small Redmond Ba$ed Company). And it has become a goal of these companies to absorb the bulk of this large portion of postal mail usage. (And with the resources that that are inplace, online checking is on the verge of dawning on the electronic finance field.)
My timetable for a purely electronic mail system is quite short (at least for my position) - since bills are the only thing that I use postage stamps for.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
For those of you who do not know, Tucson AZ is perhaps the Astronomy Captital of the World, with Kitt Peak National Observatory in our back-yard and perhaps the highest per capita population of Astronomers (especially Ph.D.s) in the World.
I'm mostly Familiar with Steward Observatory and the University of Arizona Department of Astronomy. There, we primarily use Sun Workstation and the IRAF project, while most of the software applications revolve around FORTRAN Language, due to the industry standard in the Astronomy Community.
I know from personal experience, that Linux Platforms like Red Hat and Caldera are often "passed" around from office to office and home to home so that the PC fleet can network to the Unix severs and scientists can do a majority of their Data reduction at the comfort of their home or Office PC and not some slow terminal connection.
Also on the horizon, the Astronomy community is eager to network everything together (with security and what-knot, so that some hacker kid can't get access to the HST) so that the Astronomer doing research can sit in his lab/office and do his research over a computer connection, rather then spend his precious time in an observatory maneuvering the Telescope and doing menial tasks of adaptive optics and taking dark images to adapt for errors in the telescope, that could easily be done remotely. All the while, while porting Unix software like qphot, emacs, super mongo, and IRAF to their Linux PC and working with their data instantly.
That ends this report from the field, this is BaronCarlos.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"
I think it's working, I'm only online for his sessions now.
*Carlos: Exit Stage Right*
"Geeks, Where would you be without them?"