Getting all bounced mail for *@lies.org, I get see a few jems float through every once in a while.
Y'all have been pretty creative recently with variations of 'EveryoneKnowsBushTells@lies.org' for forum registrations.
Re:Laptops shouldn't be Maine's first priority
on
Laptops In Education
·
· Score: 1
I, as well, attended Maine schools for my primary education & I agree with the statements made regarding the lackluster educational resources delegated to the state's schools. However, as we move more from the classic learning model (repeat and write this word 50 times & you'll be *sure* to remember it), we must also advance the tools used.
Will improving the training of the educators be such a complex task?
Scene: A middle-class living room in the mid 80's.
A Father is staring blankly at the instruction manual for a brand new VCR, which is flashing 12:00 without end. In rage, the father throws the book to the floor and gives up hope, when his 11 year old child walks in the room.
Father - Damn It! Damn It! Damn It!
Child - What's the problem dad?
Father - Damn VCR! Damn <BLINK>12:00</BLINK>! Make it stop, Make it stop!
The child casually approaches the VCR and applies a laying of hands on the case. A few magic words and flicks of the finger causes the device to not only stop the blinking and display the current time, but is set to record tonights episode of Perfect Strangers @ 8pm. The father, not believing his eyes, staggers out of the room to tell his wife about the genius child they have.
Finis
Why? The child grew up with the technology & understands how it works, moreso than his Boomer father. Putting a laptop in the hands of every 7th grader would more than pay for itself by the child's graduation. Maine isn't really known for it's high technical industry, this could be one hell of a foothold.
...or be used as a test for the Gifted/Talented programs throughout the state. Say, induct only those students who wiped Win2k & put Linux on their box within the first 2 weeks.;)
Until machines attain telepathy, I place no faith in these devices.
Machines can capture information, manipulate information and display information, but it doesn't care if the bits form a game of JezzBall or kiddy porn. Likewise in the related article.
What if, for some reason or another, I want to walk through a parking lot, or subway, or airport for no good reason? Should I have to think twice before playfully punching a friend on the shoulder in public?
The computer can only recognize the difference in behavior, not intention.
There are reasonable implementations of this technology (the airport scenario, for example). However, I would feel a bit more comfortable knowing a device is scanning for stray luggage instead of how many times I've entered a bathroom or walked down a terminal.
Personally, I'd rather have my car stolen than worry about if my behavior pleases the computer.
What if legal action against Discover & AmEx had been initiated by a credit researcher or an advocate against online gambling?
It's a thought to consider. A person or group of people, angered at the possible loopholes offered by these major companies to known online casinos, file suit to insure everyone is playing by the rules. Rational & reasonable.
But, that isn't the case.
A gambler lost a large sum of money at his own discretion, and is clutching at straws to get himself out of paying his debt. Period.
American Express didn't enter his Card number on the site. Discover didn't agree to the Terms & Conditions of the site. Neither suggested amassing a $25k IOU.
The article failed to note that, even if the CC's were not involved, he would still have an impressive debt to pay off. Where would the finger point then?
A California man who lost $25,000 gambling online has sued American Express and Discover Financial Services, arguing the credit card companies encouraged his gambling.
Hmmm. Had he pissed away his son's college fund in Vegas, would the Casino be under fire for encouragment from free drinks & "Really Pretty Lights?". What about his travel agent for encouraging a trip to vegas? What about that guy at the bank that encouragingly discussed his great luck at the slots? Doubtful.
Resolution?
1) Pay the bill. 2) Cut your cards. 3) Quit yer bitching. Next time, try a whiplash lawsuit instead. It's a bit more to chew on.
At a former ISP job in Maine, we used the APC MasterSwitch to handle the remote power admin on our primary servers. The device acts as a normal UPS, but contains a simple web server allowing access to remotely power cycle any of it's 8(?) outlets.
Pros: The device allows for quick and simple access, updates, and additions to the configuration. It boasts a serial port on the unit for local administration and diagnostics. In general, it's an overall quick fix and has a sleek interface.
Cons: IIRC, the price tag on this device isn't exactly pretty ($699). Going this route requires (obviously) new hardware & some possible legwork, as I don't recall how friendly this unit is on the network. If you "forget" the root password, APC does have a tool to reset it, however, this can only be done at an APC location.
We found this solution more practical and flexable then phone units (ring once, ring twice, reboot).
Slashdot Mirror
Er, 'gems'. Never post on /. after a night of binge drinking.
Getting all bounced mail for *@lies.org, I get see a few jems float through every once in a while.
Y'all have been pretty creative recently with variations of 'EveryoneKnowsBushTells@lies.org' for forum registrations.
I, as well, attended Maine schools for my primary education & I agree with the statements made regarding the lackluster educational resources delegated to the state's schools. However, as we move more from the classic learning model (repeat and write this word 50 times & you'll be *sure* to remember it), we must also advance the tools used.
;)
Will improving the training of the educators be such a complex task?
Scene: A middle-class living room in the mid 80's.
A Father is staring blankly at the instruction manual for a brand new VCR, which is flashing 12:00 without end. In rage, the father throws the book to the floor and gives up hope, when his 11 year old child walks in the room.
Father - Damn It! Damn It! Damn It!
Child - What's the problem dad?
Father - Damn VCR! Damn <BLINK>12:00</BLINK>! Make it stop, Make it stop!
The child casually approaches the VCR and applies a laying of hands on the case. A few magic words and flicks of the finger causes the device to not only stop the blinking and display the current time, but is set to record tonights episode of Perfect Strangers @ 8pm. The father, not believing his eyes, staggers out of the room to tell his wife about the genius child they have.
Finis
Why? The child grew up with the technology & understands how it works, moreso than his Boomer father. Putting a laptop in the hands of every 7th grader would more than pay for itself by the child's graduation. Maine isn't really known for it's high technical industry, this could be one hell of a foothold.
...or be used as a test for the Gifted/Talented programs throughout the state. Say, induct only those students who wiped Win2k & put Linux on their box within the first 2 weeks.
my $twocents;
-Brandon
Until machines attain telepathy, I place no faith in these devices.
Machines can capture information, manipulate information and display information, but it doesn't care if the bits form a game of JezzBall or kiddy porn. Likewise in the related article.
What if, for some reason or another, I want to walk through a parking lot, or subway, or airport for no good reason? Should I have to think twice before playfully punching a friend on the shoulder in public?
The computer can only recognize the difference in behavior, not intention.
There are reasonable implementations of this technology (the airport scenario, for example). However, I would feel a bit more comfortable knowing a device is scanning for stray luggage instead of how many times I've entered a bathroom or walked down a terminal.
Personally, I'd rather have my car stolen than worry about if my behavior pleases the computer.
What if legal action against Discover & AmEx had been initiated by a credit researcher or an advocate against online gambling?
It's a thought to consider. A person or group of people, angered at the possible loopholes offered by these major companies to known online casinos, file suit to insure everyone is playing by the rules. Rational & reasonable.
But, that isn't the case.
A gambler lost a large sum of money at his own discretion, and is clutching at straws to get himself out of paying his debt. Period.
American Express didn't enter his Card number on the site.
Discover didn't agree to the Terms & Conditions of the site.
Neither suggested amassing a $25k IOU.
The article failed to note that, even if the CC's were not involved, he would still have an impressive debt to pay off. Where would the finger point then?
To quote the ZDnet story:
A California man who lost $25,000 gambling online has sued American Express and Discover Financial Services, arguing the credit card companies encouraged his gambling.
Hmmm. Had he pissed away his son's college fund in Vegas, would the Casino be under fire for encouragment from free drinks & "Really Pretty Lights?". What about his travel agent for encouraging a trip to vegas? What about that guy at the bank that encouragingly discussed his great luck at the slots? Doubtful.
Resolution?
1) Pay the bill.
2) Cut your cards.
3) Quit yer bitching. Next time, try a whiplash lawsuit instead. It's a bit more to chew on.
__________________
#include brandon.h
At a former ISP job in Maine, we used the APC MasterSwitch to handle the remote power admin on our primary servers. The device acts as a normal UPS, but contains a simple web server allowing access to remotely power cycle any of it's 8(?) outlets.
Pros:
The device allows for quick and simple access, updates, and additions to the configuration. It boasts a serial port on the unit for local administration and diagnostics. In general, it's an overall quick fix and has a sleek interface.
Cons:
IIRC, the price tag on this device isn't exactly pretty ($699). Going this route requires (obviously) new hardware & some possible legwork, as I don't recall how friendly this unit is on the network. If you "forget" the root password, APC does have a tool to reset it, however, this can only be done at an APC location.
We found this solution more practical and flexable then phone units (ring once, ring twice, reboot).
Brandon Crafts
bcrafts@SyPahoAoM.com