You mean like how Apple would NEVER go with x86 processors or how Intel would NEVER go with AMD's 64-bit extensions? Both of these were considered extremely unlikely in the past but are today's realities. These changes happened due to customer shifts, competition, and/or better technology. Believe me, if everyone starts eating MS for lunch because of this one sticking point, you can bet they'll support OpenDocument. In fact, much like Intel's 'skunk works' project with the 64-bit extensions, I'm certain they already have it working now.
Oh, how many times have I seen 180's crap come up in an 'Adaware' search? How many hours have I spent cleaning up after their mess? I'd sooo love to be part of a class action lawsuit against these guys.
Mind you, installing stuff with the permission of the user is one thing, installing crapware through ActiveX and Java holes is another.
Don't buy. Right. While you're at it, don't go to any movies that might have RIAA music as part of the soundtrack and don't go to any store that might have a radio playing RIAA music.
LICENSING! That's how the RIAA will out-survive all of us. Even if the entire CD industry collapses, the RIAA will still have licensing rights to all that music. Clearly, the RIAA needs some form of regulation as they are a true monopoly with no real competitors. While we're at it, some clarification on copyright might be in order as well.
The RIAA amazes me because they went from an organization that few but musicians even heard of to one of the most reviled organizations on the planet and... They don't CARE! I guess they don't have to do they?
MS is going to support another company's format (PDF) but they won't support OpenDoc - an OASIS format they indirectly helped create?
Sooner or later this sort of hypocrisy is going to catch up to them and their business practices. No doubt there are legal interpretations of this that will eventually have to be answered as well.
First of all - this is a power struggle, plain and simple. The recordcos are, once again, shooting themselves in the foot. They seem to think they're still in charge - Apple should show them otherwise. The first record company to pull out of iTunes should be made an example of.
Let's say Sony decides to pull out first. Well, then everytime a customer tries to do a search for one of their artists or songs (like Switchfoot for instance), have a big, HUGE message for the customer about how Sony wants to charge more than anyone else does and that Apple isn't playing. Let the iTunes customers know about what Sony is trying to do and to contact them to protest their decision.
Then when Sony finally comes back to the table, Jobs should demand that Sony's songs go 2 for 1 for a time. Jobs has a lot of power here - iTunes is the number one place to get digital music. I hope he realizes it.
Don't be too proud of this technological terror they've constructed. The ability to pirate wares is insignificant next to the power of the government.
I mean sure, you might be able to sneak in a few things here and there, but it's only a matter of time before controls catch up - and in many ways have already caught up. Take a look at Saudi Arabia for instance. They Blue Coat their ENTIRE localized Internet connection! Firewall from HELL! China's moving in that direction too.
Don't believe that the U.S. is so much 'freer' than them. Our gov't seems to do nothing but the **AA's bidding in these matters so it is probably only a matter of time before ISP logging and filtering is required. Ultimately, someone will always find a way to crash a party that gets too big (Like Nap/Grokster).
The 'rules' I was referring to were the rules of engagement. You know, not purposely targeting civilians, that sort of thing? Is that 'dinosaur' thinking to you?
There WAS a difference in the OK bombing - McVeigh was a CITIZEN of the U.S. These jackoffs from Afghanistan and elsewhere aren't even a real army. They are in limbo. Forgive me for not feeling sorry for them.
And how presisely did any Republican gain 'extra power'? And if they have, what do you think they are doing with it? Got any proof, or is this more fear mongering by your side - the side that appears to demand that old ladies be frisked in the airport alongside more reasonable suspects? Your blind-eyed approach to justice is without common sense given the circumstances. And those circumstances ARE different - 9/11 did change a great deal.
IMHO the 'modern age' isn't any different than the past. There's still brutality, there's still conflicts, but there is ONE difference: No clear outcomes. If I'm a dinosaur for wishing for one, so be it.
We Americans didn't come to the U.K. and start blowing random shit up - we defended ourselves on our own territory and the Brits took it to us. Tell me again how taking out the WTC and the Pentagon 'helped' the people in Afghanistan.
This is a holy war based on religious principles. Our own revolution was fought due to high taxation and an inability to control our country's destiny. Nonetheless, the Brits were known to target the homes of our 'terrorists' and kill women and children as well so let's not quibble about who the real terrorists are/were.
But still, you didn't find American 'terrorists' in London then - bombing Big Ben and cutting off your heads in the name of Jesus Christ. That would be a more accurate comparison to what's happening now.
But... The 'rules' have changed haven't they? I mean it's not like the 9/11 bastards showed up in uniforms toting weapons, right? Our laws were made in a time when war was more... Uh... Civilized - if that makes any sense. Maybe organized is a better description.
These people are enemy combatants and I believe the gov't has sufficient evidence to keep them how they like.
And the 'no bail' argument is hardly sufficient for me. Remember, we live in an age of trial lawyers who managed to free O.J. for God's sake! I'm sorry, I'd rather not trust my family's security to lawyers and judges looking to make a name for themselves.
I have an idea: Let's try and convince terrorists to 'follow the rules' from now on, and we'll do the same? Think that'll work?
Maybe we should just go with the other alternative and carpet bomb any SPECK of resistance. You know, the way war USED to be like - winners and losers.
YOU paint yourself into that 'wack-job' corner with statements like this: "...we just don't fscking care anymore."
Yep. Just who America needs to run their country - mad dog libs ready to take a bite out of everything just to have their little way.
And don't get me started about the corrupt.org that is the U.N.! Maybe Bush doesn't like them much since they SCREWED us on so many occasions (like oil for food, N. Korean nukes, etc.) You like talking about LIES, the LIES of G.W. Well, why are you silent about the U.N.'s LIES, huh? Have a LITTLE integrity would you?
Well here's the deal Sparky, you don't own the media anymore - no more one sided bullshit. You'll have to compete for the truth from now on. You have everything else BUT Fox News (with a 65% plus news viewership now). Wow.. It can't be that you're not getting the message out - it MIGHT just be that your message SUCKS.
Kerry lost the last election - not because of the 'machinations' of Karl Rove (last I checked he wasn't running for office), but because Kerry brought NOTHING to the table. Referring people to his website on basic questions on Iraq or the economy, while geeky and great for Slashdotters, is not what most people will want to hear. If you can't sum up what you believe in a few sentences, than people doubt that you believe in anything!
In addition, you need to start acting like winners instead of sore losers. Mind you, that means you KNOW YOUR PLACE and stop acting like you have the majority voice all the time. You don't. Still though, every time a Gore or Dean opens his mouth, he brilliantly gives Rove everything he wants and more. To be honest - Rove can't control the fecal matter you folks spew, so you can only blame yourselves for your predicament.
You you're going to "put my head on a pike" then? VERY democratic of you! I guess the democracy only works when your side wins right? Do you know how many hours I used to sit in front of CNN and go, 'Son of a BITCH you guys SUCK!'? Nonetheless, I kept my civility, I chose to work within the system for a change. Whatever happened to non-partisanship? Oh right, Reps are supposed to be the 'good guys' and just lay down our necks while you sharpen the blade.
The biggest mistake you libs made was screwing the first Bush over with the 'no new taxes' thing. "Oh NOO, Mr. Bush, we won't make politcal hay over this! It's for the good of the country!' Yeah, TEN FUCKING MINUTES later you had Dems in a press conference out there screaming to the media about how Bush broke his promise. Well guess what? You live you learn. And as for you folks, you reap what you sow - that's in the Bible (not sure you'd know that).
That stunt FINALLY galvanized the Reps who, for the previous 30 or so years would usually take the high road and not retaliate or even defend themselves properly against you. Thanks to that brilliant move, you finally proved your party to be completely without morals or truthfulness. Stop blaming Rove for the gift you folks GAVE HIM!
Even the minorities are turning against you. After all, what the hell have you REALLY done for them? What? You think the Civil Rights bill was a Dem idea? Heh. Right. I'm sure Senator Byrd (former member of the KKK) was right behind that. The truth was, it was introduced my Reps and more Republicans voted for that bill, FAR more than Dems. You came to that party a little late also.
To my estimation, what the country is seeing now is the TRUE Left. Unfettered, unchecked, and out of fucking control.
Go get your pike you dumb ass, and I'll keep my 2nd amendment rights handy as well. And keep up the great posts! It helps remind people what you really stand for.
When you have prisoners outright telling you that they plan to pursue their terrorist activities when they get out - that should be an indication that these people should be locked up.
WAKE UP! These 'people' (we judge at least that much by their appearance) follow no laws, have no organized army, and laugh at your reluctance to save thousands of innocent people from their bloodthirsty hands.
Sorry, 90% of America could, quite literally give a shit less about these animals - myself included. Perhaps it's easy for the rest of the world (and even some of my liberal friends in the U.S.) to forget what 9/11 represented - but I don't.
We ARE at war - like it or not. It's undeclared, but it's real. I wonder how many dirty nukes or bio weapon attacks it'll take until that sinks in for everyone?
The guy who posted below you is convinced that we ARE the same country.
The sad thing is, he is totally representative of the Left now - The kooky Left that is currently running the Democratic party. Reality checked out of the Dems party years ago - all they seem to have now is hate. Hate for G.W., hate for anyone that in any way agrees with him. Hate, hate, hate...
Yes I DO think we are different - and you're a fucking idiot if you think otherwise. We have one camp - ONE - filled with the scum of the earth and it has to be where it is because people like you (and your packs of lawyers) would be setting these bastards free once they hit our shores. Free to commit more attocities, more murder in the name of their 'god'.
The Chinese gov't does far more than just 'censor' - they beat the shit out of THOUSANDS of people and tear them from family and friends into an uncertain future. That, simply for QUESTIONING the gov't. There is NO comparison here unless you're completely unable to see an impartial reality.
I guess the simple minded on the Left will blame G.W. again - after all, all that blame goes a long way to winning over the hearts and minds of voting Americans everywhere - right?
I just *KNEW* someone like you would respond this way. Ironically, it will be you and your type that will drag our country down into the same sort straitjacked thinking under the guise of political correctness.
I mean, why not? Everything else is: Hurricanes, wars, drugs, Gore's loss, etc.
If it's G.W.'s fault that the rest of the world hates us, then what the RIAA and other scumbag agencies do overseas in the 'name of the artist they represent', surely isn't helping much.
So when I hear that the U.S. is no different than China in this respect, I have to laugh. If China really cared about intellectual property as much as they did about even MENTIONING democracy, those 'reeducation camps' would be way over occupancy by now.
Yeah, the U.S. and China are practically the same country... Funny though... When was the last time YOU were in a reeducation camp (public schooling aside, of course)?
It's about Dell - Intel's stalwart (yet irritating) partner. Dell has been playing 'footsie' with AMD for the last few years and in the process, getting more consessions from Intel (who is probably responsible for half of their advertising budget). Intel knows that Dell fears Apple (and make no mistake - they do).
This is really Intel's way of getting some of their leverage back. If Dell tries to pull one of those, "Well... You know... AMD is offering...", then Intel will be in the position to tell them to do what they like.
You think the wacko in charge of that nation gives a shit about doing it to us? Watch the BBC special on N. Korea and you'll understand that the ruling class of that country has less compassion than those in Orwell's '1984' (and they seemed to have borrowed a lot of tactics from him as well).
Seriously, N. Korea is a cancer and a WORLD security problem.
...is that is was Microsoft THEMSELVES who helped form OASIS - the group that came up with the OpenDocument schema. If Mr. Ballmer can stop throwing chairs and primal screaming for a few seconds, perhaps he can explain why MS pulled out of OASIS at the last minute and why MS Office will not accept that format. Specifically now MS, why is this format less functional? HINT: it's not an answer to say, 'because we don't control it'.
Either way, MS will have a lot of dancing to do to explain why it is that every other word processor will use OpenDoc but them. Expect to see the battle happen over and over again in other states governments, schools, etc.
There was this mod for Quake that let you control your rocket like a guided missile - you'd BECOME the missile. That friggin RULED!
Then there was Duke Nukem. There was nothing like pipe bombing an area and watching a video screen of the room when the poor sucker walked in. BOOOOMMM! The 50+ pipe bomb explosions would freeze the computer for a few seconds while it, and your buddy tried to figure out just what the hell happened.
Sony's Blu-Ray (because of it's high production and media cost, limited compatability, and manufacturer acceptance level) will be relegated to pro video and computer applications (sort of like DAT or Beta). If all you ever want to watch is Sony Pictures movies - you'll be able to round out home versions of your PSP collection.
Meanwhile...
HD-DVD slowly (VERY slowly) has reached the acceptance level of... Laserdisc. That's right... LASERDISC. Remember who bought those discs? Videophiles - a small subset of people compared to Ma and Pa Stoltzfus who just go to Wallmart to buy a $20 DVD player because they, 'vant to vatch a movey nah vanst.' (Info Tip: That was a local PA Dutch referrence.):)
Ok, back to the present... A better example? How about DVD Audio / SACD. You own ANY of those? YOU ARE IN THE EXTREME MINORITY. Tell me, who's winning that war, really?
As I learned years ago with the C= Amiga (and that was a HARD lesson): Quality isn't what matters most because most people do not recognize quality in anything that does not directly involve their interest level. To most people, computers are a means to an end. Finances, 'net travel, email, etc. The machine means NOTHING to them so long as it does what it's supposed to do without complaint.
What matters is price, availability, word of mouth (general public acceptance - WHAT?! You guys don't have a DVD player yet??!!!), and BASIC feature ability across a wide range of models.
One more quick example. A month ago I went down to OC, Maryland to visit a friend and spend some relaxing times at the beach. My friend has a theatre that just happens to be his house also. BIG rumbly chairs, 120" screen, $10,000 speakers, etc.
We spent (I kid you not) an entire DAY looking for a specific model of DVD Player. Why? Well, it had to be 127 MHz, not like the 'shitty' 45 MHz model he currently had! When I asked him whether it really mattered since the resolution of his projector was easily twice that of a DVD player - he looked at me like I was an idiot.
"Of COURSE it matters! The pixels drift and get rounded out..." and a bunch of other stuff I don't remember.
The end result of my visit there was one Friday night we decided to watch the new Battlestar Galactica episode in the theatre. He hadn't seen it yet, so I let him watch a few episodes I had with me. When we sat down to watch, I told him it was on Sci-Fi, and he just groaned. As it turns out, the Sci-Fi channel was one of a few channels that somehow looked like it was on 'rabbit ears' - horrible reception (and this with digital cable, no less!) But you know, even though it didn't look like Discovery HD, it was a great show anyway and to MOST people, that's all that matters...
Me and this guy from across town used to pound the living hell out of each other at 14.4K. At first, it was friendly rivalry but later, shit started getting abused.
The first casualty was my nice, almost new 500 MB hard drive. I still remember it: There I was, circling around back of the cathedral to take him out when all of a sudden I turn around and get a face full of rocket. Totally surprised (and pissed), I pounded my fist on the table screaming incoherantly (probably something similar to, "Son a BITCH!") and within my desktop I heard the scariest noise ever: 'whhhhiiiirrrrr... Click... whhhhhiirrrrr'. Yep. Destroyed my hard drive that day.
But my buddy did even better than that a few weeks later. I had helped him get a motherboard and processor but I had no case to donate. He ended up with this old Hyundai case. Man did that suck! Everything in the case was off by like half a centimeter (a Dremel can only do so much)!
Anyway, because of the sickly case design, he'd have to keep it open with a room fan blowing into the case to keep it from overheating. It was kinda comical and sad at the same time.
Now, how many of you remember that level with all the REALLY THIN walls you had to walk on with lava below? Well, I found out that the spawnpoints were such that he could not finish the level if I didn't want him to. I'd simply wait for him to get on those thin walls and blow him away.
After doing this (I'm not kidding) around 40 times, he texts me and says something like, "Godddamint chuk. if you fucking do that one more time im done." I'm sure you realize that this kind of message is the kind that almost insures his death. The funny thing was, he was on the walls again when I came around the corner, rocket launcher in hand. I fired off a round - purposely missing him and he got so freaked out that he fell off the wall into the lava.
{CLICK!}
Game over! I didn't find out what happened until the next day as he was too embarrassed and angry to talk to me. Apparently, when he accidentally fell off the wall in the game, his RL leg shot out and caught the 'case fan'. The case fan (with a nice, conductive metal grating) fell into his motherboard and shorted the whole mess out - EVEN his VESA (Whoa! 32-bit Trident chipest - hot stuff!) video card.
It was about that time that we both realized that maybe we were taking things a bit too seriously. Then Duke Nukem 3D came out... But that is a different story.;)
When I was a wee lad I had a friend with a near senile old grandfather - an ex-electronics tech with the Army. His routine was set - breakfast, go out into the garage and tinker with circuits, lunch, nap, more tinkering, supper, and then when the sun set - his self-built Heathkit HAM Radio.
One fine day me and my buddy were happily playing 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' on his 2600 when the old man broke his routine enough to stick his head in and say, "Those things are just silly, really. Nothin' to 'em. Just a bunch of IC's..."
That led to a discussion on how 'foolish' those IC's were. "Nothin' to 'em!", he'd shout (making his antiquated hearing aid whistle and hum loudly). A little while later, he tried to show me why the transistor was better than ''em all'. It was amazing. He saw absolutely NO advantages to using integrated circuits. I think he sniffed at them because they represented something he couldn't fix - something he couldn't tear apart and trouleshoot. His biggest complaint was that the IC 'made people lazy'.:)
When I look at video games today and try and compare them with the past, I always keep his example in mind. As I get older, I see how easy and how tempting it is to shut off any advances simply because I don't understand them fully. It's scary out there after all.
As a critic of video games, I have to come up with something better than: "This game sucks because games like Defender had FAR more playability!" Even if that's my opinion (and it often is), I have to at least try and see things from an unjaded perspective. Most kids today don't know, don't WANT to know about how it was when you played 'Hunt The Wumpus' on punchcards.
There's something about being a kid and having those first experiences - whether it's Project Gotham, Metroid, or Asteroids - that make it special for you (if no one else). That's the kind of thing you can't explain to other people who haven't been there - and don't try. Education is one thing, getting lost or losing perspective in the past is another.
Slashdot Mirror
You mean like how Apple would NEVER go with x86 processors or how Intel would NEVER go with AMD's 64-bit extensions? Both of these were considered extremely unlikely in the past but are today's realities. These changes happened due to customer shifts, competition, and/or better technology. Believe me, if everyone starts eating MS for lunch because of this one sticking point, you can bet they'll support OpenDocument. In fact, much like Intel's 'skunk works' project with the 64-bit extensions, I'm certain they already have it working now.
Oh, how many times have I seen 180's crap come up in an 'Adaware' search? How many hours have I spent cleaning up after their mess? I'd sooo love to be part of a class action lawsuit against these guys.
Mind you, installing stuff with the permission of the user is one thing, installing crapware through ActiveX and Java holes is another.
Don't buy. Right. While you're at it, don't go to any movies that might have RIAA music as part of the soundtrack and don't go to any store that might have a radio playing RIAA music.
LICENSING! That's how the RIAA will out-survive all of us. Even if the entire CD industry collapses, the RIAA will still have licensing rights to all that music. Clearly, the RIAA needs some form of regulation as they are a true monopoly with no real competitors. While we're at it, some clarification on copyright might be in order as well.
The RIAA amazes me because they went from an organization that few but musicians even heard of to one of the most reviled organizations on the planet and... They don't CARE! I guess they don't have to do they?
MS is going to support another company's format (PDF) but they won't support OpenDoc - an OASIS format they indirectly helped create?
Sooner or later this sort of hypocrisy is going to catch up to them and their business practices. No doubt there are legal interpretations of this that will eventually have to be answered as well.
First of all - this is a power struggle, plain and simple. The recordcos are, once again, shooting themselves in the foot. They seem to think they're still in charge - Apple should show them otherwise. The first record company to pull out of iTunes should be made an example of.
Let's say Sony decides to pull out first. Well, then everytime a customer tries to do a search for one of their artists or songs (like Switchfoot for instance), have a big, HUGE message for the customer about how Sony wants to charge more than anyone else does and that Apple isn't playing. Let the iTunes customers know about what Sony is trying to do and to contact them to protest their decision.
Then when Sony finally comes back to the table, Jobs should demand that Sony's songs go 2 for 1 for a time. Jobs has a lot of power here - iTunes is the number one place to get digital music. I hope he realizes it.
Don't be too proud of this technological terror they've constructed. The ability to pirate wares is insignificant next to the power of the government.
I mean sure, you might be able to sneak in a few things here and there, but it's only a matter of time before controls catch up - and in many ways have already caught up. Take a look at Saudi Arabia for instance. They Blue Coat their ENTIRE localized Internet connection! Firewall from HELL! China's moving in that direction too.
Don't believe that the U.S. is so much 'freer' than them. Our gov't seems to do nothing but the **AA's bidding in these matters so it is probably only a matter of time before ISP logging and filtering is required. Ultimately, someone will always find a way to crash a party that gets too big (Like Nap/Grokster).
Party in Middle Earth tonight! You're buying!
Signed,
Frodo and Gimli
The 'rules' I was referring to were the rules of engagement. You know, not purposely targeting civilians, that sort of thing? Is that 'dinosaur' thinking to you?
There WAS a difference in the OK bombing - McVeigh was a CITIZEN of the U.S. These jackoffs from Afghanistan and elsewhere aren't even a real army. They are in limbo. Forgive me for not feeling sorry for them.
And how presisely did any Republican gain 'extra power'? And if they have, what do you think they are doing with it? Got any proof, or is this more fear mongering by your side - the side that appears to demand that old ladies be frisked in the airport alongside more reasonable suspects? Your blind-eyed approach to justice is without common sense given the circumstances. And those circumstances ARE different - 9/11 did change a great deal.
IMHO the 'modern age' isn't any different than the past. There's still brutality, there's still conflicts, but there is ONE difference: No clear outcomes. If I'm a dinosaur for wishing for one, so be it.
We Americans didn't come to the U.K. and start blowing random shit up - we defended ourselves on our own territory and the Brits took it to us. Tell me again how taking out the WTC and the Pentagon 'helped' the people in Afghanistan.
This is a holy war based on religious principles. Our own revolution was fought due to high taxation and an inability to control our country's destiny. Nonetheless, the Brits were known to target the homes of our 'terrorists' and kill women and children as well so let's not quibble about who the real terrorists are/were.
But still, you didn't find American 'terrorists' in London then - bombing Big Ben and cutting off your heads in the name of Jesus Christ. That would be a more accurate comparison to what's happening now.
But... The 'rules' have changed haven't they? I mean it's not like the 9/11 bastards showed up in uniforms toting weapons, right? Our laws were made in a time when war was more... Uh... Civilized - if that makes any sense. Maybe organized is a better description.
These people are enemy combatants and I believe the gov't has sufficient evidence to keep them how they like.
And the 'no bail' argument is hardly sufficient for me. Remember, we live in an age of trial lawyers who managed to free O.J. for God's sake! I'm sorry, I'd rather not trust my family's security to lawyers and judges looking to make a name for themselves.
I have an idea: Let's try and convince terrorists to 'follow the rules' from now on, and we'll do the same? Think that'll work?
Maybe we should just go with the other alternative and carpet bomb any SPECK of resistance. You know, the way war USED to be like - winners and losers.
PLEASE, more, MORE!
.org that is the U.N.! Maybe Bush doesn't like them much since they SCREWED us on so many occasions (like oil for food, N. Korean nukes, etc.) You like talking about LIES, the LIES of G.W. Well, why are you silent about the U.N.'s LIES, huh? Have a LITTLE integrity would you?
YOU paint yourself into that 'wack-job' corner with statements like this: "...we just don't fscking care anymore."
Yep. Just who America needs to run their country - mad dog libs ready to take a bite out of everything just to have their little way.
And don't get me started about the corrupt
Well here's the deal Sparky, you don't own the media anymore - no more one sided bullshit. You'll have to compete for the truth from now on. You have everything else BUT Fox News (with a 65% plus news viewership now). Wow.. It can't be that you're not getting the message out - it MIGHT just be that your message SUCKS.
Kerry lost the last election - not because of the 'machinations' of Karl Rove (last I checked he wasn't running for office), but because Kerry brought NOTHING to the table. Referring people to his website on basic questions on Iraq or the economy, while geeky and great for Slashdotters, is not what most people will want to hear. If you can't sum up what you believe in a few sentences, than people doubt that you believe in anything!
In addition, you need to start acting like winners instead of sore losers. Mind you, that means you KNOW YOUR PLACE and stop acting like you have the majority voice all the time. You don't. Still though, every time a Gore or Dean opens his mouth, he brilliantly gives Rove everything he wants and more. To be honest - Rove can't control the fecal matter you folks spew, so you can only blame yourselves for your predicament.
You you're going to "put my head on a pike" then? VERY democratic of you! I guess the democracy only works when your side wins right? Do you know how many hours I used to sit in front of CNN and go, 'Son of a BITCH you guys SUCK!'? Nonetheless, I kept my civility, I chose to work within the system for a change. Whatever happened to non-partisanship? Oh right, Reps are supposed to be the 'good guys' and just lay down our necks while you sharpen the blade.
The biggest mistake you libs made was screwing the first Bush over with the 'no new taxes' thing. "Oh NOO, Mr. Bush, we won't make politcal hay over this! It's for the good of the country!' Yeah, TEN FUCKING MINUTES later you had Dems in a press conference out there screaming to the media about how Bush broke his promise. Well guess what? You live you learn. And as for you folks, you reap what you sow - that's in the Bible (not sure you'd know that).
That stunt FINALLY galvanized the Reps who, for the previous 30 or so years would usually take the high road and not retaliate or even defend themselves properly against you. Thanks to that brilliant move, you finally proved your party to be completely without morals or truthfulness. Stop blaming Rove for the gift you folks GAVE HIM!
Even the minorities are turning against you. After all, what the hell have you REALLY done for them? What? You think the Civil Rights bill was a Dem idea? Heh. Right. I'm sure Senator Byrd (former member of the KKK) was right behind that. The truth was, it was introduced my Reps and more Republicans voted for that bill, FAR more than Dems. You came to that party a little late also.
To my estimation, what the country is seeing now is the TRUE Left. Unfettered, unchecked, and out of fucking control.
Go get your pike you dumb ass, and I'll keep my 2nd amendment rights handy as well. And keep up the great posts! It helps remind people what you really stand for.
When you have prisoners outright telling you that they plan to pursue their terrorist activities when they get out - that should be an indication that these people should be locked up.
WAKE UP! These 'people' (we judge at least that much by their appearance) follow no laws, have no organized army, and laugh at your reluctance to save thousands of innocent people from their bloodthirsty hands.
Sorry, 90% of America could, quite literally give a shit less about these animals - myself included. Perhaps it's easy for the rest of the world (and even some of my liberal friends in the U.S.) to forget what 9/11 represented - but I don't.
We ARE at war - like it or not. It's undeclared, but it's real. I wonder how many dirty nukes or bio weapon attacks it'll take until that sinks in for everyone?
How does killing thousands and imprisoning more of their own people somehow equate with a potential threat?
You make no sense whatsoever!
The guy who posted below you is convinced that we ARE the same country.
The sad thing is, he is totally representative of the Left now - The kooky Left that is currently running the Democratic party. Reality checked out of the Dems party years ago - all they seem to have now is hate. Hate for G.W., hate for anyone that in any way agrees with him. Hate, hate, hate...
Trans. Give Me A Fucking Break!
Yes I DO think we are different - and you're a fucking idiot if you think otherwise. We have one camp - ONE - filled with the scum of the earth and it has to be where it is because people like you (and your packs of lawyers) would be setting these bastards free once they hit our shores. Free to commit more attocities, more murder in the name of their 'god'.
The Chinese gov't does far more than just 'censor' - they beat the shit out of THOUSANDS of people and tear them from family and friends into an uncertain future. That, simply for QUESTIONING the gov't. There is NO comparison here unless you're completely unable to see an impartial reality.
I guess the simple minded on the Left will blame G.W. again - after all, all that blame goes a long way to winning over the hearts and minds of voting Americans everywhere - right?
I just *KNEW* someone like you would respond this way. Ironically, it will be you and your type that will drag our country down into the same sort straitjacked thinking under the guise of political correctness.
I mean, why not? Everything else is: Hurricanes, wars, drugs, Gore's loss, etc.
If it's G.W.'s fault that the rest of the world hates us, then what the RIAA and other scumbag agencies do overseas in the 'name of the artist they represent', surely isn't helping much.
So when I hear that the U.S. is no different than China in this respect, I have to laugh. If China really cared about intellectual property as much as they did about even MENTIONING democracy, those 'reeducation camps' would be way over occupancy by now.
Yeah, the U.S. and China are practically the same country... Funny though... When was the last time YOU were in a reeducation camp (public schooling aside, of course)?
It's about Dell - Intel's stalwart (yet irritating) partner. Dell has been playing 'footsie' with AMD for the last few years and in the process, getting more consessions from Intel (who is probably responsible for half of their advertising budget). Intel knows that Dell fears Apple (and make no mistake - they do).
This is really Intel's way of getting some of their leverage back. If Dell tries to pull one of those, "Well... You know... AMD is offering...", then Intel will be in the position to tell them to do what they like.
You think the wacko in charge of that nation gives a shit about doing it to us? Watch the BBC special on N. Korea and you'll understand that the ruling class of that country has less compassion than those in Orwell's '1984' (and they seemed to have borrowed a lot of tactics from him as well).
Seriously, N. Korea is a cancer and a WORLD security problem.
...is that is was Microsoft THEMSELVES who helped form OASIS - the group that came up with the OpenDocument schema. If Mr. Ballmer can stop throwing chairs and primal screaming for a few seconds, perhaps he can explain why MS pulled out of OASIS at the last minute and why MS Office will not accept that format. Specifically now MS, why is this format less functional? HINT: it's not an answer to say, 'because we don't control it'.
Either way, MS will have a lot of dancing to do to explain why it is that every other word processor will use OpenDoc but them. Expect to see the battle happen over and over again in other states governments, schools, etc.
...when the catch the &*$&# bastards that write shit like Aurora or CoolWebSearch. Now THAT would be time for some mob justice!
"But...wait...he was practicing medicine in New Jersey? How CRIMINAL! ...Am I missing something here? What else is a big no-no?"
It almost sounds as if he... actually... LIVES in Jersey! Although I suppose there are worse things.
OMFG! STFU!
Ya,
;)
There was this mod for Quake that let you control your rocket like a guided missile - you'd BECOME the missile. That friggin RULED!
Then there was Duke Nukem. There was nothing like pipe bombing an area and watching a video screen of the room when the poor sucker walked in. BOOOOMMM! The 50+ pipe bomb explosions would freeze the computer for a few seconds while it, and your buddy tried to figure out just what the hell happened.
Good times, good times...
I think history will repeat itself.
:)
Sony's Blu-Ray (because of it's high production and media cost, limited compatability, and manufacturer acceptance level) will be relegated to pro video and computer applications (sort of like DAT or Beta). If all you ever want to watch is Sony Pictures movies - you'll be able to round out home versions of your PSP collection.
Meanwhile...
HD-DVD slowly (VERY slowly) has reached the acceptance level of... Laserdisc. That's right... LASERDISC. Remember who bought those discs? Videophiles - a small subset of people compared to Ma and Pa Stoltzfus who just go to Wallmart to buy a $20 DVD player because they, 'vant to vatch a movey nah vanst.' (Info Tip: That was a local PA Dutch referrence.)
Ok, back to the present... A better example? How about DVD Audio / SACD. You own ANY of those? YOU ARE IN THE EXTREME MINORITY. Tell me, who's winning that war, really?
As I learned years ago with the C= Amiga (and that was a HARD lesson): Quality isn't what matters most because most people do not recognize quality in anything that does not directly involve their interest level. To most people, computers are a means to an end. Finances, 'net travel, email, etc. The machine means NOTHING to them so long as it does what it's supposed to do without complaint.
What matters is price, availability, word of mouth (general public acceptance - WHAT?! You guys don't have a DVD player yet??!!!), and BASIC feature ability across a wide range of models.
One more quick example. A month ago I went down to OC, Maryland to visit a friend and spend some relaxing times at the beach. My friend has a theatre that just happens to be his house also. BIG rumbly chairs, 120" screen, $10,000 speakers, etc.
We spent (I kid you not) an entire DAY looking for a specific model of DVD Player. Why? Well, it had to be 127 MHz, not like the 'shitty' 45 MHz model he currently had! When I asked him whether it really mattered since the resolution of his projector was easily twice that of a DVD player - he looked at me like I was an idiot.
"Of COURSE it matters! The pixels drift and get rounded out..." and a bunch of other stuff I don't remember.
The end result of my visit there was one Friday night we decided to watch the new Battlestar Galactica episode in the theatre. He hadn't seen it yet, so I let him watch a few episodes I had with me. When we sat down to watch, I told him it was on Sci-Fi, and he just groaned. As it turns out, the Sci-Fi channel was one of a few channels that somehow looked like it was on 'rabbit ears' - horrible reception (and this with digital cable, no less!) But you know, even though it didn't look like Discovery HD, it was a great show anyway and to MOST people, that's all that matters...
Top of the list: Death of hardware
;)
Me and this guy from across town used to pound the living hell out of each other at 14.4K. At first, it was friendly rivalry but later, shit started getting abused.
The first casualty was my nice, almost new 500 MB hard drive. I still remember it: There I was, circling around back of the cathedral to take him out when all of a sudden I turn around and get a face full of rocket. Totally surprised (and pissed), I pounded my fist on the table screaming incoherantly (probably something similar to, "Son a BITCH!") and within my desktop I heard the scariest noise ever: 'whhhhiiiirrrrr... Click... whhhhhiirrrrr'. Yep. Destroyed my hard drive that day.
But my buddy did even better than that a few weeks later. I had helped him get a motherboard and processor but I had no case to donate. He ended up with this old Hyundai case. Man did that suck! Everything in the case was off by like half a centimeter (a Dremel can only do so much)!
Anyway, because of the sickly case design, he'd have to keep it open with a room fan blowing into the case to keep it from overheating. It was kinda comical and sad at the same time.
Now, how many of you remember that level with all the REALLY THIN walls you had to walk on with lava below? Well, I found out that the spawnpoints were such that he could not finish the level if I didn't want him to. I'd simply wait for him to get on those thin walls and blow him away.
After doing this (I'm not kidding) around 40 times, he texts me and says something like, "Godddamint chuk. if you fucking do that one more time im done." I'm sure you realize that this kind of message is the kind that almost insures his death. The funny thing was, he was on the walls again when I came around the corner, rocket launcher in hand. I fired off a round - purposely missing him and he got so freaked out that he fell off the wall into the lava.
{CLICK!}
Game over! I didn't find out what happened until the next day as he was too embarrassed and angry to talk to me. Apparently, when he accidentally fell off the wall in the game, his RL leg shot out and caught the 'case fan'. The case fan (with a nice, conductive metal grating) fell into his motherboard and shorted the whole mess out - EVEN his VESA (Whoa! 32-bit Trident chipest - hot stuff!) video card.
It was about that time that we both realized that maybe we were taking things a bit too seriously. Then Duke Nukem 3D came out... But that is a different story.
When I was a wee lad I had a friend with a near senile old grandfather - an ex-electronics tech with the Army. His routine was set - breakfast, go out into the garage and tinker with circuits, lunch, nap, more tinkering, supper, and then when the sun set - his self-built Heathkit HAM Radio.
:)
One fine day me and my buddy were happily playing 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' on his 2600 when the old man broke his routine enough to stick his head in and say, "Those things are just silly, really. Nothin' to 'em. Just a bunch of IC's..."
That led to a discussion on how 'foolish' those IC's were. "Nothin' to 'em!", he'd shout (making his antiquated hearing aid whistle and hum loudly). A little while later, he tried to show me why the transistor was better than ''em all'. It was amazing. He saw absolutely NO advantages to using integrated circuits. I think he sniffed at them because they represented something he couldn't fix - something he couldn't tear apart and trouleshoot. His biggest complaint was that the IC 'made people lazy'.
When I look at video games today and try and compare them with the past, I always keep his example in mind. As I get older, I see how easy and how tempting it is to shut off any advances simply because I don't understand them fully. It's scary out there after all.
As a critic of video games, I have to come up with something better than: "This game sucks because games like Defender had FAR more playability!" Even if that's my opinion (and it often is), I have to at least try and see things from an unjaded perspective. Most kids today don't know, don't WANT to know about how it was when you played 'Hunt The Wumpus' on punchcards.
There's something about being a kid and having those first experiences - whether it's Project Gotham, Metroid, or Asteroids - that make it special for you (if no one else). That's the kind of thing you can't explain to other people who haven't been there - and don't try. Education is one thing, getting lost or losing perspective in the past is another.