This kind of study really annoys me. From the article:
>The researchers think the learning problems result from the drop in after-school actives with educational value.
In other words, it isn't actually video games that are the problem, but the kids doing less "after-school actives with educational value" - i.e. this is an issue for the parents.
I let my six year old son play his Playstation for some hours at the weekend, on the condition that every night he reads to me. Learning to read is hard work, using the Playstation to motivate him actually works really well. My son is learning to read much quicker than many of his classmates, thanks to the Playstation...
What the researchers didn't know was that this was an experiment in itself. The question the experiment aimed to answer was "Do researchers have too much free time, and do they waste time which is paid for using taxpayers money?"
The full paper will be published in Scientific America once it has completed peer review.
It probably is some windows worm or something written by a script-kiddie. But to admit that would be to embarrassing, so they make it out to be a big deal.
Like that poor Brit who was looking for info. about UFOs.
ok, are you are seriously sourcing your below-the-belt comments from Slashdot? Have you checked 4chan? You might find some there too.
With regards to your second comment, that is a different kind of respect, and you know it. I am specifically referring to respect as a figure of authority.
But do you really think that the leaders of the other first world and developing countries are not the same kind of power-hungry, lying, cheating politicians, and that they will not work with others of the same ilk to get more power at your expense?
Actually, no I don't. And it is depressing that this kind of attitude is so prevalent in the USA today.
at least by my count, below-the-belt attacks were at an all time high.
Can you elaborate? What do you consider to be "below-the-belt"? People mocking her when she said stupid things? People pointing out her lack of experience and knowledge? People laughing at her un-presidential mannerisms and speech?
Some people command respect. Palin isn't one of them.
Whenever I get an angry work-related email I immediately get on the phone to the person. It is amazing the difference when speaking on the phone, often the person will very quickly become quite apologetic for their email when you phone them.
Having a couple of young boys myself, I have observed that, for instance, watching a fast moving exciting film can make them over-excited quite easily. It's not really aggression, it's just that kids have much greater and more readily available energy than adults. Unfortunately these days adults often mistake this for a defect in their child.
The correct response is of course to fight back! There is nothing little boys like better than pretend fighting, and they tire very quickly.
I find it amazing the extent that Microsoft is screwing up at the moment.
Hey Apple marketing guys, Microsoft is doing your work for you!
This one is for free:
Justin Long: I'm a Mac.
John Hodgman and large crowd, together: And I'm a PC.
Justin Long [sincerely]: Hey guys, nice to meet you! There's so many of you! And you look like cool guys!
[John Hodgman looks smug]
Justin Long: I'd really like to hang out with you guys. [face lights up with idea]. Hey, would you like so see some of the new products we're working on?
[Lots of enthusiastic noise and nots - everyone follows Justin as he exits stage right. John Hodgman desperately tries to stop people. Final sequence - John Hodgman on his own, looking sorry for himself and a bit confused.]
the world's 'elite' still live and learn in the US, and that's unlikely to change
Well, I guess that's where we disagree. The USA does not have a monopoly on great institutions, and those institutions are only as great as the talent they can attract, and from what I observe much of the talent is having second thoughts about the USA.
You don't even have to send it over the internet. Have you seen how small/high capacity USB sticks are getting recently? And if you didn't want to chance customs finding it on your person, you could always open up your laptop case and temporarily stick the chip to the motherboard - the chances of that being spotted in the xray machine are next to zero I should imagine.
You joke about this, but it's deadly serious. I think one of the most damaging long-term effects of the current situation is that a lot of the worlds elite used to want to go live in the USA. Now many don't. The effect of that is that the USAs status in the world in multiple fields will gradually decline.
Re:What do you mean, Anti-business?
on
Tech Vs. Business?
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
Amen to that. Some of the biggest jerks I've ever come across in business have been network administrators. Immature selfish idiots with little idea of how business actually works. They would be quickly out of a job if they worked in any other department.
It is obvious that these ads are about changing people's perception of Microsoft, from a big scary company to something that is personable, friendly and helpful. In that sense, they probably work really well.
However, is that what Microsoft really needs? To have a great business you have a great product and use marketing to shout about why it is great. Microsoft have a bad product (in Vista) and are trying to change the perception of the company with funny ads. It looks like a pretty crappy position to be in to me.
I have a friend who lives in Switzerland who says that getting reported to the authorities by your neighbours for petty rule violations is a fairly common occurrence there.
1) I think they must be Welsh - when they say the name should sound like "Cool", they mean with a really strong Welsh accent, hence the spelling "cuil".
2) 11 million results on a search for "arse", but none for "banana". They are definitely Welsh -- they have a lot of arses in Wales, but no bananas (too cold).
Slashdot Mirror
This kind of study really annoys me. From the article:
>The researchers think the learning problems result from the drop in after-school actives with educational value.
In other words, it isn't actually video games that are the problem, but the kids doing less "after-school actives with educational value" - i.e. this is an issue for the parents.
I let my six year old son play his Playstation for some hours at the weekend, on the condition that every night he reads to me. Learning to read is hard work, using the Playstation to motivate him actually works really well. My son is learning to read much quicker than many of his classmates, thanks to the Playstation...
It was a joke.
What the researchers didn't know was that this was an experiment in itself. The question the experiment aimed to answer was "Do researchers have too much free time, and do they waste time which is paid for using taxpayers money?"
The full paper will be published in Scientific America once it has completed peer review.
It probably is some windows worm or something written by a script-kiddie. But to admit that would be to embarrassing, so they make it out to be a big deal.
Like that poor Brit who was looking for info. about UFOs.
Actually it was britneynude.exe
Thanks for that. Good ideas. I think I might get some of that for myself...
Is it just me or are office apps becoming increasingly unimportant.
Ten years ago I spent most of my computing time in some kind of office app. Now I rarely use them. And I receive fewer office documents via email.
Perhaps the office app is just dying? Are they just transition applications between a paper based office and a paperless one anyway?
Mr Anonymous,
ok, are you are seriously sourcing your below-the-belt comments from Slashdot? Have you checked 4chan? You might find some there too.
With regards to your second comment, that is a different kind of respect, and you know it. I am specifically referring to respect as a figure of authority.
But do you really think that the leaders of the other first world and developing countries are not the same kind of power-hungry, lying, cheating politicians, and that they will not work with others of the same ilk to get more power at your expense?
Actually, no I don't. And it is depressing that this kind of attitude is so prevalent in the USA today.
at least by my count, below-the-belt attacks were at an all time high.
Can you elaborate? What do you consider to be "below-the-belt"? People mocking her when she said stupid things? People pointing out her lack of experience and knowledge? People laughing at her un-presidential mannerisms and speech?
Some people command respect. Palin isn't one of them.
Whenever I get an angry work-related email I immediately get on the phone to the person. It is amazing the difference when speaking on the phone, often the person will very quickly become quite apologetic for their email when you phone them.
Having a couple of young boys myself, I have observed that, for instance, watching a fast moving exciting film can make them over-excited quite easily. It's not really aggression, it's just that kids have much greater and more readily available energy than adults. Unfortunately these days adults often mistake this for a defect in their child.
The correct response is of course to fight back! There is nothing little boys like better than pretend fighting, and they tire very quickly.
That's what struck me. Many of the items boil down to "we obey the relevant laws". That's not ethics.
Another one:
Justin Long: I'm a Mac.
John Hodgman and large crowd, together: And I'm a PC.
Justin Long [Friendly and sincerely]: Hey guys, how's it going?
Crowd: [Friendly hellos.]
Justin Long [sincerely]: How are you getting on with Vista?
Crowd: [Lots of mururing and head shaking].
Justin Long [wanting to help]: Oh. Well maybe I can help.
John Hodgman [frantic]: No!
[John Hodgman tries to usher everyone out as Justin Long looks on with a bemused and apologetic look]
I find it amazing the extent that Microsoft is screwing up at the moment.
Hey Apple marketing guys, Microsoft is doing your work for you!
This one is for free:
Justin Long: I'm a Mac.
John Hodgman and large crowd, together: And I'm a PC.
Justin Long [sincerely]: Hey guys, nice to meet you! There's so many of you! And you look like cool guys!
[John Hodgman looks smug]
Justin Long: I'd really like to hang out with you guys. [face lights up with idea]. Hey, would you like so see some of the new products we're working on?
[Lots of enthusiastic noise and nots - everyone follows Justin as he exits stage right. John Hodgman desperately tries to stop people. Final sequence - John Hodgman on his own, looking sorry for himself and a bit confused.]
What's a pirates favorite part of the anatomy?
AAARRRRSSSEE!
the world's 'elite' still live and learn in the US, and that's unlikely to change
Well, I guess that's where we disagree. The USA does not have a monopoly on great institutions, and those institutions are only as great as the talent they can attract, and from what I observe much of the talent is having second thoughts about the USA.
You don't even have to send it over the internet. Have you seen how small/high capacity USB sticks are getting recently? And if you didn't want to chance customs finding it on your person, you could always open up your laptop case and temporarily stick the chip to the motherboard - the chances of that being spotted in the xray machine are next to zero I should imagine.
You joke about this, but it's deadly serious. I think one of the most damaging long-term effects of the current situation is that a lot of the worlds elite used to want to go live in the USA. Now many don't. The effect of that is that the USAs status in the world in multiple fields will gradually decline.
Amen to that. Some of the biggest jerks I've ever come across in business have been network administrators. Immature selfish idiots with little idea of how business actually works. They would be quickly out of a job if they worked in any other department.
It is obvious that these ads are about changing people's perception of Microsoft, from a big scary company to something that is personable, friendly and helpful. In that sense, they probably work really well.
However, is that what Microsoft really needs? To have a great business you have a great product and use marketing to shout about why it is great. Microsoft have a bad product (in Vista) and are trying to change the perception of the company with funny ads. It looks like a pretty crappy position to be in to me.
I have a friend who lives in Switzerland who says that getting reported to the authorities by your neighbours for petty rule violations is a fairly common occurrence there.
Some things are standards by default. Like Microsoft Word format. So by comparison Javascript doesn't look so bad.
More observations:
1) I think they must be Welsh - when they say the name should sound like "Cool", they mean with a really strong Welsh accent, hence the spelling "cuil".
2) 11 million results on a search for "arse", but none for "banana". They are definitely Welsh -- they have a lot of arses in Wales, but no bananas (too cold).
Well, I managed to break the arm of mine. And I'm not fat. Not really fat at least. Normal fat.