>Well, Rob does support the moderation system. Is >that a form on content censorship?
Not really, since there's no difficulty in seeing all the posts if you want to. It's all based on what the user wants to see at that point in time. Besides, doesn't "censorship" (in the strictest definition of the word) connotate government action? I think that's the way it goes, but I'm not sure.
If I could have just one part of my body replaced, it would be my hands. I really, really want those hands from Ghost in the Shell. You know, the ones with the fingers that split into three or four smaller fingers each? That would speed up typing something fierce...
Of course, I'm going to wait until technology like this is *proven* to work.
>However, because of the region-lockout, these >disks are still playable only on American DVD >players. This reminds me of what I heard mod chips for the Playstation was originally intended for, defeating regional lockouts. According to the rumors I've heard, the ability to play burned games was an unexpected side-effect. Can anyone confirm this? I've looked for technical data on mod chips, but all I find are places that sell them.
I wonder if it's possible for a similiar device to be made for hardware DVD players... but it's probably not practical. After all, there's only a few different models of PSX's, al made by a single manufacturer, and who-knows-how-many models of DVD players made by dozens of companies. Oh well, just an idea...
>I don't mean to slam the Star Wars(tm) fans, >although I do think some of them go a bit >overboard (ducks). Actually, I *am* a rabid fan (I've memorized every line in the Trilogy:) ), but I agree with you completely. Many fellow fans *do* go overboard. Of course, these are the minority, despite what appeared on CNN leading up to the 21st. Come on, you folks were there. How many people *really* dressed up? I've never dressed in a SW costume, except for a halloween party, and I only waited in line for an hour to see TPM. (Well worth it, IMO, especially for the Maul vs. Kenobi saber fight.)
I agree that Lucas's behaviour on Star Wars DVDs is puzzling.
I've got an idea, though: maybe he's waiting until the really big hype has died down, so that a year or so after Episode 3 comes out, he'll have yet another bottomless pit of money to draw from. There'll be a huge media blitz. "See Star Wars at home, in a whole new stunning format!"
Or maybe he's just crazy.
Either way, I still like the movies. Yeah, even Phantom Menace. Yes, I do. If you don't, bite me.
This little gadget almost equals the capabilites of my only machine, and I don't have the cash to buy a new one. Damned non-upgradable Presarios... (Sigh) I think I'll go play with the Gimp now, and test how long it takes to load fonts. 1 minute... 2 minutes...
>Can't you spell 'paper'? Paper? What's that... oh, wait! I know! It's that white flat stuff that's ejected from those ink-machines. Sometimes I have to use an ink-machine to present something to my professors. Oh, well...
There are some distinct parallels to Sharon Apple, the AI singer from Macross Plus. Of course, some things are completely different. I don't think anyone will be plugged into *this* system.
>If nothing else, it could be interesting to see >what kind of emotions a mathematically perfect >song can evoke in a a human being... I have the >feeling that it would be a little spine chilling. I think Arthur C. Clarke wrote a short story called "The Perfect Melody" or "The Perfect Song", or something along those lines. It's about a scientist who creates the ultimate tune, and it has unusual effects. I'm pretty sure it's in his collection "Tales From The White Hart", one of the funniest sci-fi books I've ever read. I can't check it right now because I'm not at home. Can anyone confirm this?
>However, um, the game isn't even done yet, >let alone gold or on the shelves." Hey, it's a good thing time doesn't exist. Now we can get our games before they're made. Excuse me, I'm going down to staples to pick up my copy of Quake 4...
English, for those who did not learn it as kids, is a notoriously difficult language to learn. When you think of the fact that every single alleged "rule" in English has at least one (and usually several) exceptions, you being to see the problem.
At least, this is what many French-Acadian friends have told me. English is my mother tongue, so I wouldn't know personally.
A fine idea in theory, but the big question is "How?" sounds to me like some folks who don't really understand what computers are capable of are trying to sound important. Those who do not understand Babelfish are condemned to repeat it.
The important thing is not that one can now pay bills online, but one can pay bills online *through Canada Post*. A little off-topic, but if CP can offer levels of service equal to private parcel couriers for delivering packages, the decline in snail mail won't be too much of a problem. After all, online orders still need to be delivered.
Seriously, I really must disagree with awarding Steve Penfold the award for Sociology. If you're not Canadian, you wouldn't believe the importance of donut shops here. *Especially* Tim Hortons. Tim's is a national institution, on par with pubs in Britain.
But as for the Science Education award, they were absolutely right.:)
I would just like to point out that here in Canada, the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is in charge of regulating communications industries. They've recently ruled that there will be *no* regulation of the Net in Canada, period. That makes this a good country to run web servers from in the near future.
An odd decision, considering the CRTC's past track record in these matters, but a welcome one. Personally I think the CRTC realized the futility of trying to sift through the entirety of the Net and the Web. Now if only the government of our southern neighbors would follow suit... I sympathise with Americans. They've got the First Amendment, yet their government is blatantly defying their own Constitution, what with the CDA and similiar schemes.
Makes me wonder what a real community effort can do. Instead of having a few moves voted on, everyone could contribute a move.
Of course, the organizers would probably get flooded by suggestions, and unable to choose the best one... maybe some kind of program to filter out obviously ineffective moves would be useful. Oh, well. Just wondering out loud, folks.
>Maybe I'm missing the point, but are we so >wrapped up in technology that we can't walk down >the street without bringing our computer with us? The whole point is that we now have a *choice*. Same thing with cellphones or pagers. If I don't want to be disturbed, I turn them off or leave them home. Simple.
Years ago, in the days before itegrated circuits, if your car broke down on the highway, a hundred miles from Nowheresville, you had to wait for someone to stop and help you out. Nowadays, folks can call a tow-truck company instantly. Believe you me, that's important to someone who has to drive 160km per weekday in an 8 year old car.
>Can we no longer survive two hours without >e-mail, the Net, our cellphone or Fax? I know I can, but constant Net access isn't important to my studies. Cellphones and daily email, however, are.
>People are getting so addicted and dependant on >technology and information that I wonder where >family values will be in a few years. Warning: "Family values" speech detected. Interest level decreasing... interest level now at zero. Seriously, I don't think this is a problem. We'll adjust, just like we always have in the past. Have a little faith in humanity, friend. We're more adapable than we realize.
>What about sports? Being a lazy couch potato, my initial reaction is to say that sports can take a flying leap up my ass. But that would be rude. So I'll say instead that sports can take a flying leap up my butt.
>What about nature? Until we put CPU's in >birds, I guess birdwatching will lose it's >appeal. Oh I forgot, some animals _do_ have CPUs >in them. You just reminded me... I really want an Aibo. But not a Furby. I don't trust Furbys. They look like Gremlins. Except Furby don't have exploding gas tanks. Wow. That got offtopic fast. Need... caffeine... now...
Truly portable computers don't really change anything. Humans have always been dependant on technology of some kind, whether it's a hunting spear or a water treatment plant. The only real difference is the degree of sophistication.
I've always believed that languages should adapt themselves to common usage, not the other way around. A language that doesn't change fast becomes a dead language. Latin, anybody? I like the way that many languages today are becoming more tolerant of this, especially French and Japanese. The rate that these two languages import technical and business terms from other languages is very healthy in the long run.
Sure, "You've got mail" is a really dumb catchphrase, but when you hear it you know exactly what it means. Meaning by context is far more important than some arbitrary ironclad description of "proper grammar".
Slashdot Mirror
>Well, Rob does support the moderation system. Is
>that a form on content censorship?
Not really, since there's no difficulty in seeing all the posts if you want to. It's all based on what the user wants to see at that point in time. Besides, doesn't "censorship" (in the strictest definition of the word) connotate government action? I think that's the way it goes, but I'm not sure.
If I could have just one part of my body replaced, it would be my hands. I really, really want those hands from Ghost in the Shell. You know, the ones with the fingers that split into three or four smaller fingers each? That would speed up typing something fierce...
Of course, I'm going to wait until technology like this is *proven* to work.
>We could make our bodies more functional. Extra
>strength, IR vision,
We have the technology. We can make him faster, stronger...
>However, because of the region-lockout, these
>disks are still playable only on American DVD
>players.
This reminds me of what I heard mod chips for the Playstation was originally intended for, defeating regional lockouts. According to the rumors I've heard, the ability to play burned games was an unexpected side-effect. Can anyone confirm this? I've looked for technical data on mod chips, but all I find are places that sell them.
I wonder if it's possible for a similiar device to be made for hardware DVD players... but it's probably not practical. After all, there's only a few different models of PSX's, al made by a single manufacturer, and who-knows-how-many models of DVD players made by dozens of companies. Oh well, just an idea...
>I don't mean to slam the Star Wars(tm) fans, :) ), but I agree with you completely. Many fellow fans *do* go overboard. Of course, these are the minority, despite what appeared on CNN leading up to the 21st. Come on, you folks were there. How many people *really* dressed up? I've never dressed in a SW costume, except for a halloween party, and I only waited in line for an hour to see TPM. (Well worth it, IMO, especially for the Maul vs. Kenobi saber fight.)
>although I do think some of them go a bit
>overboard (ducks).
Actually, I *am* a rabid fan (I've memorized every line in the Trilogy
I agree that Lucas's behaviour on Star Wars DVDs is puzzling.
I've got an idea, though: maybe he's waiting until the really big hype has died down, so that a year or so after Episode 3 comes out, he'll have yet another bottomless pit of money to draw from. There'll be a huge media blitz. "See Star Wars at home, in a whole new stunning format!"
Or maybe he's just crazy.
Either way, I still like the movies. Yeah, even Phantom Menace. Yes, I do. If you don't, bite me.
This little gadget almost equals the capabilites of my only machine, and I don't have the cash to buy a new one. Damned non-upgradable Presarios...
(Sigh) I think I'll go play with the Gimp now, and test how long it takes to load fonts. 1 minute... 2 minutes...
>Can't you spell 'paper'?
Paper? What's that... oh, wait! I know! It's that white flat stuff that's ejected from those ink-machines. Sometimes I have to use an ink-machine to present something to my professors. Oh, well...
There are some distinct parallels to Sharon Apple, the AI singer from Macross Plus. Of course, some things are completely different. I don't think anyone will be plugged into *this* system.
All in all, a cool developement.
>If nothing else, it could be interesting to see >what kind of emotions a mathematically perfect >song can evoke in a a human being... I have the >feeling that it would be a little spine chilling. I think Arthur C. Clarke wrote a short story called "The Perfect Melody" or "The Perfect Song", or something along those lines. It's about a scientist who creates the ultimate tune, and it has unusual effects. I'm pretty sure it's in his collection "Tales From The White Hart", one of the funniest sci-fi books I've ever read. I can't check it right now because I'm not at home. Can anyone confirm this?
>While I feel that political speech needs to
>regulated on the internet, I don't agree how they
>came up with the costs
(Imagine this line in the most dry English tone you can imagine.)
Are you insane?
Political speech needs to be regulated? Geez Luiz! Are you completely missing the point of democracy?
And the costs are simply retarded. If I say "Bill Clinton is a big liar" or "George W Bush is a tool", does that mean that Slashdot has to register?
Everytime I hear about some beaurocracy trying to introduce a new regulation, I wonder how it can get any more ridiculus. Then I see things like this.
And yes, it may be an older story, but it's new to most of us. I find it interesting, myself. But that's just my opinion.
>However, um, the game isn't even done yet,
>let alone gold or on the shelves."
Hey, it's a good thing time doesn't exist. Now we can get our games before they're made. Excuse me, I'm going down to staples to pick up my copy of Quake 4...
What's the difference?
My apologies to all you fifth-graders out there, sorry.
Ah, take off ya hoser. It's Canadian English, eh?
English, for those who did not learn it as kids, is a notoriously difficult language to learn. When you think of the fact that every single alleged "rule" in English has at least one (and usually several) exceptions, you being to see the problem.
At least, this is what many French-Acadian friends have told me. English is my mother tongue, so I wouldn't know personally.
A fine idea in theory, but the big question is "How?" sounds to me like some folks who don't really understand what computers are capable of are trying to sound important. Those who do not understand Babelfish are condemned to repeat it.
So long as the pilot suffers horribly traumatizing events which cause her to hate space.
:)
And we need Hideaki Anno to supervise everyone in Mission Control.
The important thing is not that one can now pay bills online, but one can pay bills online *through Canada Post*. A little off-topic, but if CP can offer levels of service equal to private parcel couriers for delivering packages, the decline in snail mail won't be too much of a problem. After all, online orders still need to be delivered.
Seriously, I really must disagree with awarding Steve Penfold the award for Sociology. If you're not Canadian, you wouldn't believe the importance of donut shops here. *Especially* Tim Hortons.
:)
Tim's is a national institution, on par with pubs in Britain.
But as for the Science Education award, they were absolutely right.
I would just like to point out that here in Canada, the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is in charge of regulating communications industries. They've recently ruled that there will be *no* regulation of the Net in Canada, period. That makes this a good country to run web servers from in the near future.
An odd decision, considering the CRTC's past track record in these matters, but a welcome one. Personally I think the CRTC realized the futility of trying to sift through the entirety of the Net and the Web. Now if only the government of our southern neighbors would follow suit... I sympathise with Americans. They've got the First Amendment, yet their government is blatantly defying their own Constitution, what with the CDA and similiar schemes.
Makes me wonder what a real community effort can do. Instead of having a few moves voted on, everyone could contribute a move.
Of course, the organizers would probably get flooded by suggestions, and unable to choose the best one... maybe some kind of program to filter out obviously ineffective moves would be useful. Oh, well. Just wondering out loud, folks.
Put a ramp at the bottom of the hill, and see how far those suckers'll go! I know that I'd be the first volunteer for that.
>Maybe I'm missing the point, but are we so
:)
>wrapped up in technology that we can't walk down
>the street without bringing our computer with us?
The whole point is that we now have a *choice*. Same thing with cellphones or pagers. If I don't want to be disturbed, I turn them off or leave them home. Simple.
Years ago, in the days before itegrated circuits, if your car broke down on the highway, a hundred miles from Nowheresville, you had to wait for someone to stop and help you out. Nowadays, folks can call a tow-truck company instantly. Believe you me, that's important to someone who has to drive 160km per weekday in an 8 year old car.
>Can we no longer survive two hours without
>e-mail, the Net, our cellphone or Fax?
I know I can, but constant Net access isn't important to my studies. Cellphones and daily email, however, are.
>People are getting so addicted and dependant on
>technology and information that I wonder where
>family values will be in a few years.
Warning: "Family values" speech detected. Interest level decreasing... interest level now at zero.
Seriously, I don't think this is a problem. We'll adjust, just like we always have in the past. Have a little faith in humanity, friend. We're more adapable than we realize.
>What about sports?
Being a lazy couch potato, my initial reaction is to say that sports can take a flying leap up my ass. But that would be rude. So I'll say instead that sports can take a flying leap up my butt.
>What about nature? Until we put CPU's in
>birds, I guess birdwatching will lose it's
>appeal. Oh I forgot, some animals _do_ have CPUs >in them.
You just reminded me... I really want an Aibo. But not a Furby. I don't trust Furbys. They look like Gremlins. Except Furby don't have exploding gas tanks. Wow. That got offtopic fast. Need... caffeine... now...
Truly portable computers don't really change anything. Humans have always been dependant on technology of some kind, whether it's a hunting spear or a water treatment plant. The only real difference is the degree of sophistication.
Plus, it's just *too* cool a gadget to pass up.
1) Does it run Linux?
:)
2) Can you Beowulf some together?
I'm truly sorry, but they need to be asked.
I've always believed that languages should adapt themselves to common usage, not the other way around. A language that doesn't change fast becomes a dead language. Latin, anybody? I like the way that many languages today are becoming more tolerant of this, especially French and Japanese. The rate that these two languages import technical and business terms from other languages is very healthy in the long run.
Sure, "You've got mail" is a really dumb catchphrase, but when you hear it you know exactly what it means. Meaning by context is far more important than some arbitrary ironclad description of "proper grammar".