Maybe it was because it was never a good movie to begin with? It only got marketed as a satire after they realized they had a dog on their hands and tried to make it look like they did it on purpose.
The net is a time sink? You mean like checking comments on Slashdot?
Personally as an IT guy if they blocked my net access my productivity *might* go up but I guarantee that sometimes it will go way down as I try to find information on poorly documented error codes, code snippets, and information beyond that provided by the vendor (which usually isn't the most helpful). I couldn't imagine going back to the days of depending on stacks of manuals and sitting on hold for ages waiting for the vendor's tech support. I can't even focus on one idea for long periods, I get "brain lock". Reading a tech or news article helps clear my head.
I'd say net access is more important for some professions than others.
My old 486's keyboard had the fat kind of connector, like a ps/2 plug but much bigger. Over time the motherboard connector must've gotten damaged or something odd because the only way for me to get the computer to recognize the keyboard after turning it on was to wiggle the plug up and down in the connector. Sometimes it would just beep like crazy until I got it. In retrospect I think my pc just needed it's port "massaged" before it would let me work.
"a seemingly uncanny ability to review hardware obsoleted by newer versions in the interim between testing and publication "
In CR's defense this is a problem for virtually every print magazine. The internet has made it possible to publish reviews of hardware before it even reaches the store. Between the testing time and the lag time up to printing and distribution months may have passed.
Soon they'll propose testing car safety by doing test crashes! Or testing fire retardants by trying to set them on fire. Damn those Consumer Reports fools!
My dad is a MS Flight Simulator fanatic. I even offered him some real flight lessons but he said he prefers the simulation! He also didn't think his heart could handle it.
I've offered to build his next PC for him when he is ready so he can max out the graphics. I've already bought him a yoke and rudder pedals.
"I'm guessing that as I/we get older, we'll look for games where we can take our time too."
As I get older I'm realizing that frequently just getting there is half the fun.
"Do the big console companies not realize that the over-30 market is...well, huge?"
Wait until you hit 35 your waistline will get wider too, you little smartass!;)
"...I have a feeling the complexity of modern games and the reliance of so many games on reflexes (read first person shooters)"
My reflexes are still pretty good, it is the coordination of quickly finding the right key in a hurry that is hard. Using macro keys isn't a solution because I'd still have to find the right macro key (now what does M3 stand for again?). That is why I prefer roles in FPS games that call for patience and thought more than just twitchy fingers, like sniper or engineer in BF1942.
It is also a reason I like turn based games, or at least ones that let you pause, like RPGs so I can test my thinking instead of just my reflexes.
If you can still read the lettering on your WASD keys you are still a young'n.
Do you REALLY think just because you blew it up in the atmosphere they wouldn't retaliate against people? Look at Iraq, they never touched the US and we still invaded them.
"'If the intense radiation belts resulted from a rogue state detonating a nuclear-tipped missile in the upper atmosphere, using such remediation technology would probably be acceptable to the international community,' they said."
Any small country that goes through the trouble of building a nuke AND a reliable long-range missle to deliver it is probably not going to waste it on the upper atmosphere. Body-counts make for much better bragging.
I think the backup beepers on trucks are worse then useless on construction sites. You hear them constantly so you end up ignoring them. All they do is drive the people near the site nuts.
Nothing beats having a nice quiet Saturday shattered by an ear splitting "BEEP BEEP BEEP" while the guy sits in reverse for 10 minutes.
Slashdot Mirror
Since antibiotics don't cure all known diseases I say we get rid of them too.
Well IBM probably has the money to buy the ISS since it sure isn't spending any on making UDB DB2 a better product.
Maybe it was because it was never a good movie to begin with? It only got marketed as a satire after they realized they had a dog on their hands and tried to make it look like they did it on purpose.
The net is a time sink? You mean like checking comments on Slashdot?
Personally as an IT guy if they blocked my net access my productivity *might* go up but I guarantee that sometimes it will go way down as I try to find information on poorly documented error codes, code snippets, and information beyond that provided by the vendor (which usually isn't the most helpful). I couldn't imagine going back to the days of depending on stacks of manuals and sitting on hold for ages waiting for the vendor's tech support. I can't even focus on one idea for long periods, I get "brain lock". Reading a tech or news article helps clear my head.
I'd say net access is more important for some professions than others.
My old 486's keyboard had the fat kind of connector, like a ps/2 plug but much bigger. Over time the motherboard connector must've gotten damaged or something odd because the only way for me to get the computer to recognize the keyboard after turning it on was to wiggle the plug up and down in the connector. Sometimes it would just beep like crazy until I got it. In retrospect I think my pc just needed it's port "massaged" before it would let me work.
Wow, ./ cut off my dummy satire on/off tags.
Next time I'll include the tags.
"a seemingly uncanny ability to review hardware obsoleted by newer versions in the interim between testing and publication "
In CR's defense this is a problem for virtually every print magazine. The internet has made it possible to publish reviews of hardware before it even reaches the store. Between the testing time and the lag time up to printing and distribution months may have passed.
Soon they'll propose testing car safety by doing test crashes! Or testing fire retardants by trying to set them on fire. Damn those Consumer Reports fools!
Hey, didn't I see you on a grassy knoll?
I hear the Yale company is still furious over the time Consumer Reports tried a bunch of random combinations on their locks.
Wait until some old codger cuts you off in traffic and yells out the window "I own you beeotch!"
My dad is a MS Flight Simulator fanatic. I even offered him some real flight lessons but he said he prefers the simulation! He also didn't think his heart could handle it.
I've offered to build his next PC for him when he is ready so he can max out the graphics. I've already bought him a yoke and rudder pedals.
"I'm guessing that as I/we get older, we'll look for games where we can take our time too."
As I get older I'm realizing that frequently just getting there is half the fun.
I wish there was a moderation category for "flamed beyond all recognition"
"Do the big console companies not realize that the over-30 market is...well, huge?"
;)
Wait until you hit 35 your waistline will get wider too, you little smartass!
"...I have a feeling the complexity of modern games and the reliance of so many games on reflexes (read first person shooters)"
My reflexes are still pretty good, it is the coordination of quickly finding the right key in a hurry that is hard. Using macro keys isn't a solution because I'd still have to find the right macro key (now what does M3 stand for again?). That is why I prefer roles in FPS games that call for patience and thought more than just twitchy fingers, like sniper or engineer in BF1942.
It is also a reason I like turn based games, or at least ones that let you pause, like RPGs so I can test my thinking instead of just my reflexes.
If you can still read the lettering on your WASD keys you are still a young'n.
When I was a kid all we needed was the IJKM or WASD keys and the space bar, AND WE LIKED IT THAT WAY!
Yah, but Tomshardware.com then overclocked it and cooled it by filling the case with cooking oil.
"There are a TON of people like this, but they're in the minority."
Read this sentence back to yourself. It makes as much sense as the term "jumbo shrimp".
Now I understand it all! God is running a giant real world RPG! We all have to "age out" to allow space for new players.
Do you REALLY think just because you blew it up in the atmosphere they wouldn't retaliate against people? Look at Iraq, they never touched the US and we still invaded them.
FTFA
"'If the intense radiation belts resulted from a rogue state detonating a nuclear-tipped missile in the upper atmosphere, using such remediation technology would probably be acceptable to the international community,' they said."
Any small country that goes through the trouble of building a nuke AND a reliable long-range missle to deliver it is probably not going to waste it on the upper atmosphere. Body-counts make for much better bragging.
And I've talked to guys on sites who say they've almost been hit even though the beeper was going because they hear it all the time.
I think the backup beepers on trucks are worse then useless on construction sites. You hear them constantly so you end up ignoring them. All they do is drive the people near the site nuts.
Nothing beats having a nice quiet Saturday shattered by an ear splitting "BEEP BEEP BEEP" while the guy sits in reverse for 10 minutes.
First seat belts then motorcycle helmets, what next!? Good thing the constitution protects my right to clean a gun with the barrel facing me.
I just wish you'd chosen a name less likely to draw the attention of any internet monitors here at work.