[lol!]
I didn't mean kill them all, I meant demanding they turn themselves in, get turned in by the countries harboring them or we invade to find them. In this way we secure those who would perpetuate violence for their cause. An action that extreme (and it really doesn't get more extreme than that) will undoubtedly result in more violence, but an action that extreme will also make the risks involved with supporting terrorist actions to high. At least that's my hope.
I also believe that the cost of this action will be extremely high, possibly even the destruction of our country. But I also think that without it, the hope of America (liberty, justice for all) will be completely unachievable, we will have to live in a restrictive society out of fear rather than one of hope and freedom. And since we're a people who tend to believe in liberty or death, it seems to me a solution that would work.
I know, it's extreme to the nth power, but nothing else has worked, and I don't think anything else will. So... let's be extreme.
A partial list can be found here - but there's plenty of information all over the web about who our enemies are and who's supporting them.
http://www.fas.org/irp/index.html
Like I said - it's not about justice. It's about defending our country against it's enemies. Civil rights depend on having freedom. When you strip one citizen of their freedom in order to protect the civil rights of another, someone has still lost their freedom. IF they're not a threat to the other citizens of the US, they're not at risk.
Organizations like the Arian Nations, extreme factions of the pro-life groups, etc. are a danger to US citizens, and are known to have supported, planned, or carried out terrorist acts in America. They should be treated _not_ as Americans but as enemies of our nation, because they are. It's tantemount to treason. If you claim(on an ongoing an organized basis) that even one citizen of America is not worthy of life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness for an arbitrary reason (race, religion, etc), you are an enemy of our nation.
Geez, I don't know, maybe because they blew up our buildings, with our people in them, on our soil. I may be watching from my living room, but I'm pretty sure those buildings didn't belong to those terrorists, or their people.
Ctimes2
PS - Those terrorists who made the country I now defend also had their buildings burned by England. If my government [now] was burning my buildings, I'd feel the same way they did. And that was an internal struggle. I suspect your point was that the IRA is also having an internal struggle, but they have in fact threatened the United States.
It's an act of war. Innocent until proven guilty? innocence is the first casualty, which we lost yesterday. Evidence is not required - we know who our enemies are and hardly need proof to go to war with them. Due process, justice, equal treatment under the law? Those are rights we garantee to our citizens, not the enemies of our nation. Yes, people are calling for open, unabashed barbarism. Civilization is a false impression you've been given by your 50" flat screen HDTV, we all still run around in loin-cloths (albeit brand name loin-cloths) bowing to higher powers and fearing the dark. We are barbarians.
War is not a monopoly owned by the likes of Stalin, Hitler, Mao or anyone NOT American - it's a violent form of conflict. This one is more than justified, it's required. If an action calls for war, let it come. Do not hide behind a curtain of 'justified reaction, respect for man,' or any of that other bullshit. There will never be, nor can there ever be 'justice' for what happened, but we can exact retribution. Without that, our nation has lost it's resolve.
An Act of War requires the appropriate response: War. This was the act of a terrorist, and of course requires that a declaration of war be handed to them - but how do you do that when they claim no nation?
I'd like to offer a suggestion - All of them. This may be the act of one terrorist group, but in a very real way, all terrorist groups are to blame. The premise of a terrorist act is one part revenge, one part to call attention to their cause. It has worked in the past because no one has been able to 'draw an appropriate line' that shouldn't be crossed without consequence.
We have plenty of intelligence on suspected or known terrorists. In kind, to this attack, we first declare war on ALL of them, and then declare war on those who harbor, support (financially or otherwise), or train these groups. Once war has been declared on these nations [of which I'll mention a few in a second] they receive the opportunity to have their nation removed from the declaration by handing over or providing evidence of the demise of those individuals we know or suspect of terrorist actions. Every last one of them. And until those requirements are met, that nation is at a state of war with the US and will suffer attacks at our hands.
For those nations who have no intention of helping find these groups, we attack them first in full force and occupy their country until the conditions are met. Their major cities will be held under house arrest until the terrorists are brought to us for investigation, and punishment where a crime can be proven. Those nations who are hesitant will be next, and so on, until every nation realizes that to allow these groups to plan in their back yards, they risk occupation and war with the USA. The Muslims are not to blame, by the way, but there are those in power in these countries who have responsibility for protecting them (I'm sorry to say it, but Yasser Arafat has in the past and present protected known terrorists). They must be held accountable, and war is the only way to get that accountability.
The offending nations for these terrorist acts are (short list) Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Columbia, Ireland (I know, who'd have thought? But they too have threatened America about our support of England, and bombed to get the word out - they are terrorists, and after yesterday, I have no sympathy for them), North Korea, and even our own country that allows known domestic terrorist factions to live peaceably while they plan. During a time of War, these people become the enemies of our nation, and our nation has a right and an obligation to defend itself 'against all enemies, foreign and domestic'. If this is to be their declaration of War against the US, then let it be War.
Ctimes2
PS - please don't think for a second that I _WANT_ a war, there is a very good chance I'll have to fight in it on the front lines. I'm a rifleman in the US Marines, and would much prefer to stay home and enjoy this country I love. But I find it very hard to see us still trying to figure out what's "appropriate" and "just" when my fellow Americans are being pulled from the ashes on our own soil.
If word gets out and coffee starts getting regulated... well my GOD MAN! IT'LL MEAN THE END OF TECHNOLOGY! C'mon folks, you know as well as I do that technology subsists on caffine and sugar.
well... that and innovation from MS. *snicker!*
Ctimes2
GREAT! Let's talk about the "fair market value of the work". Your average baby sitter (since that's what teachers really get to be - if it weren't for them most kids would be in some kind of child care, be it private schools or juvinal hall) makes about 4$ an hour. Let's do the math -
US Averages 35 kids to a classroom.
School averages 7 hours a day (not including lunch).
35*4*7=$980/day.
Teachers only work 9 months a year though, so for 9 months of work, 5 days a week, we're looking at about 180 days of work in a year.
180*980=$176,400 per year, before taxes.
You said it pal, let's give them fair market value for their work. Of course, I'm doing that public education math, so maybe you can show me what I'm missing...
Find some way to post (or get posted) information on Time-Warners site(s), then send a letter to their ISP demanding they take them off-line for suspected copyright infringement. Revenge... a dish best served cold. he!
I can't speak to the linux astroturfing, but I read the articles. They clearly pointed out that the letters were being done by PR firms hired by Microsoft, that it is unprecidented. It was even charicterized as sleazy.
And they know who was doing it, and it wasn't a Linux supporter trying to discredit them. The facts are in, let the grandstanding commence.
When a caller started asking Minnesotan Nancy Brown questions about Microsoft, she thought she was going to get help figuring out what was wrong with her computer.
I can't stop laughing! First, that would make Microsoft proactive with support, and second - what are the chances that she was having problems with her computer when she was called by the lobby?...OK, I guess the chances are pretty high, but still.
In nougatmachine's rant he stated that he hated capitalism, but still wanted to own his own stuff - and hated our current system in part because it wasn't true to capitalism.
Actually, I think this is a fair point to make, and I'd like to take it one step further - Microsoft has touted the 'unAmerican' values of Linux, etc. when in fact they are destroying the idea of "personal property". With XP you don't own your OWN personal thoughts and opinions, as they are expressed using MS's OS/apps. Anything you create with thier tools can be interperated as their "property". How then, are we as Americans supposed to go about defending our property?
Now I have to switch AGAIN! going through the faq's, I have to make my point by point rebuttle:
A: There are many reasons why you should transition your service:
With more than 230 million visitors per month, MSN is available in 33 markets and in 17 languages.
Does this mean it's not available to the rest of the internet? And why would I want to share my connection with 230 million others?
When you upgrade your service, special promotions are available to you.
You mean spam, right?
Quality, reliability and speed.
You mean I'm not getting that now? What the hell am I paying you for?!
Technical support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no charge!
Again, you mean I'm not getting that now? And if not, is tech support going to be through MS? Because they suck.
Continue to enjoy POP3 e-mail service, with an option to switch to the world's largest Web-based e-mail service, MSN Hotmail®, via MSN Internet Explorer and get up to nine e-mail screen names for you and the rest of your family.
Oh dear God. One at a time - Will my current pop mail be cut off? Do I have to switch to Hotmail? Do I have to use IE (attn. DOJ)?
Instant messaging from MSN Messenger Service, the fast growing instant messaging service.
Really, I don't use it and I don't want it
You get more space for your personal Web site from 5MB to 30MB.
That's what I get now. ?
Easy access to great resources from MSN that help make your life better.
Example please? Because in 7 years on the net I've never so much as found a service pack from MS that worked for me.
Catch up on the latest news from MSNBC
... CNN.
Listen to your favorite music
You mean I've imagined all the music I now listen too? Crap. I need help.
Play games
Again, my immagination?
Send instant messages
To who? Why?
Create an online photo album for your family
They're not pretty. Bad idea.
Personalize your home page with weather, sports, news or local events
... CNN.
Shop from the convenience of your home
How is this change going to change how I do it now?
Invest your money wisely
I'm assuming you're recomending linux?
Search for information
... google.
Send online greeting cards
... BlueMountian... oh wait. MS ruined them in 98.
Plan your vacation
.. stunned silence...
Take care of your family's health
.. still stunned.
And, so much more
I'm dumbfounded. I didn't realize that all of that wasn't available through my internet provider, quest.net. Those bastards have been ripping me off. I'm taking my porn and going home.
My wish list for the pocet PC:
Cell phone. Simple plug for the earpiece/microphone is perfect (similar to hands free combo's now).
Audio out for music. Using the same plug would even be nice, if the earpiece could be headset style.
10 gig hard drive (Yeah, that's a plug for Serial Systems;)
Digital camera. Small lense on the top, immediate viewing of the picture, it should be obvious.
Audio recorder, doesn't have to be good quality. Again, same headphone, cellphone combo.
Voice recognition as an option.
A GOOD high resolution display.
Long battery life (8hours at least).
USB input, etc.
CONFIGURABLE BY ME so I can load what I want! [Linux damnit!]
I think all the technology is there, esp. since most of the functions could be done through software: mp3 player, cell phone, and camera could all be emulated with a good driver for the actual IO... and the right OS (any guesses?). Everything else I'd want they already do - organizer, email, office (not MSWord by the way), etc. Does anyone know why they haven't made these already? Seriously - it's not a market I watch.
Your basic user is a technophobe, afraid to install new software, because Microsoft made them (or maybe us before we knew better?) that way. When you come from the 're-install twice a year for a clean stable system' generation, then you'll understand what this really means.
Microsoft has won the hearts and minds of it's users, they are flat out afraid to try anything else because they're used to what they've got and 'experience' tells that 1) if it's not made by Microsoft, it probably won't work very well, 2) If Microsoft 'supports it' it'll probably be OK and most importantly 3) if Microsoft MAKES it, it must be a great new thing (even if it's been around for everyone else for years).
Microsoft wins not by convincing pointy haired bosses, but by culling those most likely to accept what they're fed. The end user.
I'm sure those 60 hours a week are burning us out, except for the fact that when I go home, I spend another 40 hours a week in my den. And those 3k classes are ruining me - glad I'm making that obscene paycheck to cover it. And I haven't yet stopped bitching that they took our cell phones away becuase it was costing the company $300k a month. Bastards. And that NDA - wait, I didn't sign one and they hired me anyway. And if I got fired tomorrow, I could still go back to my union construction job.
Seriously, if I wanted an 8 hour a day, 5 day a week job with overtime pay, I'd be working construction. But even with overtime, I can't make this much doing something I love. Unions... please.
Ctimes2
There are two things in life that you can do - the thing you love, and the thing you do best. If the two are one in the same, then you my friend, truely are blessed. = unknown.
Re:Unions Were GOOD to My Family
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I think it's fantastic that they did this for your father, but unions don't make sense for tech workers. They are not car hualers or truck drivers making 30-60K a year. 30-60k is the entry level salary, with many (who work hard and are dedicated) making $250k a year within 5 years.
And at $250 a year, your father could have paid for his own surgery - no need for the union. And that's what this is about... do we really need a technology union? I think if we do, we're going to marginalize the industry, because once a union is in place it will spread like wild fire, and cost everyone the open frontier we now have to compete in.
Ctimes2
Most of us shouldn't be in a Union
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And thus - Complacency. You feel safe at your job, secure in the knowledge that if you do your job well, you won't get fired. Could there be a greater evil in life than complacency?
When you become complacent, you become unmotivated to achieve. Your content with what you have, which isn't necissarily a bad thing, but it is unrewarding, unchallenging, and breeds the rut of life. When you're 60, will you be proud that you kept the same job for 35 years? When you wake up tomorrow morning, will you be full of life, excited about your day, and eager to try and make a difference, or challenge yourself and your co-workers to pull something big off?
Look duff, I realize that you are working for you masters degree and probably are not the typical agnostic 9-5er, but look at your co-workers. Most of them are 9-5, safe in the knowledge that they are there for the long term because their union offers them some protection. But the last time your agency, department or division set new goals for efficency or productivity (no matter how ill formed) how many of your co-workers put forth any extra effort to make it happen? I've often thought of how much better off someone would be if they just got fired from that job they felt secure at, but didn't really enjoy.
Unions have no place in the white collar world of technology either, especially right now. Those who are extremely qualified can dictate thier terms of employment, those who aren't should be willing to put in the time and effort to become so. Unions protect the blue collar workers from the excesses of the white collar initiatives. The only thing a union could offer the white collar world is protection from themselves, which to me, goes against natural selection.
You have to start with the basics - hardware and how it works, 1's and 0's and what they mean, how they travel to where and why. You have to make this funny or it won't stick and you'll lose them early. This should take maybe a day, maybe two because it's basic apple counting (no reference to mac here:) - they don't have to memorize it, just be familiar with the concept. Then get into the acronyms and what they mean right away (eide, scsi, usb, everything). Kids are great at remembering these types of things, & again, just give them enough for a frame of reference. *note - this part should be OS agnostic.
By the 3rd class at the latest they should be ready to build their own. They'll lose interest if they don't do this early, and really, it's not hard. It's something their parents may not be able to do, which makes it even more fun. From the build you have to take them back to 'class' so to speak to teach them about the OS & networking and how their computers talk to each other. One day, just enough to give them the idea. !DO THIS before you get them on the net or they'll flounder with the basics of how the net works (in theory...). It's probably another two days for networking, lab time included. Really, get them talking to each other first.
The rest of your classes (week 2 to 2.5) should be on the 'net, installing programs (or better yet, net games like net-hack), and fixing problems. They'll figure out on their own what to do with the programs, so just let them play with whatever programs they can get their hands on for short periods (games for sure to get them started, but don't let them play too long on one thing - give them a whole lot to install from everything from games to productivity apps to web servers). The more they know about how to install a program, and figure out what's causing an error the more likely they'll be to keep doing it on their own. That's why it's critical to get them installing a lot of programs, no matter what those programs do, or even if they'll ever use them again.
I've seen a lot of posts saying 'programming!' but that's really not a first year thing to do. They have to know how to set up a computer and do SOMETHING with it before they'll figure out _WHAT ELSE_ they CAN do with it.
For the last week, have them wipe out everything and rebuild by swapping parts with someone else in the class, building a computer they can keep (/.'s could probably send their old parts or pc's for a 'graduation' gift... what do you think?) - their appetites should make them want to do something with their 'new' clean computer, but they won't have time since the class is over. With luck, they'll take it home and do it on their own.
Slashdot Mirror
[lol!]
I didn't mean kill them all, I meant demanding they turn themselves in, get turned in by the countries harboring them or we invade to find them. In this way we secure those who would perpetuate violence for their cause. An action that extreme (and it really doesn't get more extreme than that) will undoubtedly result in more violence, but an action that extreme will also make the risks involved with supporting terrorist actions to high. At least that's my hope.
I also believe that the cost of this action will be extremely high, possibly even the destruction of our country. But I also think that without it, the hope of America (liberty, justice for all) will be completely unachievable, we will have to live in a restrictive society out of fear rather than one of hope and freedom. And since we're a people who tend to believe in liberty or death, it seems to me a solution that would work.
I know, it's extreme to the nth power, but nothing else has worked, and I don't think anything else will. So... let's be extreme.
Ctimes2
A partial list can be found here - but there's plenty of information all over the web about who our enemies are and who's supporting them.
http://www.fas.org/irp/index.html
Like I said - it's not about justice. It's about defending our country against it's enemies. Civil rights depend on having freedom. When you strip one citizen of their freedom in order to protect the civil rights of another, someone has still lost their freedom. IF they're not a threat to the other citizens of the US, they're not at risk.
Organizations like the Arian Nations, extreme factions of the pro-life groups, etc. are a danger to US citizens, and are known to have supported, planned, or carried out terrorist acts in America. They should be treated _not_ as Americans but as enemies of our nation, because they are. It's tantemount to treason. If you claim(on an ongoing an organized basis) that even one citizen of America is not worthy of life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness for an arbitrary reason (race, religion, etc), you are an enemy of our nation.
Geez, I don't know, maybe because they blew up our buildings, with our people in them, on our soil. I may be watching from my living room, but I'm pretty sure those buildings didn't belong to those terrorists, or their people.
Ctimes2
PS - Those terrorists who made the country I now defend also had their buildings burned by England. If my government [now] was burning my buildings, I'd feel the same way they did. And that was an internal struggle. I suspect your point was that the IRA is also having an internal struggle, but they have in fact threatened the United States.
It's an act of war. Innocent until proven guilty? innocence is the first casualty, which we lost yesterday. Evidence is not required - we know who our enemies are and hardly need proof to go to war with them. Due process, justice, equal treatment under the law? Those are rights we garantee to our citizens, not the enemies of our nation. Yes, people are calling for open, unabashed barbarism. Civilization is a false impression you've been given by your 50" flat screen HDTV, we all still run around in loin-cloths (albeit brand name loin-cloths) bowing to higher powers and fearing the dark. We are barbarians.
War is not a monopoly owned by the likes of Stalin, Hitler, Mao or anyone NOT American - it's a violent form of conflict. This one is more than justified, it's required. If an action calls for war, let it come. Do not hide behind a curtain of 'justified reaction, respect for man,' or any of that other bullshit. There will never be, nor can there ever be 'justice' for what happened, but we can exact retribution. Without that, our nation has lost it's resolve.
Yes, it's barbaric. So be it.
Ctimes2
The USA has invaded Canada 5 times throughout our history... we lost every time. Besides, they make good whiskey so leave 'em alone!
Ctimes2
An Act of War requires the appropriate response: War. This was the act of a terrorist, and of course requires that a declaration of war be handed to them - but how do you do that when they claim no nation?
I'd like to offer a suggestion - All of them. This may be the act of one terrorist group, but in a very real way, all terrorist groups are to blame. The premise of a terrorist act is one part revenge, one part to call attention to their cause. It has worked in the past because no one has been able to 'draw an appropriate line' that shouldn't be crossed without consequence.
We have plenty of intelligence on suspected or known terrorists. In kind, to this attack, we first declare war on ALL of them, and then declare war on those who harbor, support (financially or otherwise), or train these groups. Once war has been declared on these nations [of which I'll mention a few in a second] they receive the opportunity to have their nation removed from the declaration by handing over or providing evidence of the demise of those individuals we know or suspect of terrorist actions. Every last one of them. And until those requirements are met, that nation is at a state of war with the US and will suffer attacks at our hands.
For those nations who have no intention of helping find these groups, we attack them first in full force and occupy their country until the conditions are met. Their major cities will be held under house arrest until the terrorists are brought to us for investigation, and punishment where a crime can be proven. Those nations who are hesitant will be next, and so on, until every nation realizes that to allow these groups to plan in their back yards, they risk occupation and war with the USA. The Muslims are not to blame, by the way, but there are those in power in these countries who have responsibility for protecting them (I'm sorry to say it, but Yasser Arafat has in the past and present protected known terrorists). They must be held accountable, and war is the only way to get that accountability.
The offending nations for these terrorist acts are (short list) Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Columbia, Ireland (I know, who'd have thought? But they too have threatened America about our support of England, and bombed to get the word out - they are terrorists, and after yesterday, I have no sympathy for them), North Korea, and even our own country that allows known domestic terrorist factions to live peaceably while they plan. During a time of War, these people become the enemies of our nation, and our nation has a right and an obligation to defend itself 'against all enemies, foreign and domestic'. If this is to be their declaration of War against the US, then let it be War.
Ctimes2
PS - please don't think for a second that I _WANT_ a war, there is a very good chance I'll have to fight in it on the front lines. I'm a rifleman in the US Marines, and would much prefer to stay home and enjoy this country I love. But I find it very hard to see us still trying to figure out what's "appropriate" and "just" when my fellow Americans are being pulled from the ashes on our own soil.
YES! See if you can find one that looks like those occassional guest stars in Playboy. :)
Ctimes2
PS - if you took offense to this... lighten up.
If word gets out and coffee starts getting regulated... well my GOD MAN! IT'LL MEAN THE END OF TECHNOLOGY! C'mon folks, you know as well as I do that technology subsists on caffine and sugar.
well... that and innovation from MS. *snicker!*
Ctimes2
Call your local recruiter!~ ;)
GREAT! Let's talk about the "fair market value of the work". Your average baby sitter (since that's what teachers really get to be - if it weren't for them most kids would be in some kind of child care, be it private schools or juvinal hall) makes about 4$ an hour. Let's do the math -
US Averages 35 kids to a classroom.
School averages 7 hours a day (not including lunch).
35*4*7=$980/day.
Teachers only work 9 months a year though, so for 9 months of work, 5 days a week, we're looking at about 180 days of work in a year.
180*980=$176,400 per year, before taxes.
You said it pal, let's give them fair market value for their work. Of course, I'm doing that public education math, so maybe you can show me what I'm missing...
Ctimes2
That's why I'm a member of the NRA.
Ctimes2
Find some way to post (or get posted) information on Time-Warners site(s), then send a letter to their ISP demanding they take them off-line for suspected copyright infringement. Revenge... a dish best served cold. he!
Ctimes2
I can't speak to the linux astroturfing, but I read the articles. They clearly pointed out that the letters were being done by PR firms hired by Microsoft, that it is unprecidented. It was even charicterized as sleazy.
And they know who was doing it, and it wasn't a Linux supporter trying to discredit them. The facts are in, let the grandstanding commence.
Ctimes2
I can't stop laughing! First, that would make Microsoft proactive with support, and second - what are the chances that she was having problems with her computer when she was called by the lobby? ...OK, I guess the chances are pretty high, but still.
Ctimes2
In nougatmachine's rant he stated that he hated capitalism, but still wanted to own his own stuff - and hated our current system in part because it wasn't true to capitalism.
Actually, I think this is a fair point to make, and I'd like to take it one step further - Microsoft has touted the 'unAmerican' values of Linux, etc. when in fact they are destroying the idea of "personal property". With XP you don't own your OWN personal thoughts and opinions, as they are expressed using MS's OS/apps. Anything you create with thier tools can be interperated as their "property". How then, are we as Americans supposed to go about defending our property?
A: There are many reasons why you should transition your service: With more than 230 million visitors per month, MSN is available in 33 markets and in 17 languages.
Does this mean it's not available to the rest of the internet? And why would I want to share my connection with 230 million others?
When you upgrade your service, special promotions are available to you.
You mean spam, right?
Quality, reliability and speed.
You mean I'm not getting that now? What the hell am I paying you for?!
Technical support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no charge!
Again, you mean I'm not getting that now? And if not, is tech support going to be through MS? Because they suck.
Continue to enjoy POP3 e-mail service, with an option to switch to the world's largest Web-based e-mail service, MSN Hotmail®, via MSN Internet Explorer and get up to nine e-mail screen names for you and the rest of your family.
Oh dear God. One at a time - Will my current pop mail be cut off? Do I have to switch to Hotmail? Do I have to use IE (attn. DOJ)?
Instant messaging from MSN Messenger Service, the fast growing instant messaging service.
Really, I don't use it and I don't want it
You get more space for your personal Web site from 5MB to 30MB.
That's what I get now. ?
Easy access to great resources from MSN that help make your life better.
Example please? Because in 7 years on the net I've never so much as found a service pack from MS that worked for me.
Catch up on the latest news from MSNBC
Listen to your favorite music
You mean I've imagined all the music I now listen too? Crap. I need help.
Play games
Again, my immagination?
Send instant messages
To who? Why?
Create an online photo album for your family
They're not pretty. Bad idea.
Personalize your home page with weather, sports, news or local events
Shop from the convenience of your home
How is this change going to change how I do it now?
Invest your money wisely
I'm assuming you're recomending linux?
Search for information
Send online greeting cards
Plan your vacation
Take care of your family's health
And, so much more
I'm dumbfounded. I didn't realize that all of that wasn't available through my internet provider, quest.net. Those bastards have been ripping me off. I'm taking my porn and going home.
My wish list for the pocet PC: /microphone is perfect (similar to hands free combo's now).
Cell phone. Simple plug for the earpiece
Audio out for music. Using the same plug would even be nice, if the earpiece could be headset style.
10 gig hard drive (Yeah, that's a plug for Serial Systems;)
Digital camera. Small lense on the top, immediate viewing of the picture, it should be obvious.
Audio recorder, doesn't have to be good quality. Again, same headphone, cellphone combo.
Voice recognition as an option.
A GOOD high resolution display.
Long battery life (8hours at least).
USB input, etc.
CONFIGURABLE BY ME so I can load what I want! [Linux damnit!]
I think all the technology is there, esp. since most of the functions could be done through software: mp3 player, cell phone, and camera could all be emulated with a good driver for the actual IO... and the right OS (any guesses?). Everything else I'd want they already do - organizer, email, office (not MSWord by the way), etc. Does anyone know why they haven't made these already? Seriously - it's not a market I watch.
Ctimes2
I was using google! he he!
Ctimes2
Your basic user is a technophobe, afraid to install new software, because Microsoft made them (or maybe us before we knew better?) that way. When you come from the 're-install twice a year for a clean stable system' generation, then you'll understand what this really means.
Microsoft has won the hearts and minds of it's users, they are flat out afraid to try anything else because they're used to what they've got and 'experience' tells that 1) if it's not made by Microsoft, it probably won't work very well, 2) If Microsoft 'supports it' it'll probably be OK and most importantly 3) if Microsoft MAKES it, it must be a great new thing (even if it's been around for everyone else for years).
Microsoft wins not by convincing pointy haired bosses, but by culling those most likely to accept what they're fed. The end user.
Ctimes2
Just got a whole lot easier. ;)
I'm sure those 60 hours a week are burning us out, except for the fact that when I go home, I spend another 40 hours a week in my den. And those 3k classes are ruining me - glad I'm making that obscene paycheck to cover it. And I haven't yet stopped bitching that they took our cell phones away becuase it was costing the company $300k a month. Bastards. And that NDA - wait, I didn't sign one and they hired me anyway. And if I got fired tomorrow, I could still go back to my union construction job.
Seriously, if I wanted an 8 hour a day, 5 day a week job with overtime pay, I'd be working construction. But even with overtime, I can't make this much doing something I love. Unions... please.
Ctimes2
There are two things in life that you can do - the thing you love, and the thing you do best. If the two are one in the same, then you my friend, truely are blessed. = unknown.
I think it's fantastic that they did this for your father, but unions don't make sense for tech workers. They are not car hualers or truck drivers making 30-60K a year. 30-60k is the entry level salary, with many (who work hard and are dedicated) making $250k a year within 5 years.
And at $250 a year, your father could have paid for his own surgery - no need for the union. And that's what this is about... do we really need a technology union? I think if we do, we're going to marginalize the industry, because once a union is in place it will spread like wild fire, and cost everyone the open frontier we now have to compete in.
Ctimes2
And thus - Complacency. You feel safe at your job, secure in the knowledge that if you do your job well, you won't get fired. Could there be a greater evil in life than complacency?
When you become complacent, you become unmotivated to achieve. Your content with what you have, which isn't necissarily a bad thing, but it is unrewarding, unchallenging, and breeds the rut of life. When you're 60, will you be proud that you kept the same job for 35 years? When you wake up tomorrow morning, will you be full of life, excited about your day, and eager to try and make a difference, or challenge yourself and your co-workers to pull something big off?
Look duff, I realize that you are working for you masters degree and probably are not the typical agnostic 9-5er, but look at your co-workers. Most of them are 9-5, safe in the knowledge that they are there for the long term because their union offers them some protection. But the last time your agency, department or division set new goals for efficency or productivity (no matter how ill formed) how many of your co-workers put forth any extra effort to make it happen? I've often thought of how much better off someone would be if they just got fired from that job they felt secure at, but didn't really enjoy.
Unions have no place in the white collar world of technology either, especially right now. Those who are extremely qualified can dictate thier terms of employment, those who aren't should be willing to put in the time and effort to become so. Unions protect the blue collar workers from the excesses of the white collar initiatives. The only thing a union could offer the white collar world is protection from themselves, which to me, goes against natural selection.
Ctimes2
You have to start with the basics - hardware and how it works, 1's and 0's and what they mean, how they travel to where and why. You have to make this funny or it won't stick and you'll lose them early. This should take maybe a day, maybe two because it's basic apple counting (no reference to mac here:) - they don't have to memorize it, just be familiar with the concept. Then get into the acronyms and what they mean right away (eide, scsi, usb, everything). Kids are great at remembering these types of things, & again, just give them enough for a frame of reference. *note - this part should be OS agnostic.
By the 3rd class at the latest they should be ready to build their own. They'll lose interest if they don't do this early, and really, it's not hard. It's something their parents may not be able to do, which makes it even more fun. From the build you have to take them back to 'class' so to speak to teach them about the OS & networking and how their computers talk to each other. One day, just enough to give them the idea. !DO THIS before you get them on the net or they'll flounder with the basics of how the net works (in theory...). It's probably another two days for networking, lab time included. Really, get them talking to each other first.
The rest of your classes (week 2 to 2.5) should be on the 'net, installing programs (or better yet, net games like net-hack), and fixing problems. They'll figure out on their own what to do with the programs, so just let them play with whatever programs they can get their hands on for short periods (games for sure to get them started, but don't let them play too long on one thing - give them a whole lot to install from everything from games to productivity apps to web servers). The more they know about how to install a program, and figure out what's causing an error the more likely they'll be to keep doing it on their own. That's why it's critical to get them installing a lot of programs, no matter what those programs do, or even if they'll ever use them again.
I've seen a lot of posts saying 'programming!' but that's really not a first year thing to do. They have to know how to set up a computer and do SOMETHING with it before they'll figure out _WHAT ELSE_ they CAN do with it.
For the last week, have them wipe out everything and rebuild by swapping parts with someone else in the class, building a computer they can keep (/.'s could probably send their old parts or pc's for a 'graduation' gift... what do you think?) - their appetites should make them want to do something with their 'new' clean computer, but they won't have time since the class is over. With luck, they'll take it home and do it on their own.
Hope this helps..
Ctimes2