After reading that article, a question popped into my head: What would we use said data for? My PERSONAL fantasy is that, eventually, we will get to a point where you will simply have to THINK a command, and your mind-reading-hat (or goggles, you get the idea) interprets the neurological impulses, and gives your computer the appropriate commands..
A curious idea, to be sure.. but does anybody else out there think this will EVER happen?
I've been reading computer magazines for years, and I am always amazed at the way that hardware companies will report bench mark results. Instead of explaining it in a simple, easy-to-understand manner, they will play on the ignorance of the average consumer, and throw terms like "triangles per second", "refresh rate", "maximum colours", and "frames per second" around, hoping to sound good!
Several times, I have read ads for hardware, that proclaim that they are faster then the competitor. They even have pretty bar graphs! And of course, their bar is much longer. However, here is a great place to repeat the long-unblieved-until-now phrase "size doesn't matter."
What is stupifyingly bizzare is that I can turn the page, find the competitors ad, and they proclaim exactly the same thing! It's mind boggling, too say the least.
That is why open source benchmarks are a good idea -- not only does it allow people to improve on the code directly, but it lets people see exactly what is going on behind the scenes.
Or maybe, we shouldn't let companies do benchmarks for their own products. After all, you can make stats say pretty much whatever you want them too. Or maybe we should just ignore ads completely. (I know that I don't trust magazine ads for sure. Rather, I go and find MULTIPLE reviews of hardware, both online, and word-of-mouth, to get an accurate picture.)
For me, the "Customize" button is directly to the right of "Net2Phone".. however, I didn't have a previous version of Netscape installed, so it didn't import any favorites or anything..
The button itself takes you to http://home.netscape.com/bookmark/6_0b1/customize. html..
One of my mother's friends is a new computer user. (She grew up with a typewriter..) Well, not new -- she can find her way around a desktop and Word Perfect. She then discovered the wonder of desktop themes, and mp3s on Winamp. She began to become obsessed with customizing Winamp -- she insisted that her Winamp skin match her desktop theme (which she has mountians of.) She isn't a hacker; she just wants her stuff to look good.
I was really looking forward to skins in NS6..
on
Suck On Skins And UI
·
· Score: 1
.. unfortunately, the hard-coded link to the customise page is a 404 error! HELLO NETSCAPE! Isn't this what Quality Control is for? Somebody go grab the mozilla source and fix that thing please! =)
I remember, when I was like 10, watching old Star Trek episodes with my dad, and being completely and utterly infatuated. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen! I ran around, zaping people with my phazer, and generally had a blast!
Then Star Trek: TNG was released, and I hoped that it would live up to the standards of "old school" Star Trek.. and on some level, it did! However, I still believe that Spock kicks Data's ass any day of the week.
Then came Star Trek: DS9, also known as the bane of my existance. I found it (and still DO find it) to be insanely boring. I mean, all they do is sit around on that stupid station, and their problems come to them! Give me a break! This, my friends, is the in-space version of a toll booth! It gets old. Fast.
Then we get Voyager, complete with a captain who sounds spookily like Sharon Carstairs, leader of the NDP. (New Democratic Party) It is OK, I suppose.. except, once again, they have written themselves into a corner. All the characters do is bitch and complain about never being able to get home. Give it a rest, guys! If you miss your loved ones so much, then just CREATE THEM ON THE HOLIDECK! Or get the doctor to erase their memory from yours. Anything! Just stop whining about so and so! =)
As you can see, I am fairly opinionated about this sort of thing. I know my Star Trek. And all I can say is, the latest installment had better be GOOD. (No pussyfooting around in the Gamma Quadrant, please.) If it isn't, then I guess I will go back to watching classic Trek on Space.
Is anybody else pissed off about having to create a username and password when first launching Netscape 6? It really annoyed ME..
I had to spend close to 10 minutes trying to find an unused username, just so I can use the software? Please. Netscape, let's not try to merge your stupid website with your browser. If I want to have a login to your site, I'll go there ON MY OWN TIME, and get one. I shouldn't be forced into it, especially when I first install your software.
I remember, while I was growing up, I (gasp!) didn't have a computer of my own. (Well, I'm only 18 now, but when I was in like grade 5.) However, one of my friends had recently gotten a computer of his own -- an Amiga!
It was easily the coolest thing I had ever seen. I remember being instantly drawn to the warm, incandecent glow of the monitor like moths to a street lamp. Ahh, the many hours of playing games like Laser Chess that I spent in front of that computer!:)
Amiga had me hooked after 5 minutes with their original machine, and I'm quite anxious to see what their creative minds can come up with now!
I've been talking with my friends about which film should have won best picture, and we seem to be evenly devided between The Sixth Sense and American Beauty. I've seen both, and, IMO, American Beauty was the clear winnier.
It's not to say that The Sixth Sense was a bad movie, (it was a GREAT movie!) it's just that the way the ending is written, you can't really watch it more the once. It's like a murder mystery -- you allready know the butler did it, so what's the point?
American Beauty, on the other hand, didn't have a surprise ending. Hell, Kevin Spacy tells you right at the beginning what is going to happen! But the movie is a beautiful look at suburban life.
Just my 2 cents.. ,-----.----...---..--..-....- ' CitizenC ' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!" `-----.----...---..--..-....-
I'm 18, so I don't really want to aqurire a debt, monthly bill, or any of that other crap. After doing a bunch of research, I purchased a Pay-As-You-Go phone, and it was the best idea I ever had!
In case you don't know, the idea behind the Pay-As-You-Go model is that you purchase time as you need it, in 1-hour increments, for $25 each. (That's here in Canada, I'm not sure what it is down in the States.)
Now, once you run out of time, you can't make or recieve calls. So you don't get charged! Then all you do is go buy another hour, punch in the serial, and away you go!
Of course, with this, freedom DOES come with a price. The cost per minute is about twice as much as a standard cellular plan. (2500 Cents / 60 Minutes = 40 Cents Per Minute. But check my math.)
Still, I think this is the way to go for ME anyway. I use the phone when I need it, and no more. ,-----.----...---..--..-....- ' CitizenC ' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!" `-----.----...---..--..-....-
OK, to set the record straight, I, myself am Canadian. I was born here. Raised here. And live here. Now, I read posts and news stories about people thinking that the song "Blame Canada", and the South Park Movie in general offended us Canadians somehow. Let me tell you, that isn't true, at least from what I've seen.
Sure, the film itself revolves around Canada attacking the US in stupid ways, (be afraid of our hockey sticks, dammit!) and I was laughing the whole way through it. My father, who watched it with me, and who HATES the series, was laughing just as much as I was.
Now, it's true that some Canadians (mostly the up-tight ones) will find offense to the song. But if they don't like it, they can just change the channel. However, I know that -I- will be front and center, singing along, and througly embaressing myself in front of all my friends! =)
(But only if I'm drunk;) ,-----.----...---..--..-....- ' CitizenC ' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!" `-----.----...---..--..-....-
As stated in a Dilbert Comic strip, the staff of the IDC is pitting their intelligence against the collective sex drive of all the youth of America. I'm pretty sure that teens will find a way to get around anything they try. (NetNanny? Give me a break!) Edge: Teenagers.
The reason they ran out of funding is because they haven't been persuing the proper courses of action in reguard to Internet Decency. Instead of trying to develop new software that blocks sites with certain words, why not just make a law that states that any website that provides adult content requires proof of age in the form of a credit card or similar id.
That raises another point -- people wouldn't like giving out their CC over the internet, especially to pr0n sites. ("Honey, why is there a charge for $29.95 to a company called 'PureSexyTeens.Com' on our credit card bill?") Maybe a new type of adult id could be created -- once you turn 18, you get a card in the mail that has a number on it. It's completely unique, and all it does is state that you're over 18.
Does that make sense? ,-----.----...---..--..-....- ' CitizenC ' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!" `-----.----...---..--..-....-
When I think of internet voting, what scares me is not that it might be insecure, but rather, do we WANT to make voting accessible to people who can't find their way to their local polling station?
Perhaps an example would be useful: Take Joe Q. Voter. He's a 27 year old male, who spends all his time on the computer. He doesn't go to election speeches. He doesn't own a car -- just takes the bus, which isn't often.
Now imagine this. Our buddy Joe is surfing around the 'net, reading his e-mail, playing Quake, and looking at porn, when suddenly he sees a link that says "Vote Online Here!"
Remember, he hasn't paid attention to any of the candidates' election platforms. He's probably sitting in his chair, scratching himself (sorry for putting that image in your head) with one hand, and using his mouse to cast his vote with the other.
Now, ask yourself: is THIS the kind of person who we want to have a say in the next leader of the free world? I think not.
Lets face it folks, the world would be better off if some people didn't vote!:)
,-----.----...---..--..-....- ' CitizenC ' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!" `-----.----...---..--..-....-
I remember playing old classics like Lazer Chess and the like on my friend's old Amiga.. now they're incredibly powerful.. the fact that MS tried to shaft them just makes it worse. ,-----.----...---..--..-....- ' CitizenC ' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!" `-----.----...---..--..-....-
Yeah.. thanks for being honest about it.. we all make mistakes, but it takes an incredibly large amount of charisma to admit it.. so yes, we forgive you =) -- C ,-----.----...---..--..-....- ' CitizenC ' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!" `-----.----...---..--..-....-
Its plain text! You can open it on ANY box! just haul the disk around with you! ,-----.----...---..--..-....- ' CitizenC ' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!" `-----.----...---..--..-....-
5) type "echo (login)/(pass)/(account)/(description) >> pass.txt" (Replace the ()'s with actual stuff;) ,-----.----...---..--..-....- ' CitizenC ' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!" `-----.----...---..--..-....-
Here's what you do.. I've included the steps:) (If I haven't gotten the linux commands QUITE right, dont flame me.. I've tried getting linux installed about a bazillion times, but X doesn't support my Creative Labs Voodoo BlasterBanshee yet... if you have a solution, dont hesitate to email me:)
1) Put a blank, formatted disk in your floppy drive. 2) type "md/mnt/temp1" 3) type "mount/dev/fda0/mnt/temp1" 4) type "cd/mnt/temp1" 5) type "echo/// >> pass.txt" (Replace the 's with actuall stuff;) 6) type "unmount/dev/fda0" 7) remove the disk from the drive
There.. CitizenC's magical password-keeping strategy.. lets see pesky rooters get at an unmounted disk!:) ,-----.----...---..--..-....- ' CitizenC ' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!" `-----.----...---..--..-....-
heh.. and I feel poor:) I'm still sitting here, writing this on my Pentium 166 MMX.. and it has served me VERY well. I couldn't run Unreal if my life depended on it, but it wasn't that great anyway -- all eyecandy. HalfLife runs fantastically, as do most (if not all, minus unreal) other games.. do I need a 1Ghz chip? No.. but when they come out, I assume the prices on P2s and P3s will drop like a rock, so I'm going to wait.. ,-----.----...---..--..-....- ' CitizenC ' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!" `-----.----...---..--..-....-
Slashdot Mirror
After reading that article, a question popped into my head: What would we use said data for? My PERSONAL fantasy is that, eventually, we will get to a point where you will simply have to THINK a command, and your mind-reading-hat (or goggles, you get the idea) interprets the neurological impulses, and gives your computer the appropriate commands..
A curious idea, to be sure.. but does anybody else out there think this will EVER happen?
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' WebMaster, PlanetQ3F
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
I've been reading computer magazines for years, and I am always amazed at the way that hardware companies will report bench mark results. Instead of explaining it in a simple, easy-to-understand manner, they will play on the ignorance of the average consumer, and throw terms like "triangles per second", "refresh rate", "maximum colours", and "frames per second" around, hoping to sound good!
Several times, I have read ads for hardware, that proclaim that they are faster then the competitor. They even have pretty bar graphs! And of course, their bar is much longer. However, here is a great place to repeat the long-unblieved-until-now phrase "size doesn't matter."
What is stupifyingly bizzare is that I can turn the page, find the competitors ad, and they proclaim exactly the same thing! It's mind boggling, too say the least.
That is why open source benchmarks are a good idea -- not only does it allow people to improve on the code directly, but it lets people see exactly what is going on behind the scenes.
Or maybe, we shouldn't let companies do benchmarks for their own products. After all, you can make stats say pretty much whatever you want them too. Or maybe we should just ignore ads completely. (I know that I don't trust magazine ads for sure. Rather, I go and find MULTIPLE reviews of hardware, both online, and word-of-mouth, to get an accurate picture.)
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' WebMaster, PlanetQ3F
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
For me, the "Customize" button is directly to the right of "Net2Phone" .. however, I didn't have a previous version of Netscape installed, so it didn't import any favorites or anything..
. html ..
The button itself takes you to http://home.netscape.com/bookmark/6_0b1/customize
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' WebMaster, PlanetQ3F
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
One of my mother's friends is a new computer user. (She grew up with a typewriter..) Well, not new -- she can find her way around a desktop and Word Perfect. She then discovered the wonder of desktop themes, and mp3s on Winamp. She began to become obsessed with customizing Winamp -- she insisted that her Winamp skin match her desktop theme (which she has mountians of.) She isn't a hacker; she just wants her stuff to look good.
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' WebMaster, PlanetQ3F
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
.. unfortunately, the hard-coded link to the customise page is a 404 error! HELLO NETSCAPE! Isn't this what Quality Control is for? Somebody go grab the mozilla source and fix that thing please! =)
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' WebMaster, PlanetQ3F
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
I remember, when I was like 10, watching old Star Trek episodes with my dad, and being completely and utterly infatuated. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen! I ran around, zaping people with my phazer, and generally had a blast!
Then Star Trek: TNG was released, and I hoped that it would live up to the standards of "old school" Star Trek.. and on some level, it did! However, I still believe that Spock kicks Data's ass any day of the week.
Then came Star Trek: DS9, also known as the bane of my existance. I found it (and still DO find it) to be insanely boring. I mean, all they do is sit around on that stupid station, and their problems come to them! Give me a break! This, my friends, is the in-space version of a toll booth! It gets old. Fast.
Then we get Voyager, complete with a captain who sounds spookily like Sharon Carstairs, leader of the NDP. (New Democratic Party) It is OK, I suppose.. except, once again, they have written themselves into a corner. All the characters do is bitch and complain about never being able to get home. Give it a rest, guys! If you miss your loved ones so much, then just CREATE THEM ON THE HOLIDECK! Or get the doctor to erase their memory from yours. Anything! Just stop whining about so and so! =)
As you can see, I am fairly opinionated about this sort of thing. I know my Star Trek. And all I can say is, the latest installment had better be GOOD. (No pussyfooting around in the Gamma Quadrant, please.) If it isn't, then I guess I will go back to watching classic Trek on Space.
All I can say is "Beam Me Up Scotty!"
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' WebMaster, PlanetQ3F
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
Is anybody else pissed off about having to create a username and password when first launching Netscape 6? It really annoyed ME..
I had to spend close to 10 minutes trying to find an unused username, just so I can use the software? Please. Netscape, let's not try to merge your stupid website with your browser. If I want to have a login to your site, I'll go there ON MY OWN TIME, and get one. I shouldn't be forced into it, especially when I first install your software.
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' WebMaster, PlanetQ3F
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
I remember, while I was growing up, I (gasp!) didn't have a computer of my own. (Well, I'm only 18 now, but when I was in like grade 5.) However, one of my friends had recently gotten a computer of his own -- an Amiga!
:)
It was easily the coolest thing I had ever seen. I remember being instantly drawn to the warm, incandecent glow of the monitor like moths to a street lamp. Ahh, the many hours of playing games like Laser Chess that I spent in front of that computer!
Amiga had me hooked after 5 minutes with their original machine, and I'm quite anxious to see what their creative minds can come up with now!
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' WebMaster, PlanetQ3F
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
I've been talking with my friends about which film should have won best picture, and we seem to be evenly devided between The Sixth Sense and American Beauty. I've seen both, and, IMO, American Beauty was the clear winnier.
It's not to say that The Sixth Sense was a bad movie, (it was a GREAT movie!) it's just that the way the ending is written, you can't really watch it more the once. It's like a murder mystery -- you allready know the butler did it, so what's the point?
American Beauty, on the other hand, didn't have a surprise ending. Hell, Kevin Spacy tells you right at the beginning what is going to happen! But the movie is a beautiful look at suburban life.
Just my 2 cents..
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!"
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
I'm 18, so I don't really want to aqurire a debt, monthly bill, or any of that other crap. After doing a bunch of research, I purchased a Pay-As-You-Go phone, and it was the best idea I ever had!
In case you don't know, the idea behind the Pay-As-You-Go model is that you purchase time as you need it, in 1-hour increments, for $25 each. (That's here in Canada, I'm not sure what it is down in the States.)
Now, once you run out of time, you can't make or recieve calls. So you don't get charged! Then all you do is go buy another hour, punch in the serial, and away you go!
Of course, with this, freedom DOES come with a price. The cost per minute is about twice as much as a standard cellular plan. (2500 Cents / 60 Minutes = 40 Cents Per Minute. But check my math.)
Still, I think this is the way to go for ME anyway. I use the phone when I need it, and no more.
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!"
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
OK, to set the record straight, I, myself am Canadian. I was born here. Raised here. And live here. Now, I read posts and news stories about people thinking that the song "Blame Canada", and the South Park Movie in general offended us Canadians somehow. Let me tell you, that isn't true, at least from what I've seen.
;)
Sure, the film itself revolves around Canada attacking the US in stupid ways, (be afraid of our hockey sticks, dammit!) and I was laughing the whole way through it. My father, who watched it with me, and who HATES the series, was laughing just as much as I was.
Now, it's true that some Canadians (mostly the up-tight ones) will find offense to the song. But if they don't like it, they can just change the channel. However, I know that -I- will be front and center, singing along, and througly embaressing myself in front of all my friends! =)
(But only if I'm drunk
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!"
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
As stated in a Dilbert Comic strip, the staff of the IDC is pitting their intelligence against the collective sex drive of all the youth of America. I'm pretty sure that teens will find a way to get around anything they try. (NetNanny? Give me a break!) Edge: Teenagers.
The reason they ran out of funding is because they haven't been persuing the proper courses of action in reguard to Internet Decency. Instead of trying to develop new software that blocks sites with certain words, why not just make a law that states that any website that provides adult content requires proof of age in the form of a credit card or similar id.
That raises another point -- people wouldn't like giving out their CC over the internet, especially to pr0n sites. ("Honey, why is there a charge for $29.95 to a company called 'PureSexyTeens.Com' on our credit card bill?") Maybe a new type of adult id could be created -- once you turn 18, you get a card in the mail that has a number on it. It's completely unique, and all it does is state that you're over 18.
Does that make sense?
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!"
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
When I think of internet voting, what scares me is not that it might be insecure, but rather, do we WANT to make voting accessible to people who can't find their way to their local polling station?
:)
Perhaps an example would be useful: Take Joe Q. Voter. He's a 27 year old male, who spends all his time on the computer. He doesn't go to election speeches. He doesn't own a car -- just takes the bus, which isn't often.
Now imagine this. Our buddy Joe is surfing around the 'net, reading his e-mail, playing Quake, and looking at porn, when suddenly he sees a link that says "Vote Online Here!"
Remember, he hasn't paid attention to any of the candidates' election platforms. He's probably sitting in his chair, scratching himself (sorry for putting that image in your head) with one hand, and using his mouse to cast his vote with the other.
Now, ask yourself: is THIS the kind of person who we want to have a say in the next leader of the free world? I think not.
Lets face it folks, the world would be better off if some people didn't vote!
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!"
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
I remember playing old classics like Lazer Chess and the like on my friend's old Amiga.. now they're incredibly powerful.. the fact that MS tried to shaft them just makes it worse.
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!"
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
Yeah.. thanks for being honest about it.. we all make mistakes, but it takes an incredibly large amount of charisma to admit it.. so yes, we forgive you =) -- C
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!"
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
Its plain text! You can open it on ANY box! just haul the disk around with you!
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!"
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
5) type "echo (login)/(pass)/(account)/(description) >> pass.txt" (Replace the ()'s with actual stuff ;)
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!"
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
Here's what you do.. I've included the steps :) (If I haven't gotten the linux commands QUITE right, dont flame me.. I've tried getting linux installed about a bazillion times, but X doesn't support my Creative Labs Voodoo BlasterBanshee yet... if you have a solution, dont hesitate to email me :)
/mnt/temp1" /dev/fda0 /mnt/temp1" /mnt/temp1" /// >> pass.txt" (Replace the 's with actuall stuff ;) /dev/fda0"
:)
1) Put a blank, formatted disk in your floppy drive.
2) type "md
3) type "mount
4) type "cd
5) type "echo
6) type "unmount
7) remove the disk from the drive
There.. CitizenC's magical password-keeping strategy.. lets see pesky rooters get at an unmounted disk!
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!"
`-----.----...---..--..-....-
heh.. and I feel poor :) I'm still sitting here, writing this on my Pentium 166 MMX .. and it has served me VERY well. I couldn't run Unreal if my life depended on it, but it wasn't that great anyway -- all eyecandy. HalfLife runs fantastically, as do most (if not all, minus unreal) other games.. do I need a 1Ghz chip? No.. but when they come out, I assume the prices on P2s and P3s will drop like a rock, so I'm going to wait..
,-----.----...---..--..-....-
' CitizenC
' "Bug? That's Not A Bug, That's A Feature!"
`-----.----...---..--..-....-