Hmmm yes, what we really need is an environmentally friendly biodegradable substance that won't rot or get eaten by bugs. Best of both worlds.
Funny as it is, it's not impossible. You can - theoretically - produce a biodegradable substance that won't rot in a given period of time (and won't get eaten by bugs because it will naturally repel them). However, the easiest way to obtain it would probably be some sort of transgenetic manipulation - and the environmentalists wouln't be happy about it.
Judge by your online c.v. that your last proper job was ended in March 2002 and you are going to waste money going Slovakia? I know Europe gasoline is not cheap
But still - gasoline in Slovakia is cheaper than in neighboring countries, and food & beer cost next to nothing here. I am right now on vacation in Slovakia. GPRS roaming works fine. I ate a generous dinner with loads of excellent beer and paid less than $10. If you're out of money, it's the right place for vacation!
Why is this unfortunate? Do you want to know every nuance of the car you drive, just to get to work? How about when you watch TV? Do you really need to know about NTSC vs PAL? No, you want to watch TV.
I agree with the general line of your reasoning, but please observe that the examples you mention do not necessarily support your own thesis. First: if you don't know NOTHING about "NTSC vs PAL", you might quite soon end up with an unpleasant surprise buying video tapes abroad. Say, you might be an American on a trip to Amsterdam, taking advantage on their, uh-huh, liberal law regarding the pr0n. Ditto for European in Tokio.
With the car, it's even worse. You can't drive a car without valid license. The authorities consider untrained drivers too much of a threat for the public (and the drivers themselves). And it becomes more and more obvious that the Internet is also a very dangerous place for untrained computer users. You can damage yourself (sometimes just opening an email attachment) and cause damage to the others. You are absolutely right saying:
People just want to send grandma some pictures, surf the web, type a paper, whatever... Not spend forever updating their AV package, SP updates, etc.
...but these days, computer users should have some basic training on "what attachments are likely to contain pictures from grandma - and what aren't!". Otherwise they might end up hosting some illegal warez server in their own house - without their knowledge.
To the point some PC makers decided to change the text so it reads "press Enter key", because much too many ppl was calling asking where the hell the "any" key was...
The hardest part was to explain why alt, ctrl, meta, esc, shift and caps lock are not exactly just "any" keys.
The soundtrack will include portions of the score, composed by Trevor Jones ("The Last of the Mohicans'') and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Of course, members of the London Symphony Orchestra will not be allowed to buy the soundtrack. They are not American residents, so iTunes Music Store is off limits for them. At least they can hear the 15 seconds demo!
Re:it's not like this is really news...
on
Science Faction
·
· Score: 1
New technology will--if at all possible--be first used for pornography and sex, followed by gambling, then crime. Hint: it is always possible.
I agree with the general line of your thought, but still have problems imagining such uses of nanotechnology, the (alleged) Next Big Thing. Suggestions, anyone?
Re:it's not like this is really news...
on
Science Faction
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
I'd love to be proven wrong on this -- counterexamples welcome.:-)
Even if they did accurately predict some gizmos, they were incredibly funny with completely false expectations on how people will use them. Take computers and networking - as far as I know, nobody - NOBODY! - guessed that the network will be used to distribute pr0n. What were they thinking? It was so easy to guess. After all, the first pornographical photos were taken on the first Daguerre machines, back in 1860's. First porno movies were shot on the first Lumiere cinematograph. Was it that hard to guess what would be one of the first uses for computer imaging and network distribution?
I think they will be rather happy about that. How many times visitors call them with this annoying "sir, can you unlock this screensaver, please"? (and then the inevitable "damned, where did I stuck this post-it note with our current password"). I bet the whole instruction "how to crash the screensaver in 3 easy steps" will be pasted right at the entrance!
I'd rather have as little problems with my hardware and software as possible. My job is challenging enough for me to avoid all unecessary challenges.
MIPS and MFLOPS are not the only important factor when choosing a computer, just as maximum velocity is not the only factor when choosing a car. A complex machine is worth as much as its weakest link. So I don't think a MFLOPS/$ chart would say anything informative - I'd rather see a 3D chart with "How many problems will I most likely have with this machine" axis versus MIPS versus $.
If a single 2 ghz g5 more or less keeps pace with a 2.66 ghz intel chip, I fail to see how dual 2 ghz system would outperform a dual 3 ghz (or faster)intel-based system.
Sir, I think what you "fail to see" is actually called "scalability".
I'm only running 10.2.6, and Software Update says nothing new is available.
MacOS X 10.2.7 - codename Smeagol - is a stop-gap solution to provide JUST ANY working OS to the G5's until Panther is ready for prime time. Your Sofware Update is right not to install it on your machine, as most probably it is not a G5, sir.
MS Office is a Carbon app. There's no carbonlib for any *nix except Mac OS X out there. Porting it to Linux would mean either porting carbonlib (i.e. a cleaned up version of the legacy Mac OS api + extensions) to Linux,
Wait a minute - if I had my modpoints now, I'd surely give you an "insightful" just for this. Are there any attempts to create something like free carbonlib compatibility environment? This could bring much more than just MS Office to Linux and other free OS'es. After all, majority of games for MacOS X is actually written in carbon - and they run natively in OpenGL, so there is no further need for the DirectX compatibility. Would this be worth the effort?
What is unethical about me owning hundreds of CDs, but not having the time to rip them?
You mean, you have time to download things from kazaa, but you don't have time to rip the CD's? You either have a VERY fast internet connection or a VERY slow CD.
In fact, that's how our representative republic works. At least, millions of people doing activity X tends to make it legal.
Do you really think so? I don't have any hard data but I think it's safe to bet that millions of people break traffic regulations. How many drivers are out there that truly and sincerely NEVER EVER were guilty of speeding or illegal parking? And do you think these people would vote for abolishment of traffic regulations only because they sometimes happen to break them?
Indiana Jones is not a "James Bond" type that you just pass the reigns on to. Harrison Ford will always be Indiana Jones, plain and simple.
It's quite ironic you mention Bond, because - according to one Lucas biography - the whole movie has begun as a sort of James Bond for the New Hollywood. Spielberg always wanted to direct a Bond movie, but the Bond producers were of the "old guards" and did not trust much younger Spielberg. Spielberg once complained about it to Lucas, and his reply was "Steven, have you ever heard of the Arc of Covenant?" (I repeat this story after one book on Lucas; I wasn't there when they had this crucial conversation;-)).
Slashdot Mirror
Right, but this is just another chink in the argument that "we can't let you work on a mac because we still need x86 to do "
Wouldn't the same trick work nice with some older serial equipped Macs (i.e. the 68k cuties)?
Hmmm yes, what we really need is an environmentally friendly biodegradable substance that won't rot or get eaten by bugs. Best of both worlds.
Funny as it is, it's not impossible. You can - theoretically - produce a biodegradable substance that won't rot in a given period of time (and won't get eaten by bugs because it will naturally repel them). However, the easiest way to obtain it would probably be some sort of transgenetic manipulation - and the environmentalists wouln't be happy about it.
And how would you explain similar events among the Mac people?
Judge by your online c.v. that your last proper job was ended in March 2002 and you are going to waste money going Slovakia? I know Europe gasoline is not cheap
But still - gasoline in Slovakia is cheaper than in neighboring countries, and food & beer cost next to nothing here. I am right now on vacation in Slovakia. GPRS roaming works fine. I ate a generous dinner with loads of excellent beer and paid less than $10. If you're out of money, it's the right place for vacation!
And I am supposed to take *they* word on what is the most reliable technology?
Why is this unfortunate? Do you want to know every nuance of the car you drive, just to get to work? How about when you watch TV? Do you really need to know about NTSC vs PAL? No, you want to watch TV.
...but these days, computer users should have some basic training on "what attachments are likely to contain pictures from grandma - and what aren't!". Otherwise they might end up hosting some illegal warez server in their own house - without their knowledge.
I agree with the general line of your reasoning, but please observe that the examples you mention do not necessarily support your own thesis. First: if you don't know NOTHING about "NTSC vs PAL", you might quite soon end up with an unpleasant surprise buying video tapes abroad. Say, you might be an American on a trip to Amsterdam, taking advantage on their, uh-huh, liberal law regarding the pr0n. Ditto for European in Tokio.
With the car, it's even worse. You can't drive a car without valid license. The authorities consider untrained drivers too much of a threat for the public (and the drivers themselves). And it becomes more and more obvious that the Internet is also a very dangerous place for untrained computer users. You can damage yourself (sometimes just opening an email attachment) and cause damage to the others. You are absolutely right saying:
People just want to send grandma some pictures, surf the web, type a paper, whatever... Not spend forever updating their AV package, SP updates, etc.
To the point some PC makers decided to change the text so it reads "press Enter key", because much too many ppl was calling asking where the hell the "any" key was...
The hardest part was to explain why alt, ctrl, meta, esc, shift and caps lock are not exactly just "any" keys.
The soundtrack will include portions of the score, composed by Trevor Jones ("The Last of the Mohicans'') and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Of course, members of the London Symphony Orchestra will not be allowed to buy the soundtrack. They are not American residents, so iTunes Music Store is off limits for them. At least they can hear the 15 seconds demo!
New technology will--if at all possible--be first used for pornography and sex, followed by gambling, then crime. Hint: it is always possible.
I agree with the general line of your thought, but still have problems imagining such uses of nanotechnology, the (alleged) Next Big Thing. Suggestions, anyone?
I'd love to be proven wrong on this -- counterexamples welcome. :-)
Even if they did accurately predict some gizmos, they were incredibly funny with completely false expectations on how people will use them. Take computers and networking - as far as I know, nobody - NOBODY! - guessed that the network will be used to distribute pr0n. What were they thinking? It was so easy to guess. After all, the first pornographical photos were taken on the first Daguerre machines, back in 1860's. First porno movies were shot on the first Lumiere cinematograph. Was it that hard to guess what would be one of the first uses for computer imaging and network distribution?
DOS: smash the box until it no longer works.
root exploit: smash the box and get the hard disk. Plug that into another computer.
Dual-boot Macintosh: Boot into OS 9. Congratulations, you have now root access to everyf***thing.
I'd love to write an essay "Deconstructing the quake. The semiotics and metaphysics of an outdoor wireless LAN multiplayer session in the woodland".
I think they will be rather happy about that. How many times visitors call them with this annoying "sir, can you unlock this screensaver, please"? (and then the inevitable "damned, where did I stuck this post-it note with our current password"). I bet the whole instruction "how to crash the screensaver in 3 easy steps" will be pasted right at the entrance!
I'd rather have a choice.
I'd rather have as little problems with my hardware and software as possible. My job is challenging enough for me to avoid all unecessary challenges.
MIPS and MFLOPS are not the only important factor when choosing a computer, just as maximum velocity is not the only factor when choosing a car. A complex machine is worth as much as its weakest link. So I don't think a MFLOPS/$ chart would say anything informative - I'd rather see a 3D chart with "How many problems will I most likely have with this machine" axis versus MIPS versus $.
If a single 2 ghz g5 more or less keeps pace with a 2.66 ghz intel chip, I fail to see how dual 2 ghz system would outperform a dual 3 ghz (or faster)intel-based system.
Sir, I think what you "fail to see" is actually called "scalability".
Why not show an mflops/$ chart?
Why not show a "just works"/$ chart?
I'm only running 10.2.6, and Software Update says nothing new is available.
MacOS X 10.2.7 - codename Smeagol - is a stop-gap solution to provide JUST ANY working OS to the G5's until Panther is ready for prime time. Your Sofware Update is right not to install it on your machine, as most probably it is not a G5, sir.
Here's hoping no-one's forgotten the above abomination of gaming... =)
How can you forget installing a game from eleven floppies!
MS Office is a Carbon app. There's no carbonlib for any *nix except Mac OS X out there. Porting it to Linux would mean either porting carbonlib (i.e. a cleaned up version of the legacy Mac OS api + extensions) to Linux,
Wait a minute - if I had my modpoints now, I'd surely give you an "insightful" just for this. Are there any attempts to create something like free carbonlib compatibility environment? This could bring much more than just MS Office to Linux and other free OS'es. After all, majority of games for MacOS X is actually written in carbon - and they run natively in OpenGL, so there is no further need for the DirectX compatibility. Would this be worth the effort?
Wi-Fi. 'Nuff said.
Okay, if you are a Mac user, that will cost you actually seven letters, but "Airport" sounds much nicer...
Who the hell woudl have voted for Prohibition anyways? I just can't imagine anybody wanting to do that.
Ask you neigbor, Mrs Jane Shmane, age 64, what is her opinion on legalization of cannabis. This should give you a general picture.
3) release code/client with a patent license that prohibits the behavior above
And how would your try to prove that a file was deliberately corrupted?
What is unethical about me owning hundreds of CDs, but not having the time to rip them?
You mean, you have time to download things from kazaa, but you don't have time to rip the CD's? You either have a VERY fast internet connection or a VERY slow CD.
In fact, that's how our representative republic works. At least, millions of people doing activity X tends to make it legal.
Do you really think so? I don't have any hard data but I think it's safe to bet that millions of people break traffic regulations. How many drivers are out there that truly and sincerely NEVER EVER were guilty of speeding or illegal parking? And do you think these people would vote for abolishment of traffic regulations only because they sometimes happen to break them?
Indiana Jones is not a "James Bond" type that you just pass the reigns on to. Harrison Ford will always be Indiana Jones, plain and simple.
;-)).
It's quite ironic you mention Bond, because - according to one Lucas biography - the whole movie has begun as a sort of James Bond for the New Hollywood. Spielberg always wanted to direct a Bond movie, but the Bond producers were of the "old guards" and did not trust much younger Spielberg. Spielberg once complained about it to Lucas, and his reply was "Steven, have you ever heard of the Arc of Covenant?" (I repeat this story after one book on Lucas; I wasn't there when they had this crucial conversation