Did anyone see the highlights on SportsCenter? F-ing hiliarious. Kasparov moved his Queen, then they cut to a full stadium everyone cheering. Slo-mo replays of moves. Tellestrator.
Part of me thought they took it a little too far (poking fun at chess fans), but for the most part it was absolute hilarity.
For anyone who hasn't tried it, I heartily recommend attempting at least one home-brew batch (if you're a beer fan, of course). For less money than a case of commercial beer, you'll end up with something that tastes significantly better, and it's less work than you would imagine!
If you buy a kit (not Mr. Beer, but a real kit), do a little research, and commit about an hour of your time and two weeks of patience, you'll be rewarded with some of the best beer you've ever had, plus the pride of having made it yourself. Try it, you'll like it!;-)
On a semi-related topic, does anyone have good recommendations on PC encosulres (or complete systems) that are suitable for a home a stereo rack? I'm looking for something that is both functional and esthetically pleasing.
Well, I can't let a/. post about input devices go by without talking about my beloved Kinesis keyboard. If you have heard about it and are on the fence about trying one out -- don't hesitate!
From my journal:
The Kinesis keyboard has done nothing less than save my career. While starting a company in 1995 the long work days took a toll on my hands. After seeing doctor after doctor and specialist after specialist the best advice they could offer was "type less." Thank you very much, but I had deadlines to meet.
Everything changed when I splurged $300 for the Kinesis Contour keyboard. There are four major differences between this keyboard and the others out there, and together they make typing feel to me like I'm running down hill.
1. Separated "key wells" (you have to see the picture to understand) which allow a much more natural hand position.
2. Keys are lined up directly above each other (i.e. the T key is directly north of the G key, not up-to-the-left). This makes your fingers extend out and back, not out and back and side to side.
3. The key wells are curved, which brings the keys on the upper and lower parts of the keybard closer to your fingertips. This is probably the single largest factor contributing to the "running down hill" feeling.
4. Thumbs. Your thumbs are the two strongest digits on your hands. I don't know about you, but the way I used to type I would only use one of my thumbs, and only for one key (the space bar). My left thumb sat dormant. What a waste! Additionally, two of my most actively used fingers were my pinkeys due to the RET, Backspace and Control keys. Guess which fingers are your weakest? On the Kinesis, the thumbs get the most commonly used keys. I've got a couple of buttons re-mapped (due mostly to Emacs usage patterns) so the four major thumb buttons are Control, Alt, Return and Space. I couldn't live any other way.
"If you had built a decent system instead of sitting around and whining, we could be doing something else instead of sitting around listening to your whining."
Man, did that quote put me off. I wonder, for instance, what compiler Larry uses to build BitKeeper. Or what version of shell utils. Or what editor. Or what MTA. Or what DNS server.
RMS and friends *did* build a decent system, which is exactly the reason that Larry is getting all of this publicity for BitKeeper. Think anyone would have heard of BitKeeper if Linus didn't endorse it? Think anyone would have heard of Linus if it weren't for RMS' "decent system"?
On a semi-related topic, I've often wondered why the post office doesn't implement some sort of mapping from IDs to addresses. Just think of how inefficient it is for a person to notify everyone s/he knows each time s/he moves. Multiply that by the number of people that move each day. I'm surprised the USPS has any time left to deliver the real mail.
Now imagine how easy it would be to update one central database with your new address, and your mail would automatically find you. USPS, are you listening?:-)
The Kinesis keyboard has done nothing less than save my career. While starting a company in 1995 the long work days took a toll on my hands. After seeing doctor after doctor and specialist after specialist the best advice they could offer was "type less." Thank you very much, but I had deadlines to meet.
Everything changed when I splurged $300 for the Kinesis Contour keyboard. There are four major differences between this keyboard and the others out there, and together they make typing feel to me like I'm running down hill.
1. Separated "key wells" (you have to see the picture to understand) which allow a much more natural hand position.
2. Keys are lined up directly above each other (i.e. the T key is directly north of the G key, not up-to-the-left). This makes your fingers extend out and back, not out and back and side to side.
3. The key wells are curved, which brings the keys on the upper and lower parts of the keybard closer to your fingertips. This is probably the single largest factor contributing to the "running down hill" feeling.
4. Thumbs. Your thumbs are the two strongest digits on your hands. I don't know about you, but the way I used to type I would only use one of my thumbs, and only for one key (the space bar). My left thumb sat dormant. What a waste! Additionally, two of my most actively used fingers were my pinkeys due to the RET, Backspace and Control keys. Guess which fingers are your weakest? On the Kinesis, the thumbs get the most commonly used keys. I've got a couple of buttons re-mapped (due mostly to Emacs usage patterns) so the four major thumb buttons are Control, Alt, Return and Space. I couldn't live any other way.
Seriously, I do read/. every day -- most days at least a few times. When I feel like I have something to add that would be interesting to someone else, only then do I post. (OK, so today seems to be a big exception to that rule;-)
Here is an email I sent to Taco in 1998, when Slashdot was still privately held. How funny!
>I don't know if you saw the following article, but EarthWeb recently >IPO'd to the tune of almost $400 million dollars. Their draw? They >have a web site that attracts technically-savvy viewers. The >upshot? Because of their targeted audience they can charge a very >high $68 CPM. > >Lessee... if we take/.'s statistics of 300,000 page views >yesterday, and multiply by $68/1000, we get $20,400. Multiplying >that by 365 days in a year we get a lofty $7.4 million dollars. >Compare that to EarthWeb's paltry $1.9 million for the first three >quarters of 1998, and we estimate that/. is roughly three times >bigger. > >Now, from a recent story we learned that not only is/. paying for >itself, it's allowing you to draw a salary and pay your rent as >well. We can conclude that/. is actually *making* money, as >opposed to EarthWeb, which is losing money to the tune of roughly >$7.5 million dollars a year. > >Taking all of this very scientific data into account, if/. went >public, one could expect the market capitalization to be greater >than $1.2 billion (yes, that's billion) dollars. > >;-) > >-Pez
Heh. How many test accounts do you think Taco had?:-)
Re:The secret of ./'s success....
on
Slashdot Turns 5
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
In all seriousness, I'd like to submit that the secret of/.'s success is this: users first.
Chips, Dips, Taco and the Dot
on
Slashdot Turns 5
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
Who else remembers the days of Chips n Dips?:-)
As one of the first/. readers, I have to say it's been incredible watching this site grow into what it has become. Congratulations Taco and the rest of the crew; you have not only created a wonderful destination for nerds interested in stuff that matters, but you have also at least in some part created an entire genre of sites. For this, we all thank you.
The Kinesis changed my life, pure and simple. Before this keyboard I tried many alternatives, including the MS Natural keyboard, and none of them releived me of the constant pain in my hands. At one point in my career it got so bad that the pain at night prevented me from sleeping -- even if I spent a day or two away from the computer.
After trying the Kinesis, not only do I feel that my typing is faster (and ABSOLUTELY more comfortable), my pain is all but gone -- and this includes stretches of days with 20 hours of typing per day.
It's impossible for me to heap enough superlatives at this product. To say that it saved my career as a computer scientist is not overstating it. I can recommend it whole-heartedly, and urge anyone who has pain to at least give it a shot.
I'm in no way associated with Kineses (other than being a very satisfied customer) but I am so impressed with their keyboards that I actually offered to invest in the company (at the time they weren't soliciting outside investors).
Here is where I bought my keyboard (see the picture of it on the home page): DMB Ergonomics
And here is some additional information that might be helpful: Alternative Keyboards
Slashdot Mirror
It's considered slightly advantageous to play with the white pieces, so an even number of games is almost required in order to have a fair match.
Also, an odd number of games does not guarantee to not result in a tie, since all of the games could be draws.
Did anyone see the highlights on SportsCenter? F-ing hiliarious. Kasparov moved his Queen, then they cut to a full stadium everyone cheering. Slo-mo replays of moves. Tellestrator.
Part of me thought they took it a little too far (poking fun at chess fans), but for the most part it was absolute hilarity.
For anyone who hasn't tried it, I heartily recommend attempting at least one home-brew batch (if you're a beer fan, of course). For less money than a case of commercial beer, you'll end up with something that tastes significantly better, and it's less work than you would imagine!
;-)
If you buy a kit (not Mr. Beer, but a real kit), do a little research, and commit about an hour of your time and two weeks of patience, you'll be rewarded with some of the best beer you've ever had, plus the pride of having made it yourself. Try it, you'll like it!
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/01/26/028207 &mode=thread&tid=126
Two days ago.
On a semi-related topic, does anyone have good recommendations on PC encosulres (or complete systems) that are suitable for a home a stereo rack? I'm looking for something that is both functional and esthetically pleasing.
Thanks in advance.
I see a number of people talking about the $3,000 price tag of this thing (which, in my opinion, is about $2,500 too much ;-)
Yet Amazon, who claims to be "the only place to buy the Segway HT," is selling them for $4,950.
What am I missing?
Well, I can't let a /. post about input devices go by without talking about my beloved Kinesis keyboard. If you have heard about it and are on the fence about trying one out -- don't hesitate!
From my journal:
The Kinesis keyboard has done nothing less than save my career. While starting a company in 1995 the long work days took a toll on my hands. After seeing doctor after doctor and specialist after specialist the best advice they could offer was "type less." Thank you very much, but I had deadlines to meet.
Everything changed when I splurged $300 for the Kinesis Contour keyboard. There are four major differences between this keyboard and the others out there, and together they make typing feel to me like I'm running down hill.
1. Separated "key wells" (you have to see the picture to understand) which allow a much more natural hand position.
2. Keys are lined up directly above each other (i.e. the T key is directly north of the G key, not up-to-the-left). This makes your fingers extend out and back, not out and back and side to side.
3. The key wells are curved, which brings the keys on the upper and lower parts of the keybard closer to your fingertips. This is probably the single largest factor contributing to the "running down hill" feeling.
4. Thumbs. Your thumbs are the two strongest digits on your hands. I don't know about you, but the way I used to type I would only use one of my thumbs, and only for one key (the space bar). My left thumb sat dormant. What a waste! Additionally, two of my most actively used fingers were my pinkeys due to the RET, Backspace and Control keys. Guess which fingers are your weakest? On the Kinesis, the thumbs get the most commonly used keys. I've got a couple of buttons re-mapped (due mostly to Emacs usage patterns) so the four major thumb buttons are Control, Alt, Return and Space. I couldn't live any other way.
Give it a try. You won't regret it.
Kinesis home page
-Pez
Either that, or he just registered a loooong time ago ;-)
-Pez
"If you had built a decent system instead of sitting around and whining, we could be doing something else instead of sitting around listening to your whining."
Man, did that quote put me off. I wonder, for instance, what compiler Larry uses to build BitKeeper. Or what version of shell utils. Or what editor. Or what MTA. Or what DNS server.
RMS and friends *did* build a decent system, which is exactly the reason that Larry is getting all of this publicity for BitKeeper. Think anyone would have heard of BitKeeper if Linus didn't endorse it? Think anyone would have heard of Linus if it weren't for RMS' "decent system"?
-Pez
On a semi-related topic, I've often wondered why the post office doesn't implement some sort of mapping from IDs to addresses. Just think of how inefficient it is for a person to notify everyone s/he knows each time s/he moves. Multiply that by the number of people that move each day. I'm surprised the USPS has any time left to deliver the real mail.
:-)
Now imagine how easy it would be to update one central database with your new address, and your mail would automatically find you. USPS, are you listening?
-Pez
The GNU/Linux arguments that RMS supports are *anything* but irrational. They are the most reasoned and rational arguments I've ever read.
Whether you agree with them, on the other hand....... that's another story entirely.
-Pez
The Kinesis keyboard has done nothing less than save my career. While starting a company in 1995 the long work days took a toll on my hands. After seeing doctor after doctor and specialist after specialist the best advice they could offer was "type less." Thank you very much, but I had deadlines to meet.
Everything changed when I splurged $300 for the Kinesis Contour keyboard. There are four major differences between this keyboard and the others out there, and together they make typing feel to me like I'm running down hill.
1. Separated "key wells" (you have to see the picture to understand) which allow a much more natural hand position.
2. Keys are lined up directly above each other (i.e. the T key is directly north of the G key, not up-to-the-left). This makes your fingers extend out and back, not out and back and side to side.
3. The key wells are curved, which brings the keys on the upper and lower parts of the keybard closer to your fingertips. This is probably the single largest factor contributing to the "running down hill" feeling.
4. Thumbs. Your thumbs are the two strongest digits on your hands. I don't know about you, but the way I used to type I would only use one of my thumbs, and only for one key (the space bar). My left thumb sat dormant. What a waste! Additionally, two of my most actively used fingers were my pinkeys due to the RET, Backspace and Control keys. Guess which fingers are your weakest? On the Kinesis, the thumbs get the most commonly used keys. I've got a couple of buttons re-mapped (due mostly to Emacs usage patterns) so the four major thumb buttons are Control, Alt, Return and Space. I couldn't live any other way.
Give it a try. You won't regret it.
Kinesis home page
-Pez
I've seen a couple of IDs lower than mine on this article, including #7. Now *that* is impressive.
-Pez
I do a lot of reading and absorbing ;-)
/. every day -- most days at least a few times. When I feel like I have something to add that would be interesting to someone else, only then do I post. (OK, so today seems to be a big exception to that rule ;-)
Seriously, I do read
-Pez
There's another thread on this article where I saw user #7. With Taco & Hemos at #1 and #2 respectively, that's pretty impressive.
-Pez
Wow. I wonder, for instance, how many of the first 100 accounts are still reading /. today, and how many of them ever post.
Here is an email I sent to Taco in 1998, when Slashdot was still privately held. How funny!
/.'s statistics of 300,000 page views /. is roughly three times /. paying for /. is actually *making* money, as /. went
>I don't know if you saw the following article, but EarthWeb recently
>IPO'd to the tune of almost $400 million dollars. Their draw? They
>have a web site that attracts technically-savvy viewers. The
>upshot? Because of their targeted audience they can charge a very
>high $68 CPM.
>
>Lessee... if we take
>yesterday, and multiply by $68/1000, we get $20,400. Multiplying
>that by 365 days in a year we get a lofty $7.4 million dollars.
>Compare that to EarthWeb's paltry $1.9 million for the first three
>quarters of 1998, and we estimate that
>bigger.
>
>Now, from a recent story we learned that not only is
>itself, it's allowing you to draw a salary and pay your rent as
>well. We can conclude that
>opposed to EarthWeb, which is losing money to the tune of roughly
>$7.5 million dollars a year.
>
>Taking all of this very scientific data into account, if
>public, one could expect the market capitalization to be greater
>than $1.2 billion (yes, that's billion) dollars.
>
>;-)
>
>-Pez
Yes, slightly. We also tend to post more nostalgic pieces ;-)
-Pez
Heh. How many test accounts do you think Taco had? :-)
In all seriousness, I'd like to submit that the secret of /.'s success is this: users first.
Who else remembers the days of Chips n Dips? :-)
/. readers, I have to say it's been incredible watching this site grow into what it has become. Congratulations Taco and the rest of the crew; you have not only created a wonderful destination for nerds interested in stuff that matters, but you have also at least in some part created an entire genre of sites. For this, we all thank you.
As one of the first
How can you ignore the Glorious MEEPT! ????
The Kinesis changed my life, pure and simple. Before this keyboard I tried many alternatives, including the MS Natural keyboard, and none of them releived me of the constant pain in my hands. At one point in my career it got so bad that the pain at night prevented me from sleeping -- even if I spent a day or two away from the computer.
After trying the Kinesis, not only do I feel that my typing is faster (and ABSOLUTELY more comfortable), my pain is all but gone -- and this includes stretches of days with 20 hours of typing per day.
It's impossible for me to heap enough superlatives at this product. To say that it saved my career as a computer scientist is not overstating it. I can recommend it whole-heartedly, and urge anyone who has pain to at least give it a shot.
I'm in no way associated with Kineses (other than being a very satisfied customer) but I am so impressed with their keyboards that I actually offered to invest in the company (at the time they weren't soliciting outside investors).
Here is where I bought my keyboard (see the picture of it on the home page): DMB Ergonomics
And here is some additional information that might be helpful:
Alternative Keyboards
Typing Injury FAQ
Love, Terrorism, Ginger, Star Trek and Stallman. What a strange mix of topics.
I wonder why this posting doesn't even crack the top-10 Most Visited Stories?
Somehow I think it would lack the "umph" if it wasn't Senor Taco.