I've already given up on life -- wife, house, kids, mortgage, career, car payments. WoW _is_ my life.;)
Seriously, an hour or two of gaming at home every other night after the kids go to bed is perhaps one of the most responsible things you could do. You're safe at home, able to watch over the family, and its a low cost activity which is that interactive and social. There's a heck of alot more thinking involved in a game of WoW than watching TV, that's for certain.
Mod parent up. This self-contained storyline mechanic is the hallmark of many good series. X-Files was great when they were one off episodes...the series began to drift once it became about the 'alien invasion conspiracy' that took forever to expose. The best sci-fi/fantasy series of all time never extended beyond a single episode -- the Twilight Zone.
The Star Dreck universe has extended into space opera and has very little pure sci-fi in it anymore. The movies just make this worse.
Rely upon canon for factual consistency and characterisation for familiarity for your audience, but if you become a slave to it you stagnate. Time travel (bad idea) without consequence (worse idea) is a cliche that should be avoided at all costs.*
The excuse for dropping the bomb was to force Japan's capitulation, in order to avoid a costly land invasion. This, while partially true, is mostly a matter of the victors writing the history books. Many modern historians do not believe in this interpretation, as Japan was already defeated by then.
I'm calling you out on this -- I want a list credible historical sources who argue this. You hear this nugget of historical interpretation over and over, without anyone of significant merit backing it up.
Given the lessons of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, the Philipines, and dozens of other islands, the US had no reason to believe that the Japanese were ready to capitulate. Kamikaze as a tactic was shocking to western trained military men, the disregard for human life and fanaticism it invoked. Diplomatic exchanges were minimal even at this time. After the first bomb detonated, the Japanese weren't even able to start a dialogue effectively with the US since there were no mechanisms in place to do so. Bomb 1 was for effect, Bomb 2 was to demonstrate the ongoing consequences of resisting complete surrender. (no one knew the US couldn't keep doing it).
Given the options: a) costly, long drawn out land invasion, b) a blockade that would result in collapse of civil order (making occupation difficult, hello Iraq?) and the deaths of millions of civilians, or c) use of atomic weapons, option C was the most humane and effective way to win the war. No demonstrable evidence to suggest any other consideration than "C" was seriously made.
For the record, I'm not an American apologist either. If you want to point out callous use of military power in the Pacific theater, firebombing cities made mostly of wood who were without major manufacturing capabilities would be on the list. Even McNamara admitted if the US had lost the war they'd be facing warcrimes.
There's a few dangers with this approach...IANALB...
#1, if he can prove in court that Microsoft wasn't actively supporting this policy at all times and simply used it as an excuse to dismiss him, Microsoft would be legally liable. Same with using him as a scapegoat or as an example; disproportionate application of corporate policies is a big no-no. Varies by state-to-state of course.
#2, just because a corporation has an HR policy does not necessarily mean that its legal. This is somewhat less likely since I'm sure MS has lawyers who review these things (especially since they've been nailed for this in the past), but we'll know how 'fair' his dismissal was if this ends up in court.
My wild-ass guess would be something incredibly stupid or personally dumb happened, like using corporate resources to download pr0n or warez, or liasons with staff members, etc. On an outside chance, he might have pursued a strategic policy that was against the mandate of the board of directors (e.g. "he's our plan for segregation applications from O/S releases" board "you aren't supposed to do that"). Either way we're not meant to know, unless this ends up in court.
I bought an 8800 GTS last week, and discovered the imminent 8800GT coming out now! Its about ~5% off of an 8800GTX, at a lower price than the 384mb GTS...definitely a bargain.
Just some advice re: gaming and graphics. I typically limit myself to a resolution 'behind' the current target state -- my monitor is 1280x1024, i can play any game @ full options no problems. 1600x1280 or thereabouts is a substantial increase in pixels and requires alot more GPU power.
I'm sure some big name sci-fi writers would jump at the chance to play in a Star Wars sandbox but why not use this as an opportunity to bring back the old Star Trek system of fan submissions? Once you get past the mountains of horrible fanfic this might be a way to find some new talent.
No, they wouldn't. Because Star Wars is, at best, Space Opera and at worst, bad Space Fantasy. Its not about the technology, or about characters, or about plot, it does nothing to explore man's role in the universe. Its a backdrop to have cool sword battles, weird looking aliens, and epic storylines. You apply just a tad bit too much logic to the star wars universe, and it goes 'poof!' up in smoke.
Most sci-fi writers now wouldn't even touch Star Trek with a 10' pole. There's frankly very little 'good' sci-fi out in media today, BSG being one exception and Firefly is the defunct alternative.
At least in Canada, the pay equity gap has almost been closed based on latest figures. Only the most senior levels of management remain unavailable to women, and this probably is a reflection of experience (e.g. it takes ~30 years to get to be an executive in a fortune 500 company)thank anything else.
I think the hidden story is the real $ household incomes have been shrinking over the past few decades. This has been masked by a) rapid advances in technology/production that allow us to buy more crap, and b) most households are now 1.5 to 2 incomes instead of a solitary breadwinner.
"Using proprietary software for any mission critical part of your business is reckless."
I'm sure Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Hewlett Packard, Dell, Siebel, SAS, Intel, AMD, Apple, and CA will be revising their mission statements shortly.
Perhaps the most idiotic comment I have ever seen posted on Slashdot, ever.
This was brilliant marketing through and through. Bravo.
I would prefer Bill Hick's proposed methodology for addressing this marketing campaign rather than giving them kudos. (e.g. "If you're in marketing, kill yourslef. Now. Do the human race a failure. Yes I know you're thinking 'oh he's going for the cynical jaded anti advertising focus group...hot market'. KILL YOURSELVES."
Seriously, how much cool aid have the apple zealots drunk over the years? Apple played you for brand loyalist SUCKERS. They didn't even wait until Christmas season...this was planned probably a year or more ago, they locked in the early adopters fast and quick, grabbed some quick cash, and they're happy.
By the way, he's not giving you a $100 rebate...he's giving you another $100 of product. Which costs probably $50 for them to generate. Only available through their store. They're profiting from you while they're apologising for ripping you off.
F@@@ Apple. They make Microsoft look like Salvation Army.
"Buy on rumor, sell on fact" -- perhaps one of the oldest sayings on Wall Street. Its only when either a) a great dividend is coming (encouraging you to hold the stock until its paid out), or b) you beat expectations, that your stock will rise. Or irrational exuberance, take your pick.;)
Its more complicated than that, but you're on the right track. Can't remember the exact details of the show, but a CBC Radio program called Ideas had a sociologist on one episode talking about the separation of humanity from nature and doing things 'real'. Nature in all its aspects is beaten back, controlled, dominated, destroyed. We are having generations of children grow up with absent parents, 24/7 electronic media, and a complete segregation from spontaneous childhood play. -- the last one being the MOST troublesome. I was fortunate to grow up in a suburb that had lots of wild spaces to play in, and before parents had kids lined up in supervised after school programs 7 days a week. Kids nowadays only see a flowing river in Legends of Zelda; they see a forest on TV.
Recently a TV program on the Food Network, Jamie Oliver's School Dinners, really hit this mark home for me. The majority of kids in a classroom couldn't identify an unprocessed carrot from a potato. (!!!)
Over dependence upon TV is a symptom, not the cause IMHO. Yes TV has some detrimental effects, but there are some communicative benefits as well. Lack of physical activity, lack of access to 'nature', lack of spontaneous play, hyper-compressed 'quality' time with children as both parents work...these are all problematic, ontop of TV exposure.
Nethack is easy compared to Angband. Angband deletes your save file when you die (a la Starflight did) and the monsters are much more...creative...in their abilities and intention to kill you.
Cripes, archangels Uriel & Gabriel; titans like Atlas; Tiamat and Vecna for AD Saruman; and Sauron are mid-level monsters, just warm ups for the hard stuff.
I worked for 8 years with children, ages 4-18 at a variety of camps starting as a teenager and through my university years. Lots of hands on experience, I'm a good communicator, and generally an enthusiastic person. Without being falsely modest, I think I'd make a very good teacher. I even had a mixed undergrad degree... humanities (history major, english minor) and science (computer major) since I wanted to keep my options open. 4th year of my honours degree I audited some of the education degree course and did a couple of days job shadowing on site at elementary and high schools to see if this is what I wanted to do.
I'd rather work retail minimum wage, was my conclusion.
Unionised fat cat 20 year service teacher who did NOTHING, they lost the will to live practically. Arrive @ 8:55am and in the parking lot by 3:05pm each day. Teachers who actively mocked their students. Self absorbed moaning about their hard hours, when most of these teachers had been in the same education system cradle to grave, no real world experience. What I found most distressing was an active contempt for people oriented towards manual trades vs academic performance. The world can't be made up 100% of lawyers and doctors damnit!
I came to the sad realistation that my ignorant assumptions at the ages of 6 and 8 and 10 than my teacher might be a 'stupid head' or idiot were most likely accurate at the time. The few teachers that somehow survive the byzantine bureacracy and escape the repetitive formula of class curriculum are truly blessings...who have no way of being rewarded for their higher performance or value. An elaborate system that breeds mediocrity only under the best circumstances.
10 years in IT now, I'm a director of Q/A and am very happy with my career choices. But I have no idea what I'm doing with my kids in a few years when they enter school... I hate to be an elitist snob, but private schools might be the only realistic option available to us.
The irony of big rock star musician vs his audience was probably best explored via Pink Floyd's The Wall. Roger Waters goes so far as to pain the audience as mindless sheep at a fascist pep rally (run like hell) and the fans at the concerts went nuts for that song. Cognitive dissonance at a macro level...
IWAABSIKWITA (I work at a bank so i know what i'm talking about), I can *guarantee* Slashdotters that if you bank in Canada, that transaction processing is subject to very granular trend analysis and if you try to do stuff like this you will be flagged. Its ridiculously sophisticated on the credit card side, but alot of the logic has been extended to the standard chequing and savings accounts now too.
If nothing else, we're monitoring these accounts to confirm that fraud isn't happening at specific ABMs, OR that we're not accidentally dispensing the same amount multiple times but accounting for it once. There's checks at the ABM, account, general ledger, and clearing (e.g. with other banks).
No offense intended, but if you're looking for a platform that involves skill, nuance, and depth you're looking at PC gaming. MMORPGs, better FPSers, strategy cames like Civilization/Europa Universalis/wargame sims, flight simulators, etc. Active modding communities.
Consoles are the NASCAR of the gaming world, they appeal to the lowest common denominator and are very good at what they do. PC Gaming is more expensive, but not by much anymore, and your computer is more fully functioned and flexible.
I believe the common term for this type of communication is called 'ansible' per Ursula K Leguin. And yes ansible is an acronym for a sexual orientation, but she need a term for a technology and made something up. Instantaneous communication over limitless distance.
The jails are mostly full, the incarceration rate in the US is much higher per population than most other western nations. What I've never understood is that people get jailed for personal use of drugs (abuse to themselves), whereas crimes like identity theft (abuse to others) result in multiple probations and no meaningful consequences -- which has a worse societal effect?
People should realise that separatism is 'their parents battle' and is a dying political movement in Quebec...the younger generation, more in tune with global trends and a technological based culture are looking at other avenues to express themselves. Its been over a decade since the Parti Quebecois has been able to run on a platform of overt separation, and they've been out of power for at least 5 years already. They're moving towards a more moderate stance. There will be flare ups from time to time, but its hard to rebel against a country whose tolerance bends over backwards to be inclusive. People won't be willing to sacrifice their pensions, societal stability, of their livelihoods over an idealistic goal of having a King of Quebec.
Good point. Star Wars was created since Lucas couldn't get the rights to do a revision of Flash Gordon...Indiana Jones similarly was created as an American James Bond, since Spielberg couldn't get the creative control he wanted in order to make a James Bond movie.
Yet another lesson in Hollywood that the great directors are usually at their best when they're working within restrictions. Give them carte blanche and an unlimited budget and you get Waterworld, 1941, The Phantom Menace, Gangs of New York, etc...
Slashdot Mirror
I've already given up on life -- wife, house, kids, mortgage, career, car payments. WoW _is_ my life. ;)
Seriously, an hour or two of gaming at home every other night after the kids go to bed is perhaps one of the most responsible things you could do. You're safe at home, able to watch over the family, and its a low cost activity which is that interactive and social. There's a heck of alot more thinking involved in a game of WoW than watching TV, that's for certain.
Mod parent up. This self-contained storyline mechanic is the hallmark of many good series. X-Files was great when they were one off episodes...the series began to drift once it became about the 'alien invasion conspiracy' that took forever to expose. The best sci-fi/fantasy series of all time never extended beyond a single episode -- the Twilight Zone.
;)
The Star Dreck universe has extended into space opera and has very little pure sci-fi in it anymore. The movies just make this worse.
Rely upon canon for factual consistency and characterisation for familiarity for your audience, but if you become a slave to it you stagnate. Time travel (bad idea) without consequence (worse idea) is a cliche that should be avoided at all costs.*
* Dr Who excepted of course.
The excuse for dropping the bomb was to force Japan's capitulation, in order to avoid a costly land invasion. This, while partially true, is mostly a matter of the victors writing the history books. Many modern historians do not believe in this interpretation, as Japan was already defeated by then.
I'm calling you out on this -- I want a list credible historical sources who argue this. You hear this nugget of historical interpretation over and over, without anyone of significant merit backing it up.
Given the lessons of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, the Philipines, and dozens of other islands, the US had no reason to believe that the Japanese were ready to capitulate. Kamikaze as a tactic was shocking to western trained military men, the disregard for human life and fanaticism it invoked. Diplomatic exchanges were minimal even at this time. After the first bomb detonated, the Japanese weren't even able to start a dialogue effectively with the US since there were no mechanisms in place to do so. Bomb 1 was for effect, Bomb 2 was to demonstrate the ongoing consequences of resisting complete surrender. (no one knew the US couldn't keep doing it).
Given the options: a) costly, long drawn out land invasion, b) a blockade that would result in collapse of civil order (making occupation difficult, hello Iraq?) and the deaths of millions of civilians, or c) use of atomic weapons, option C was the most humane and effective way to win the war. No demonstrable evidence to suggest any other consideration than "C" was seriously made.
For the record, I'm not an American apologist either. If you want to point out callous use of military power in the Pacific theater, firebombing cities made mostly of wood who were without major manufacturing capabilities would be on the list. Even McNamara admitted if the US had lost the war they'd be facing warcrimes.
There's a few dangers with this approach...IANALB...
#1, if he can prove in court that Microsoft wasn't actively supporting this policy at all times and simply used it as an excuse to dismiss him, Microsoft would be legally liable. Same with using him as a scapegoat or as an example; disproportionate application of corporate policies is a big no-no. Varies by state-to-state of course.
#2, just because a corporation has an HR policy does not necessarily mean that its legal. This is somewhat less likely since I'm sure MS has lawyers who review these things (especially since they've been nailed for this in the past), but we'll know how 'fair' his dismissal was if this ends up in court.
My wild-ass guess would be something incredibly stupid or personally dumb happened, like using corporate resources to download pr0n or warez, or liasons with staff members, etc. On an outside chance, he might have pursued a strategic policy that was against the mandate of the board of directors (e.g. "he's our plan for segregation applications from O/S releases" board "you aren't supposed to do that"). Either way we're not meant to know, unless this ends up in court.
I bought an 8800 GTS last week, and discovered the imminent 8800GT coming out now! Its about ~5% off of an 8800GTX, at a lower price than the 384mb GTS...definitely a bargain.
Just some advice re: gaming and graphics. I typically limit myself to a resolution 'behind' the current target state -- my monitor is 1280x1024, i can play any game @ full options no problems. 1600x1280 or thereabouts is a substantial increase in pixels and requires alot more GPU power.
Just a minor addition, economic crash or FAMINE. Countries look after themselves first and sell the excess.
We don't have these mandatory sentencing laws in Canada and yet our violent crime rate is at a 30 year low as well.
I'm sure some big name sci-fi writers would jump at the chance to play in a Star Wars sandbox but why not use this as an opportunity to bring back the old Star Trek system of fan submissions? Once you get past the mountains of horrible fanfic this might be a way to find some new talent.
No, they wouldn't. Because Star Wars is, at best, Space Opera and at worst, bad Space Fantasy. Its not about the technology, or about characters, or about plot, it does nothing to explore man's role in the universe. Its a backdrop to have cool sword battles, weird looking aliens, and epic storylines. You apply just a tad bit too much logic to the star wars universe, and it goes 'poof!' up in smoke.
Most sci-fi writers now wouldn't even touch Star Trek with a 10' pole. There's frankly very little 'good' sci-fi out in media today, BSG being one exception and Firefly is the defunct alternative.
At least in Canada, the pay equity gap has almost been closed based on latest figures. Only the most senior levels of management remain unavailable to women, and this probably is a reflection of experience (e.g. it takes ~30 years to get to be an executive in a fortune 500 company)thank anything else.
I think the hidden story is the real $ household incomes have been shrinking over the past few decades. This has been masked by a) rapid advances in technology/production that allow us to buy more crap, and b) most households are now 1.5 to 2 incomes instead of a solitary breadwinner.
"Using proprietary software for any mission critical part of your business is reckless."
I'm sure Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, Hewlett Packard, Dell, Siebel, SAS, Intel, AMD, Apple, and CA will be revising their mission statements shortly.
Perhaps the most idiotic comment I have ever seen posted on Slashdot, ever.
This was brilliant marketing through and through. Bravo.
I would prefer Bill Hick's proposed methodology for addressing this marketing campaign rather than giving them kudos. (e.g. "If you're in marketing, kill yourslef. Now. Do the human race a failure. Yes I know you're thinking 'oh he's going for the cynical jaded anti advertising focus group...hot market'. KILL YOURSELVES."
Seriously, how much cool aid have the apple zealots drunk over the years? Apple played you for brand loyalist SUCKERS. They didn't even wait until Christmas season...this was planned probably a year or more ago, they locked in the early adopters fast and quick, grabbed some quick cash, and they're happy.
By the way, he's not giving you a $100 rebate...he's giving you another $100 of product. Which costs probably $50 for them to generate. Only available through their store. They're profiting from you while they're apologising for ripping you off.
F@@@ Apple. They make Microsoft look like Salvation Army.
"Buy on rumor, sell on fact" -- perhaps one of the oldest sayings on Wall Street. Its only when either a) a great dividend is coming (encouraging you to hold the stock until its paid out), or b) you beat expectations, that your stock will rise. Or irrational exuberance, take your pick. ;)
Its more complicated than that, but you're on the right track. Can't remember the exact details of the show, but a CBC Radio program called Ideas had a sociologist on one episode talking about the separation of humanity from nature and doing things 'real'. Nature in all its aspects is beaten back, controlled, dominated, destroyed. We are having generations of children grow up with absent parents, 24/7 electronic media, and a complete segregation from spontaneous childhood play. -- the last one being the MOST troublesome. I was fortunate to grow up in a suburb that had lots of wild spaces to play in, and before parents had kids lined up in supervised after school programs 7 days a week. Kids nowadays only see a flowing river in Legends of Zelda; they see a forest on TV.
Recently a TV program on the Food Network, Jamie Oliver's School Dinners, really hit this mark home for me. The majority of kids in a classroom couldn't identify an unprocessed carrot from a potato. (!!!)
Over dependence upon TV is a symptom, not the cause IMHO. Yes TV has some detrimental effects, but there are some communicative benefits as well. Lack of physical activity, lack of access to 'nature', lack of spontaneous play, hyper-compressed 'quality' time with children as both parents work...these are all problematic, ontop of TV exposure.
Nethack is easy compared to Angband. Angband deletes your save file when you die (a la Starflight did) and the monsters are much more...creative...in their abilities and intention to kill you.
Cripes, archangels Uriel & Gabriel; titans like Atlas; Tiamat and Vecna for AD Saruman; and Sauron are mid-level monsters, just warm ups for the hard stuff.
I worked for 8 years with children, ages 4-18 at a variety of camps starting as a teenager and through my university years. Lots of hands on experience, I'm a good communicator, and generally an enthusiastic person. Without being falsely modest, I think I'd make a very good teacher. I even had a mixed undergrad degree... humanities (history major, english minor) and science (computer major) since I wanted to keep my options open. 4th year of my honours degree I audited some of the education degree course and did a couple of days job shadowing on site at elementary and high schools to see if this is what I wanted to do.
I'd rather work retail minimum wage, was my conclusion.
Unionised fat cat 20 year service teacher who did NOTHING, they lost the will to live practically. Arrive @ 8:55am and in the parking lot by 3:05pm each day. Teachers who actively mocked their students. Self absorbed moaning about their hard hours, when most of these teachers had been in the same education system cradle to grave, no real world experience. What I found most distressing was an active contempt for people oriented towards manual trades vs academic performance. The world can't be made up 100% of lawyers and doctors damnit!
I came to the sad realistation that my ignorant assumptions at the ages of 6 and 8 and 10 than my teacher might be a 'stupid head' or idiot were most likely accurate at the time. The few teachers that somehow survive the byzantine bureacracy and escape the repetitive formula of class curriculum are truly blessings...who have no way of being rewarded for their higher performance or value. An elaborate system that breeds mediocrity only under the best circumstances.
10 years in IT now, I'm a director of Q/A and am very happy with my career choices. But I have no idea what I'm doing with my kids in a few years when they enter school... I hate to be an elitist snob, but private schools might be the only realistic option available to us.
The irony of big rock star musician vs his audience was probably best explored via Pink Floyd's The Wall. Roger Waters goes so far as to pain the audience as mindless sheep at a fascist pep rally (run like hell) and the fans at the concerts went nuts for that song. Cognitive dissonance at a macro level...
IWAABSIKWITA (I work at a bank so i know what i'm talking about), I can *guarantee* Slashdotters that if you bank in Canada, that transaction processing is subject to very granular trend analysis and if you try to do stuff like this you will be flagged. Its ridiculously sophisticated on the credit card side, but alot of the logic has been extended to the standard chequing and savings accounts now too.
If nothing else, we're monitoring these accounts to confirm that fraud isn't happening at specific ABMs, OR that we're not accidentally dispensing the same amount multiple times but accounting for it once. There's checks at the ABM, account, general ledger, and clearing (e.g. with other banks).
atrogenic CJD is caused by natural hGH harvested from cadavers, not rhGH made in a lab. I'm pretty sure they don't use cadaver hGH anymore.
So you're saying this soylent cola isn't good for me? Guess I'd best switch to Slurm...
No offense intended, but if you're looking for a platform that involves skill, nuance, and depth you're looking at PC gaming. MMORPGs, better FPSers, strategy cames like Civilization/Europa Universalis/wargame sims, flight simulators, etc. Active modding communities.
Consoles are the NASCAR of the gaming world, they appeal to the lowest common denominator and are very good at what they do. PC Gaming is more expensive, but not by much anymore, and your computer is more fully functioned and flexible.
I believe the common term for this type of communication is called 'ansible' per Ursula K Leguin. And yes ansible is an acronym for a sexual orientation, but she need a term for a technology and made something up. Instantaneous communication over limitless distance.
The jails are mostly full, the incarceration rate in the US is much higher per population than most other western nations. What I've never understood is that people get jailed for personal use of drugs (abuse to themselves), whereas crimes like identity theft (abuse to others) result in multiple probations and no meaningful consequences -- which has a worse societal effect?
Bugs, errors, variances, failures, abends, crashes, defects, deviations from spec, undocumented features, grits...tsk tsk tsk those just don't sound right.
I know, lets call them easter eggs. Everyone likes chocolate!
People should realise that separatism is 'their parents battle' and is a dying political movement in Quebec...the younger generation, more in tune with global trends and a technological based culture are looking at other avenues to express themselves. Its been over a decade since the Parti Quebecois has been able to run on a platform of overt separation, and they've been out of power for at least 5 years already. They're moving towards a more moderate stance. There will be flare ups from time to time, but its hard to rebel against a country whose tolerance bends over backwards to be inclusive. People won't be willing to sacrifice their pensions, societal stability, of their livelihoods over an idealistic goal of having a King of Quebec.
Good point. Star Wars was created since Lucas couldn't get the rights to do a revision of Flash Gordon...Indiana Jones similarly was created as an American James Bond, since Spielberg couldn't get the creative control he wanted in order to make a James Bond movie.
Yet another lesson in Hollywood that the great directors are usually at their best when they're working within restrictions. Give them carte blanche and an unlimited budget and you get Waterworld, 1941, The Phantom Menace, Gangs of New York, etc...
As opposed to Starcraft 2. clickclick clickclicklclickclickclick (spacebar) clickclickclick click.