Is the implication here that someone/thing/agency might have an inherent right to force me to modify the way I use my web browser (Firefox extensions, for example)?
I should not have to dig through an install list to see if there is *anything* hidden in there
I'm not paranoid about cookies, but why do I have about 15 of them that originate from Slashdot? When did Slashdot start requiring cookie placement from *.slashdot.org?
That is obviously true, but what about the mass psychology behind it? Why do people flock to/glom on to entertainment that feature big names? It's certainly usually not for the quality of the performances.
All those "celebrity magazines" in the checkout lines of supermarkets must exist for a reason, the question is whether they actually get bought (I've never seen anyone buying one) or if they're really just loss leader advertising for the star-making factory.
I was going to go see War of the Worlds this weekend with my son (having seen the other versions and listened to the radio play) but now I think I'll wait until it comes out on video. I'll save forty bucks and encourage him to download the broadcast and rent the older movies rather than supporting Mapother's looney, media-pandering behaviour.
The same applies through-out all the different regions of the english speaking world. Australians, Brits, Canadians, etc...
I think you'll find that Canucks have less use for "pet" local words/terms than the Aussies and Brits. WTF are these following localisms foisted upon us supposed to mean?
"bap"
"pear-shaped"
"banjaxed"
"taking the piss"
"bumbershoot"
"give a toss"
"gob"
"put paid to"
"squiffy"
"tuck into"
"whinge"
"pukka"
The problem with changing spellings is that the more we do it, the less the current generation can comprehend writings from the past
It also works the other way - "current generations" (say, 30-40 year-olds) not understanding the communications of the younger people. Language changes are a natural thing (especially now with metaphors needed to describe software behaviour/functions) but it's more and more my impression that changes are adopted due to pop culture - i.e., marketing, branding and the like.
And of course the coolness factor, that always works for those that want to differentiate themselves from the mainstream, boring people.
This is a great topic and your last sentence is spot-on.
A few hundred posts ago I essentially wrote the same thing. I guess I should subscribe so I can see all my previous comments and cringe (not for the grammar or spelling, for the content).
PHP lends itself to sloppier code than some other languages. Or rather, it _allows_ you to write sloppy code. But this is only a disadvantage if the developer is unskilled/undisciplined.
I have no idea how to program, but you're probably right. Making (note my leet description here) stuff easy to do often opens up all kinds of holes for evildoers if the previously-mentioned stuff is open to the world at large, i.e., the internet.
Re:The future of Podcasting here?
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P2P and TV
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But what happens to all those jobs that are lost as a result of big companies being forced to compete for the customers' attention?
Here it comes, the C word:
http://www.answers.com/topic/guaranteed-minimum- income
Until someone realizes that "computerization" of menial mental tasks (and sometimes not-so menial tasks) are rapidly being supplanted by technology, the dog-eat-dog underlying philosophy of the economic system that got us to this point will continue.
Neither Adam Smith nor Karl Marx could have predicted our current economic/geopolitical situation.
I subscribe to digital TV in Canada where I get to choose 30 channels (yes, CanCon is a factor - Scream, Space, Bravo, MPIX etc.). I've dumped ABC, NBC and CBS in favour of more interesting sources. There's nothing compelling on the big 3 US networks that I can be bothered to pay for. I kept FOX just for the Simpsons and Family Guy.
The formerly powerful US channels have mostly degenerated into catering to the soap opera crowd that also like scripted conflict and false, almost-live fabricated drama. And maybe some worm-eating and explosions for good measure.
Most likely, as an "audio engineer" you are using Monster Cable and your idea of the "perfect sound system" has something to do with selling the most expensive components possible to tin-eared wealthy people that just want the latest best in order to impress their peers/keep you in business.
But who am I to complain? Marketing makes the world go 'round.
This reminds me of Steve Martin's routine about Googlephonics and 3, no, wait, 4, no, wait, 5-bladed razors.
People find certain science fiction concepts so cool, they try to make new technologies emulate the fiction. A good example of this? Star Trek and Cell phones. No, Star Trek didn't create cell phones, but it certainly influenced their direction and design.
The design of cel phones (you are likely thinking of the "flip-open" ones - was that the original Motorola Star-Tac?) were more influenced by the 'buttons-pushed-accidentally' phenomenon rather than the 'Star-Trek-used-them' phenomenon.
I can perform the following actions with one hand holding the iPod and my thumb controlling it:
What are you, some kind of one-fingered freak? When I get a new electronic/technology toy, I want to use all my fingers so as to demonstrate my manual dexterity and leetness. Much the same way as when I use my whole ass to do jobs that others claim I only used half of it for.
Didn't Nixon propose some kind of national minimum income before he got ousted?
After a bit of Googling I find out that the major reasons against this was freeloaders abusing the system (plus ca change...) and the wealthy objecting to it on principle (http://www.wavsite.com/sounds/57664/daffy11.wav).
Let's take the fact that the USA pays far more for less treatment than the rest of the world, work out what these insurance costs are going to be in a few years time, and then pretend it'll cost the same for a nationalised service. Oh! Taxes will double!
Perhaps the time-honoured tradition of the grifter mentality (well-respected in the United States as a way for the little guy to get ahead) was taken into account for the estimated costs. AKA: Fuck you all! I'm a gonna get rich!
I told her to start lying and tailor the resume for the position she applies for. funny how removing the masters degree from her resume increased call-backs for interviews significantly.
Small-minded people (who also have some form of power over others) instinctively resent and reject those that they perceive to be a threat to their status.
Instead of thinking, "Hey, that's cool, how can we improve it" they think, "Hey, I can't compete with this new thing, let's kill it".
And as usual, it's the impatient wannabes/status-seekers/shallow people that fuck everything up for everyone else.
What happens when society just doesn't need as many people that are looking for work? Does the economy then create "fake" jobs (AKA adult daycare)? We are rapidly approaching this point due to advances in computers and software, but the "nose to the grindstone" clan fails to acknowledge it.
I work in a field and job that I like and think is important, but many white collar workers today are just filling somewhat questionable positions only for the salary.
Perhaps my outlook is a result of being over 40 and realizing that money isn't everything in life, but the enlightened already know this - the current game seems to be formatting people to function in an economic system that is no longer really required.
My point was that sex-related crimes too often leave the victim psychologically damaged for a long time in many ways that hinder them from enjoying emotional, intimate relationships afterwards. In most cases, the perpetrators know this beforehand and act without regard for others' mental well-being (as compared to the other crimes you mention).
Slashdot Mirror
Is the implication here that someone/thing/agency might have an inherent right to force me to modify the way I use my web browser (Firefox extensions, for example)?
I should not have to dig through an install list to see if there is *anything* hidden in there
I'm not paranoid about cookies, but why do I have about 15 of them that originate from Slashdot? When did Slashdot start requiring cookie placement from *.slashdot.org?
That is obviously true, but what about the mass psychology behind it? Why do people flock to/glom on to entertainment that feature big names? It's certainly usually not for the quality of the performances.
All those "celebrity magazines" in the checkout lines of supermarkets must exist for a reason, the question is whether they actually get bought (I've never seen anyone buying one) or if they're really just loss leader advertising for the star-making factory.
I was going to go see War of the Worlds this weekend with my son (having seen the other versions and listened to the radio play) but now I think I'll wait until it comes out on video. I'll save forty bucks and encourage him to download the broadcast and rent the older movies rather than supporting Mapother's looney, media-pandering behaviour.
The same applies through-out all the different regions of the english speaking world. Australians, Brits, Canadians, etc...
I think you'll find that Canucks have less use for "pet" local words/terms than the Aussies and Brits. WTF are these following localisms foisted upon us supposed to mean?
"bap"
"pear-shaped"
"banjaxed"
"taking the piss"
"bumbershoot"
"give a toss"
"gob"
"put paid to"
"squiffy"
"tuck into"
"whinge"
"pukka"
I dare not trundle into Oz-speak.
How much time has collectively been lost saying "Double-U, Double-U, Double-U" for "World Wide Web"? Can we not figure this out?
Don't most browsers/hosts now assume the "www" part? I'm no web genius, but I instructed my hosting company to enable this years ago.
An easy way to remember this:
i.e. - in explanation
Or,
"i.e." essentially means, "in other words"
People writing 'explanation' as 'explaination' is annoying, but understandable.
The problem with changing spellings is that the more we do it, the less the current generation can comprehend writings from the past
It also works the other way - "current generations" (say, 30-40 year-olds) not understanding the communications of the younger people. Language changes are a natural thing (especially now with metaphors needed to describe software behaviour/functions) but it's more and more my impression that changes are adopted due to pop culture - i.e., marketing, branding and the like.
And of course the coolness factor, that always works for those that want to differentiate themselves from the mainstream, boring people.
This is a great topic and your last sentence is spot-on.
A few hundred posts ago I essentially wrote the same thing. I guess I should subscribe so I can see all my previous comments and cringe (not for the grammar or spelling, for the content).
PHP lends itself to sloppier code than some other languages. Or rather, it _allows_ you to write sloppy code. But this is only a disadvantage if the developer is unskilled/undisciplined.
I have no idea how to program, but you're probably right. Making (note my leet description here) stuff easy to do often opens up all kinds of holes for evildoers if the previously-mentioned stuff is open to the world at large, i.e., the internet.
But what happens to all those jobs that are lost as a result of big companies being forced to compete for the customers' attention?
Here it comes, the C word:
http://www.answers.com/topic/guaranteed-minimum
Until someone realizes that "computerization" of menial mental tasks (and sometimes not-so menial tasks) are rapidly being supplanted by technology, the dog-eat-dog underlying philosophy of the economic system that got us to this point will continue.
Neither Adam Smith nor Karl Marx could have predicted our current economic/geopolitical situation.
I subscribe to digital TV in Canada where I get to choose 30 channels (yes, CanCon is a factor - Scream, Space, Bravo, MPIX etc.). I've dumped ABC, NBC and CBS in favour of more interesting sources. There's nothing compelling on the big 3 US networks that I can be bothered to pay for. I kept FOX just for the Simpsons and Family Guy.
The formerly powerful US channels have mostly degenerated into catering to the soap opera crowd that also like scripted conflict and false, almost-live fabricated drama. And maybe some worm-eating and explosions for good measure.
Most likely, as an "audio engineer" you are using Monster Cable and your idea of the "perfect sound system" has something to do with selling the most expensive components possible to tin-eared wealthy people that just want the latest best in order to impress their peers/keep you in business.
But who am I to complain? Marketing makes the world go 'round.
This reminds me of Steve Martin's routine about Googlephonics and 3, no, wait, 4, no, wait, 5-bladed razors.
Its called marketing
No, I think that's called creative accounting and/or money management.
Jackson actually looks more like a large, hairy Dwarf, not a turned-bad Hobbit.
It's only a model.
Someone's been watching Dr. Who on CBC recently.
People find certain science fiction concepts so cool, they try to make new technologies emulate the fiction. A good example of this? Star Trek and Cell phones. No, Star Trek didn't create cell phones, but it certainly influenced their direction and design.
The design of cel phones (you are likely thinking of the "flip-open" ones - was that the original Motorola Star-Tac?) were more influenced by the 'buttons-pushed-accidentally' phenomenon rather than the 'Star-Trek-used-them' phenomenon.
Neither is Canada, but they have lots of oil as well.
I can perform the following actions with one hand holding the iPod and my thumb controlling it:
What are you, some kind of one-fingered freak? When I get a new electronic/technology toy, I want to use all my fingers so as to demonstrate my manual dexterity and leetness. Much the same way as when I use my whole ass to do jobs that others claim I only used half of it for.
Didn't Nixon propose some kind of national minimum income before he got ousted?
After a bit of Googling I find out that the major reasons against this was freeloaders abusing the system (plus ca change...) and the wealthy objecting to it on principle (http://www.wavsite.com/sounds/57664/daffy11.wav)
Let's take the fact that the USA pays far more for less treatment than the rest of the world, work out what these insurance costs are going to be in a few years time, and then pretend it'll cost the same for a nationalised service. Oh! Taxes will double!
Perhaps the time-honoured tradition of the grifter mentality (well-respected in the United States as a way for the little guy to get ahead) was taken into account for the estimated costs. AKA: Fuck you all! I'm a gonna get rich!
I told her to start lying and tailor the resume for the position she applies for. funny how removing the masters degree from her resume increased call-backs for interviews significantly.
Small-minded people (who also have some form of power over others) instinctively resent and reject those that they perceive to be a threat to their status.
Instead of thinking, "Hey, that's cool, how can we improve it" they think, "Hey, I can't compete with this new thing, let's kill it".
And as usual, it's the impatient wannabes/status-seekers/shallow people that fuck everything up for everyone else.
What happens when society just doesn't need as many people that are looking for work? Does the economy then create "fake" jobs (AKA adult daycare)? We are rapidly approaching this point due to advances in computers and software, but the "nose to the grindstone" clan fails to acknowledge it.
I work in a field and job that I like and think is important, but many white collar workers today are just filling somewhat questionable positions only for the salary.
Perhaps my outlook is a result of being over 40 and realizing that money isn't everything in life, but the enlightened already know this - the current game seems to be formatting people to function in an economic system that is no longer really required.
Marketers usually have about four levels of reported performance adjectives for any given product introduction:
- Great
- Super
- Super-Duper
- Overwhelming
Any marketer caught expressing anything other than the pre-approved terminology is summarily shot (or so I hear).
My point was that sex-related crimes too often leave the victim psychologically damaged for a long time in many ways that hinder them from enjoying emotional, intimate relationships afterwards. In most cases, the perpetrators know this beforehand and act without regard for others' mental well-being (as compared to the other crimes you mention).
Thanks for the reply.