Competition will be better in the long run...
on
Sun and Eclipse Squabble
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· Score: 2, Insightful
I have to say I'm glad there are competing groups. I'm sure Sun would love to roll eclipse into their community process, but by and large that has tended to produce some bloated standards IMHO.
I'm just happy there is a real alternative to JBuilder now... don't get me wrong, I love JBuilder but there is no way I could afford it at the prices they are charging.
I tried to RTFA to see how they rated the keyboard/mouse combo that I use: The Logitech MX Duo. All I could find is the bluetooth version which I understand is an expensive step backwards.
Anyway, I wholheartedly recommend the Logitech MX700 mouse and the cordless keyboard that comes in the MX duo package. I have been working from home, and the mouse can go for 12 hours of hard use without a recharge. It is also extremely precise (great for first person shooters and warcraft). The keyboard is pretty good, but what has amazed me is the battery life... I expected to have to change the batteries in the keyboard every couple of months at least, but I am going on four months now.
The best part is you can now get this combo for around $76 now online (try newegg).
Or they could procure one of Adobe's other products: Photoshop Elements 2.0 This has primarily the same engine and capabilities under the hood as photoshop cs, with a few things disabled in the interface. Scanned images of currency open fine... it seems the more money you want to spend with Adobe, the worse they treat you (activation, content restriction)
The kicker is that just like in imageready, you can save the scanned image as a psd document and then open it in CS with no problem!
The preorder boxes I saw only cost $10. I definitely took a second look, actually thinking for a moment that I could get Doom 3 for $10. My hopes were quickly dashed though... all the pre-order gives you is some kind of trinket and the right to $10 off the final version when it is available. I doubt if they even hold one for you...
Actually, they better get their IPO done before people figure out that Google isn't what it used to be. If you are like me you started using Google because more often than not the first result returned from a search was exactly what you are looking for. Now the relevant link is usually buried at the bottom of the page... maybe even on the second page or maybe not there at all. This is just like search engines used to be before Google came along, and it's a ripe time for someone with a better idea unencumbered by an existing system to steal Google's thunder.
We get so wrapped up into interpreting the Constitution I think sometimes we forget to read it. Our current understanding of "speech" comes more from the supreme court than the founding fathers. Read the definitions and make up your own mind whether video games, or art for that matter falls under the category of "speech".
speech n.
The faculty or act of speaking.
The faculty or act of expressing or describing thoughts, feelings, or perceptions by the articulation of words.
Something spoken; an utterance.
Vocal communication; conversation.
A talk or public address: The best impromptu speeches are the ones written well in advance (Ruth Gordon).
A printed copy of such an address.
One's habitual manner or style of speaking.
The language or dialect of a nation or region: American speech.
The sounding of a musical instrument.
The study of oral communication, speech sounds, and vocal physiology.
Archaic. Rumor.
[Middle English speche, from Old English sprc, spc.]
At what point do video games become so life like that it is difficult to differentiate between reality and the game (at least on a subconscious level)? I have heard they successfully use virtual reality to help cure phobias such as fear of heights... this is proof that technology can change human behavior. At what point does GTA stop being a video game and turn into a simulator for crime?
Very large earth moving equipment uses this approach, or at least it did in the 50's, and the motors *are* in the wheels. Also, some of the newer electric bicycles put the motor in the hub.
I think it's a great idea... unlike kinetic energy which must be transmitted through a driveshaft, electric power can be transmitted through wires which should save some weight.
When I wrote that last statement, I had in mind tariffs or other government imposed barriers... I think these would be temporary just to slow the process down enough so it doesn't tank our economy. Once the workforce has rotated into new roles, then barriers would be lifted.
You are right, though... the government never seems to do anything in moderation so I'm sure we will end up with a new batch of social programs that attempt to ease the pain but don't addess the underlying issues. I didn't mention it in my previous post, but I hope things reach an equilibrium on their own and the govt. doesn't need to get involved.
For now, your first point is probably true, but simple economics tells us that when demand outpaces supply, prices will rise... and so will Indian salaries to the point where they are able to buy more convenience items. The question is, even if they had the money will they be as good consumers as the Americans where consumerism has almost become a religion?
One thing the managers probably don't think about is that if this trend continues in a big way, it is going to bring down salaries of knowledge workers that remain in the U.S. If Managment salaries do not also decline, there is going to be a lot more competition for those management jobs, and people will be willing to do them cheaper because of the salary disparity.
To balance some of the doom and gloom, if outsourcing does not reach some kind of equilibrium point on it's own, the fed and congress will act in a big way, I'm sure, to curtail a huge deflationary cycle.
I have the same reaction to really intrusive ads... I consider anything that steals focus on the web VERY intrusive. Now the question is, why do ads on the web that steal focus anger me much more than ads, say, on TV that really do the exact same thing?
I think it's because of the medium... television puts us into a much more passive state. We accept what is streamed to us, and this extends to advertisements too. The web, on the other hand, is much more like print. Our minds are more active when surfing the web because we are pulling information, not having it fed to us. This is why preemptive or otherwise intrusive adverstising probably will not fly on the web unless integrated with video streams or online radio where we are already used to it.
Every time I read a story like this, I think of a three year old screaming "mine" and throwing a tantrum when they see thier sibling playing with a toy they weren't even paying attention to.
This is 80's technology, and just because a few enthusiasts adopted the platform and decided to breath new life into it does not mean there's a market you can exploit. Roland would have done *much* better to just put that ROM into the public domain and reap the rewards of being a progressive company in the eyes of these guys.
I mean, it's not like geeks into music might be some of your best customers for NEW Roland equipment.
I wonder if U.S. firms have thought about other instabilities such as the tension between India and Pakistan? If much of our capability to develop software is outsourced to India and all hell breaks loose, what happens to our tech industry then?
If you guys like blender, you might be interested in another project called Art of Illusion. It is a poly-based modeller and renderer and I have seen some amazing results. It's completely open source (GPL I think) and achieves great performance being written completely in Java. Check it out, and also the other work Nate has done.
Keep an eye out for Dell's stackable coupons... they often have $35 off $350 and $45 off $450 pretty regularly. Many times, they will have these in addition to a blanket %10 off all peripherals. As of a few months ago, they were not excluding the iPod although they will occasionally exclude some items. Keep an eye on this site, as they usually report any Dell deals on a regular basis.
What about plain old bad credit card charges?
on
Stealth Inflation
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· Score: 1
A few weeks ago, two back to back $35 charges showed up on a credit card that I almost never use from some company called netvalve that I've never heard of. They claim it was a "mistake" and immediately removed the charges, but I wonder how many people out there just didn't notice and never complained? I may have missed the "mistake" if I had been using the card.
I think there's a LOT of this nickel and diming going on... I switched banks because of it, but it's a little harder for servies which there is no real competition (land line, etc.)
Around these parts, Libraries are mostly funded through Levy's on property. We recently had a "replacement levy" on the ballot... I voted against it, not because I'm against funding the libraries but because this replacement levy was for twice the amount of the levy that was expiring. The school system did the same thing last year. I wonder how many libraries are losing funding because of the greed effect?
For the record, I would have voted to re-instate the levy that was expiring, but felt that with property values skyrocketing they were already seeing an increase to fund the system and didn't need more millage.
It's already been made into a cartoon... actually, if the movie is tailored for a wide audience (PG-13) then most kids will get a chance to read the book before they're old enough to see the movie.
"Plastic Containers". Uh, well thats only two words I guess. How about "Clear Plastic Containers".
Seriously though, I've been slowly dealing with my piles of junk, and here's what I've learned:
1) Think before getting new junk. Yeah, that old Mac SE might look tempting for $10 at a garage sale, but really, after you boot it up once or twice, what are you going to use it for? This applies to new things, too...
2) Refactor, Refactor, Refactor... in this case, be relentless in getting rid of stuff you don't use. And don't sweat getting rid of something you *might* need someday... the value of a clutter free life is much greater than the misc. computer cable you might need to buy again.
3) For the stuff you do need, organize it just like your file system. Large plastic containers (computer cables) can hold smaller plastic containers (categories of cables)...
4) This is something that seems to come naturally for the ladies, but if you don't use something very often but can't bear to get rid of it, get it out of your normal workspace. Find some storage in the basement or closet and keep your day to day workspace as clutter free as possible.
Actually, all the pieces to build the electronic voting system that you describe are out there and have been in testing for the last 10 years or so... I'm talking about the ailines e-ticket systems. Think about it... kiosks with built in printers. Boarding passes, which would become the ballots, with one whole side to print out who was voted for (for auditing) and a magnetic stripe on the back for easier machine counting. There's even a convenient stub just like ballots have today that can designate the ballot serial number and then be seperated before being put into the ballot box, thus making sure you only vote once.
Actually, I have no problem with the current system of punch cards, and I think just about everyone knows to check for hanging chads at this point (I've never found one). Besides, people that get confused by butterfly ballots will just as easily be confused by hard to read LCD displays.
Elections are one of the most basic elements of a democracy and to turn an otherwise simple system into a complicated opaque electronic mess when there is no reason to is crazy.
That said, if it's going to happen these things better have a rock solid audit trail for when things get out of hand. Oh, if anyone wants to hire me to convert your e-ticket systems into voting machines, I'm currently available.
How much are we willing to befoul the constitution to deter crime? Jail time for a speeding ticket would deter speeding even more, but does the penalty fit the damage done? Do we really want a society where everyone falls in line based on fear? Like it or not, the constitution gives us the right to a reasonable punishment for a crime. Jail time is being thrown around far too casually by legislators these days. A suspension of our most basic right, freedom, is something to take very seriously.
I second the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry... best Science museum I've seen (next to the Smithsonian, perhaps). Rock-n-roll hall of fame is an I.M. Pei design, too. They have concerts there, but I seriously doubt if it was designed for it's acoustics.
Slashdot Mirror
I'm just happy there is a real alternative to JBuilder now... don't get me wrong, I love JBuilder but there is no way I could afford it at the prices they are charging.
Anyway, I wholheartedly recommend the Logitech MX700 mouse and the cordless keyboard that comes in the MX duo package. I have been working from home, and the mouse can go for 12 hours of hard use without a recharge. It is also extremely precise (great for first person shooters and warcraft). The keyboard is pretty good, but what has amazed me is the battery life... I expected to have to change the batteries in the keyboard every couple of months at least, but I am going on four months now.
The best part is you can now get this combo for around $76 now online (try newegg).
Or they could procure one of Adobe's other products: Photoshop Elements 2.0 This has primarily the same engine and capabilities under the hood as photoshop cs, with a few things disabled in the interface. Scanned images of currency open fine... it seems the more money you want to spend with Adobe, the worse they treat you (activation, content restriction) The kicker is that just like in imageready, you can save the scanned image as a psd document and then open it in CS with no problem!
The preorder boxes I saw only cost $10. I definitely took a second look, actually thinking for a moment that I could get Doom 3 for $10. My hopes were quickly dashed though... all the pre-order gives you is some kind of trinket and the right to $10 off the final version when it is available. I doubt if they even hold one for you...
Actually, they better get their IPO done before people figure out that Google isn't what it used to be. If you are like me you started using Google because more often than not the first result returned from a search was exactly what you are looking for. Now the relevant link is usually buried at the bottom of the page... maybe even on the second page or maybe not there at all. This is just like search engines used to be before Google came along, and it's a ripe time for someone with a better idea unencumbered by an existing system to steal Google's thunder.
speech
n.
[Middle English speche, from Old English sprc, spc.]
I did a search on Google ("Haitian civil rights hollywood") and found no such reference. Could you please reply with links?
At what point do video games become so life like that it is difficult to differentiate between reality and the game (at least on a subconscious level)? I have heard they successfully use virtual reality to help cure phobias such as fear of heights... this is proof that technology can change human behavior. At what point does GTA stop being a video game and turn into a simulator for crime?
Very large earth moving equipment uses this approach, or at least it did in the 50's, and the motors *are* in the wheels. Also, some of the newer electric bicycles put the motor in the hub. I think it's a great idea... unlike kinetic energy which must be transmitted through a driveshaft, electric power can be transmitted through wires which should save some weight.
You are right, though... the government never seems to do anything in moderation so I'm sure we will end up with a new batch of social programs that attempt to ease the pain but don't addess the underlying issues. I didn't mention it in my previous post, but I hope things reach an equilibrium on their own and the govt. doesn't need to get involved.
One thing the managers probably don't think about is that if this trend continues in a big way, it is going to bring down salaries of knowledge workers that remain in the U.S. If Managment salaries do not also decline, there is going to be a lot more competition for those management jobs, and people will be willing to do them cheaper because of the salary disparity.
To balance some of the doom and gloom, if outsourcing does not reach some kind of equilibrium point on it's own, the fed and congress will act in a big way, I'm sure, to curtail a huge deflationary cycle.
I think it's because of the medium... television puts us into a much more passive state. We accept what is streamed to us, and this extends to advertisements too. The web, on the other hand, is much more like print. Our minds are more active when surfing the web because we are pulling information, not having it fed to us. This is why preemptive or otherwise intrusive adverstising probably will not fly on the web unless integrated with video streams or online radio where we are already used to it.
This is 80's technology, and just because a few enthusiasts adopted the platform and decided to breath new life into it does not mean there's a market you can exploit. Roland would have done *much* better to just put that ROM into the public domain and reap the rewards of being a progressive company in the eyes of these guys.
I mean, it's not like geeks into music might be some of your best customers for NEW Roland equipment.
I wonder if U.S. firms have thought about other instabilities such as the tension between India and Pakistan? If much of our capability to develop software is outsourced to India and all hell breaks loose, what happens to our tech industry then?
If you guys like blender, you might be interested in another project called Art of Illusion. It is a poly-based modeller and renderer and I have seen some amazing results. It's completely open source (GPL I think) and achieves great performance being written completely in Java. Check it out, and also the other work Nate has done.
Keep an eye out for Dell's stackable coupons... they often have $35 off $350 and $45 off $450 pretty regularly. Many times, they will have these in addition to a blanket %10 off all peripherals. As of a few months ago, they were not excluding the iPod although they will occasionally exclude some items. Keep an eye on this site, as they usually report any Dell deals on a regular basis.
I think there's a LOT of this nickel and diming going on... I switched banks because of it, but it's a little harder for servies which there is no real competition (land line, etc.)
For the record, I would have voted to re-instate the levy that was expiring, but felt that with property values skyrocketing they were already seeing an increase to fund the system and didn't need more millage.
It's already been made into a cartoon... actually, if the movie is tailored for a wide audience (PG-13) then most kids will get a chance to read the book before they're old enough to see the movie.
Definitely a great show, as many from the BBC are (I think this was). James Burke is the creator and host
1) Think before getting new junk. Yeah, that old Mac SE might look tempting for $10 at a garage sale, but really, after you boot it up once or twice, what are you going to use it for? This applies to new things, too...
2) Refactor, Refactor, Refactor... in this case, be relentless in getting rid of stuff you don't use. And don't sweat getting rid of something you *might* need someday... the value of a clutter free life is much greater than the misc. computer cable you might need to buy again.
3) For the stuff you do need, organize it just like your file system. Large plastic containers (computer cables) can hold smaller plastic containers (categories of cables)...
4) This is something that seems to come naturally for the ladies, but if you don't use something very often but can't bear to get rid of it, get it out of your normal workspace. Find some storage in the basement or closet and keep your day to day workspace as clutter free as possible.
Actually, I have no problem with the current system of punch cards, and I think just about everyone knows to check for hanging chads at this point (I've never found one). Besides, people that get confused by butterfly ballots will just as easily be confused by hard to read LCD displays.
Elections are one of the most basic elements of a democracy and to turn an otherwise simple system into a complicated opaque electronic mess when there is no reason to is crazy.
That said, if it's going to happen these things better have a rock solid audit trail for when things get out of hand. Oh, if anyone wants to hire me to convert your e-ticket systems into voting machines, I'm currently available.
How much are we willing to befoul the constitution to deter crime? Jail time for a speeding ticket would deter speeding even more, but does the penalty fit the damage done? Do we really want a society where everyone falls in line based on fear? Like it or not, the constitution gives us the right to a reasonable punishment for a crime. Jail time is being thrown around far too casually by legislators these days. A suspension of our most basic right, freedom, is something to take very seriously.
I second the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry... best Science museum I've seen (next to the Smithsonian, perhaps). Rock-n-roll hall of fame is an I.M. Pei design, too. They have concerts there, but I seriously doubt if it was designed for it's acoustics.