A AGREE 100%, and this is from someone who lives in a "battleground" state. First of all I wish the candidates would have to "spead the wealth" with the campaign adds so that we aren't so swamped by them. Secondly, you're also less of a Citizen by voting from one of those states.
Take New York for instance... According to the 2000 census, the US has 281,421,906 residents. Of that, 18,976,457 live in New York. In other words New York represents 6.74306% of the US population. With New York having 31 of the possible 538 Electoral Votes, that means that New York only represents 5.76208% of the possible Electoral Votes. That means that if you vote in New York, only 85.45199% of your vote is counted.
You have to obey 100% of the laws, a soldier who gives his life from New York gives 100% of his life, and the IRS is definately going to require 100% of your taxes. Yet when it comes to electing the President, the country only cares 85.45199% about what you think.
Compare that to Wyoming which has 0.175% of the population but 0.557% of the electoral votes. So each voter in Wyoming is worth 3.719 New York Voters.
For an interesting perspective, look up the great 3/5ths compromise, and realize that if you live in a populous state, the government doesn't consider you worth much more than a slave.
Tried to vote this morning, Gave my Name, Address, and showed my Drivers License, and was told I wasn't registered. I pulled out my voter registration card, to prove that I was registered, and the attendant looked in her book and told me that there were no voters registered at my address. Despite me having a 20 day old card stating the opposite
I leaned in and looked at the book (breaking every rule in the book by looking at the book) and saw my name and pointed to it. The attendant looked at my name and stated, "but your drivers license says 2950 Ridge Rd, but in my book it says 2951 Ridge Rd" (an address which does not exist)
She spent 20 minutes on the phone with the board of elections trying to figure out what it is she was supposed to do.
Despite having a drivers license with 2950, a voter registration card with 2950, she was bound and determined not to let me vote because her book said 2951. I asked what paperwork I would need to fill out if I wanted to claim that I had moved. She explained that I could fill out the paperwork, but my vote would not be counted until the paperwork cleared. Figuring that would mean my vote would only be counted in a disputed recount situation (if even then) this wasn't acceptable to me either.
Finally another attendant called the Board of Elections (because I was starting to get very agitated) and discovered I could fill out the change of address forms with me, vote, and then turn the forms into the board of elections today.
I'm still not convinced my vote will get counted. I was given an "I Voted" sticker, and wondered if I did or not.
it plays every format you can throw at it, including.ogg and flac, as opposed to the ipod which converts everything to.aac..aac is great, but that's like a graphic viewer that converts everything to jpeg before displaying it..aac is a lossy format, so is.mp3 and many of the others. Convert from one lossy format to another and while it isn't as bad as an analog copy, you DO loose some quality.
That's the design "feature" if the ipod which really is a flaw. Yes the interface is great, so is the integration with itunes, but it's dependancy on only 1 format is not.
What was even more humerous back when I worked in the video game industry, was the enormous amount of middleware companies touting that their technology was behind TF2 and that their product was the reason it why the game was made so well. It seemed like every industry publication had at least 2 advertisements in them for TF2 technology, and we'd get a pamphlet in the mail once a week from others.
Will drivers licenses have EULA's?
Instead of being "Mr. Goodwrench" certified, will all future mechanics be called MCAE's (Microsoft Certified Automotive Engineers)
If your sister tries to drive the car, will it complain about non Windows approved drivers?
You turn left out of your driveway and a little paperclip holding a map says "It looks like you are going to work, would you like directions?" you say no and continue down the road. At the next intersection a paperclip holding a map pops up and says "It looks like you are going to your mother-in-law's house, would you like directions?" You say no and continue driving. You turn left onto a large pier overlooking the ocean. A little paperclip appears holding a map and says "It looks like you are lost, would you like directions?" You wedge a brick on the accelerator and step out of the vehicle and watch it sail off the end of the pier.
a little paperclip holding a map and wearing scuba gear pops up and says "You appear to be underwater, would you like directions?"
There are several other possibilities. You could buy Photoshop elements for much less, Adobe benefits. You could use the GIMP, and Open Source benefits.
What you are doing is using a piece of software you have no business using. Adobe is in the business of making money, and what you are doing is depriving them of the opportunity of making a sale.
But in the back of a recent Popular Science they show a cover story from 1935 about personal autogyros, and how they will lead to flying cars in the near future. I think flying cars have been predicted since not long after the Wrights.
I remember writing my first shareware game in (don't laugh) gbasic. I spent 3 months reducing the file size from 80k to 31k so that people could download it from BBS' faster. 2 weeks later Doom was released and suddenly people equated file size with quality.
I ended up making a 1 meg.tiff and sticking it in the zip file, and my downloads increased significantly.
BTW the game made me a whopping $25 which as I promised in the shareware nag screen, went towards my college education... Ahh to be 15 again.
I guess if you have nothing else to do with your money, this may be something interesting, but it just doesn't seem to fit.
I have an iRiver IHP-120 which I love, and have with me virtually everywhere, and beat the hell out of just by daily use. The cost of this Archos would make me leave it inside rather that drop it in my pocket and hop on the tractor (yes there are some of us rural type geeks:) I'd be too afraid to crack the screen, or otherwise break it.
So you're left with a movie player. An $800 portable movie player. WHY? As others have said you can grab a decent laptop for less than that, or even a $200, 3 year old laptop off of ebay will do everything device does. Sure it's not as cute or pretty, but seriously...
Every driver gets a moron gun. When someone cuts you off, is speeding like a maniac etc. you "tag" their car with a moron bullet. If they get enough of them it's a ticket...
I was in the processing of browsing Mombo's webpage trying to decide if it was the right CMS for my use. Suddenly it dies with a "This site is temporarily unavailable" error.
As "The computer guy" among other things in a small office, I'll say this is something that definately interests me. As more and more of my day gets consumed with cleaning systems ridden with viruses and spyware (Yes I have scanners and all the usual crap up there, but this isn't my "full time" job here and shouldn't have to be) I've been contemplating just making the whole office switch to Linux.
Obviously that's a huge jump and the right distro is important. I've been strongly considering Gentoo mosty for keeping the systems up to date and secure (leave everyone in the stable tree, and cron a nightly GLSA to patch all known security holes, and emerge -uD world)
As "administration free" as it seems right now in thought, I am a bit concerned of the nightmare it could become if things get unorderly.
With Red Hat abandoning the business desktop a dedicated business desktop with the open source community behind it is exactly what I am looking for. I admire Sun's Java desktop and Xandros' Business desktop, but I guess I'm just too spoiled by the Debian and Gentoo forums. Both are very active with loads of people helping out. For me I'd much rather get my help that way as apposed to waiting on hold to talk to the next know nothing tech support person.
"It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything."
Joseph Stalin
I'm not saying Codeweavers and Transgaming aren't supporting Linux, I'm saying if I buy Warcraft III and play it under WineX, I am giving Blizzard money for making a game for Windows.
What insentive do they have for making Warcraft IV Linux compatable if Transgaming will do all the hard work for them?
Bioware overcame a lot of hurdles to make NWN available under Linux, including forcing MILES to make their sound system Linux compatable. Yes it took them a long time to do it, but it did happen. Every company that pruduces games for Linux is a major ally. The next time Bioware produces a game, they will know which technology will allow them to make it more cross platform. The next time a company uses the MILES audio system, it will be easier for them to convert the game to native linux.
This is what is important, companies contemplating Linux. The next company that uses the UT engine can convert their game easily to linux. The company that uses the LithTech engine can not.
I'd rather support those who are supporting the Linux community.
First of all there are many great Open Source games out there, Frozen Bubble and TORCS come quickly to mind.
Secondly games like Neverwinter Nights and UT2k4 are amazing, not just for the games themselves, but for the mod communities that surround them. Who cares if you can't give Sony $13 or $15 a month to play everquest. Give your money to Bioware and thank them for making a game so open that people have created MMORPG's that can be played freely with their software.
Same with UT. One look at duffer's golf, a complete Golf mod sold me on UT. I'm honestly not that interested in Golf, but if one can be made, and if it's a mod it'll run on windows and Linux, it's just the tip of the iceburg as to what can be done by modding the engine.
These are the companies and the mod communities we should be supporting. Yes there are a few windows games I'd like to play, but I'd rather not give those companies my money, since to them, I'm just another windows user.
Slashdot Mirror
Take New York for instance... According to the 2000 census, the US has 281,421,906 residents. Of that, 18,976,457 live in New York. In other words New York represents 6.74306% of the US population. With New York having 31 of the possible 538 Electoral Votes, that means that New York only represents 5.76208% of the possible Electoral Votes. That means that if you vote in New York, only 85.45199% of your vote is counted.
You have to obey 100% of the laws, a soldier who gives his life from New York gives 100% of his life, and the IRS is definately going to require 100% of your taxes. Yet when it comes to electing the President, the country only cares 85.45199% about what you think.
Compare that to Wyoming which has 0.175% of the population but 0.557% of the electoral votes. So each voter in Wyoming is worth 3.719 New York Voters.
For an interesting perspective, look up the great 3/5ths compromise, and realize that if you live in a populous state, the government doesn't consider you worth much more than a slave.
I leaned in and looked at the book (breaking every rule in the book by looking at the book) and saw my name and pointed to it. The attendant looked at my name and stated, "but your drivers license says 2950 Ridge Rd, but in my book it says 2951 Ridge Rd" (an address which does not exist)
She spent 20 minutes on the phone with the board of elections trying to figure out what it is she was supposed to do.
Despite having a drivers license with 2950, a voter registration card with 2950, she was bound and determined not to let me vote because her book said 2951. I asked what paperwork I would need to fill out if I wanted to claim that I had moved. She explained that I could fill out the paperwork, but my vote would not be counted until the paperwork cleared. Figuring that would mean my vote would only be counted in a disputed recount situation (if even then) this wasn't acceptable to me either.
Finally another attendant called the Board of Elections (because I was starting to get very agitated) and discovered I could fill out the change of address forms with me, vote, and then turn the forms into the board of elections today.
I'm still not convinced my vote will get counted. I was given an "I Voted" sticker, and wondered if I did or not.
it plays every format you can throw at it, including
That's the design "feature" if the ipod which really is a flaw. Yes the interface is great, so is the integration with itunes, but it's dependancy on only 1 format is not.
Read The F Fine Print At The Bottom
Hmmm maybe it won't catch on.
hmmm. Wonder where they are now?
Imagine a Beowulf Cluster... Oh yeah, it's called rush hour.
Instead of being "Mr. Goodwrench" certified, will all future mechanics be called MCAE's (Microsoft Certified Automotive Engineers)
If your sister tries to drive the car, will it complain about non Windows approved drivers?
This is just waaaaay too easy
I'd give it a +1 funny if I could
a little paperclip holding a map and wearing scuba gear pops up and says "You appear to be underwater, would you like directions?"
What you are doing is using a piece of software you have no business using. Adobe is in the business of making money, and what you are doing is depriving them of the opportunity of making a sale.
But in the back of a recent Popular Science they show a cover story from 1935 about personal autogyros, and how they will lead to flying cars in the near future. I think flying cars have been predicted since not long after the Wrights.
Wow, Everyone doesn't use gopher???
I ended up making a 1 meg .tiff and sticking it in the zip file, and my downloads increased significantly.
BTW the game made me a whopping $25 which as I promised in the shareware nag screen, went towards my college education... Ahh to be 15 again.
Why not, It works for Fox News
*Poof* It's gone. It's just temporary, but it always makes me feel better at the end of the day.
I have an iRiver IHP-120 which I love, and have with me virtually everywhere, and beat the hell out of just by daily use. The cost of this Archos would make me leave it inside rather that drop it in my pocket and hop on the tractor (yes there are some of us rural type geeks :) I'd be too afraid to crack the screen, or otherwise break it.
So you're left with a movie player. An $800 portable movie player. WHY? As others have said you can grab a decent laptop for less than that, or even a $200, 3 year old laptop off of ebay will do everything device does. Sure it's not as cute or pretty, but seriously...
Every driver gets a moron gun. When someone cuts you off, is speeding like a maniac etc. you "tag" their car with a moron bullet. If they get enough of them it's a ticket...
I check slashdot, and now I know why it's dead.
Obviously that's a huge jump and the right distro is important. I've been strongly considering Gentoo mosty for keeping the systems up to date and secure (leave everyone in the stable tree, and cron a nightly GLSA to patch all known security holes, and emerge -uD world)
As "administration free" as it seems right now in thought, I am a bit concerned of the nightmare it could become if things get unorderly.
With Red Hat abandoning the business desktop a dedicated business desktop with the open source community behind it is exactly what I am looking for. I admire Sun's Java desktop and Xandros' Business desktop, but I guess I'm just too spoiled by the Debian and Gentoo forums. Both are very active with loads of people helping out. For me I'd much rather get my help that way as apposed to waiting on hold to talk to the next know nothing tech support person.
Would the Consumer model of these chips be called BiAthlons?
"It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." Joseph Stalin
Though, it can help you find Slashdot http://us-search.blinkx.com/BlinkxBroadband/?q=lit igious+bastards&x=10&y=6
What insentive do they have for making Warcraft IV Linux compatable if Transgaming will do all the hard work for them?
Bioware overcame a lot of hurdles to make NWN available under Linux, including forcing MILES to make their sound system Linux compatable. Yes it took them a long time to do it, but it did happen. Every company that pruduces games for Linux is a major ally. The next time Bioware produces a game, they will know which technology will allow them to make it more cross platform. The next time a company uses the MILES audio system, it will be easier for them to convert the game to native linux.
This is what is important, companies contemplating Linux. The next company that uses the UT engine can convert their game easily to linux. The company that uses the LithTech engine can not.
First of all there are many great Open Source games out there, Frozen Bubble and TORCS come quickly to mind.
Secondly games like Neverwinter Nights and UT2k4 are amazing, not just for the games themselves, but for the mod communities that surround them. Who cares if you can't give Sony $13 or $15 a month to play everquest. Give your money to Bioware and thank them for making a game so open that people have created MMORPG's that can be played freely with their software.
Same with UT. One look at duffer's golf, a complete Golf mod sold me on UT. I'm honestly not that interested in Golf, but if one can be made, and if it's a mod it'll run on windows and Linux, it's just the tip of the iceburg as to what can be done by modding the engine.
These are the companies and the mod communities we should be supporting. Yes there are a few windows games I'd like to play, but I'd rather not give those companies my money, since to them, I'm just another windows user.