Is that legally enforceable, requiring you to put in several months notice before leaving? In certain states in the US, there's an "at will" employment rule where the employee can quit at any time, and also the employer can let an employee go at any time. It is usually courtesy to give a couple of weeks notice, but not a legal requirement.
Of course if you are contractually bound to your agreement, then this is a moot issue.
It seems cross platform applications are also small in number. Mozilla, OpenOffice.org, Apache, etc. are all good cross platform non-Java applications, but such multi platform supported applications also seem rare in number. And personally I prefer the Java language over C/C++ for development, and I'm sure many others do as well.
Google could've done either with Google Earth, but they decided not to for whatever reason.
I was not kidding about a Java client application. Java's come a long way in the past decade. Truly cross platform and usable desktop applications would be a refreshing reality. Take a look at Eclipse and Azureus for real world examples.
AFAIK, there aren't as many client side Java application developers as client side application developers, whether it's on Windoze, Linux, Mac OS, etc.
If someone could write a excellent graphic intensive Java application (e.g. a game) to showcase Java's viability as a desktop platform, it would help address this developer adoption problem.
Illuminati Y2K has a Microstuff card:
Power 6/3, Resistance 8, Income 5, Straight, Conservative, Criminal.
The base game has a Silicon Valley card, but I don't remember the stats for that.
I once took a class back in college which discussed some of limitations of virtual reality (this was back in '93). Until some of these things are addressed, and not just the economic factors, VR might not really ever take off.
For example, how do you address the gravity problem? How can you virtually simulate something that has physical weight, like throwing a virtual ball and catching it?
And if we have public access to VR devices (assuming it's still economically unfeasible for mass market personal purchasing), how do you cope with the "icky" factor? Would you want to use some VR helmet or gloves after some greasy, unkempt guy just used it?
Perhaps true VR may not be possible unless it was purely a sensory experience (like in The Matrix) or using artificially created matter (like holodecks), and the best we're going to get are fancy 3D displays with some amount of immersion.
I watched this movie recently, and I felt that it didn't have the same sort of dread that built up in the book. Some of the overarcing concepts were glossed over in the movie such as Newspeak. Only the scene w/ the thought police was done well I thought from the movie. The book was definitely superior IMO.
That's an entertaining anecdote, but I think such opportunities for players to affect the world at large are very rare. In a game with thousands of players, not everyone can be the hero. If this happened in a shard-less game, this would've been very interesting indeed. Too bad Wish got cancelled. Maybe Dark and Light will see the light of day.
I'm inclined to agree here. Nethack simply isn't very enticing after getting repeatedly killed over and over, and starting over from scratch. I do not find that to be an enjoyable way to spend time.
In your definition, does FTL travel require some propulsion system that's FTL? I'm not sure this is possible. However, some sort of "teleportation" effect like wormholes might be more likely. Perhaps I should read up more on general relativity (in which case these are all aspects of the same).
I use Road Runner, and use Linux primarily. I don't remember installing any software when I first got the service (years ago), just simply plugging in the cable modem, then plugging in an ethernet cable. It was easy as a cookie.
To hell with Windows.
I thought the "Windows" only support would be a problem with the Neuros as well, but there's an open source sync manager for Linux (and other POSIX compliant OSs maybe) made by Xiph called Positron.
http://www.xiph.org/positron/
I think we'll be waiting years for official Linux support on these PMPs, and life is short unfortunately, especially since USB mass storage on Linux is still rather iffy (for now). At least Neuros has opened up their firmware, hardware (specs), and software. I've been looking to replace my "old school" Neo for a while, and had considered an iPod for a while, but Neuros seems to have decent digital recording built in (even better if you get an external pre-amp/microphone).
It's the same reason why I keep Mozilla suite. There doesn't appear to be any simple, open-source, stable HTML editors available. By the moon, I don't even know any simple, open-source, stable XML editors for that matter either.
And as much as I like to use Emacs for development, it's painful for HTML.
I wouldn't give SpikeTV Video Game Awards much creedance. It's like taking Blockbuster Awards too seriously. The audience for SpikeTV is hardly academically minded, so the show caters to its audience. No surprise there.
TV is a vast wasteland anyway.
Some new MMORPGs coming out next year, such as Dark and Light and Wish should address some of these issues present in current MMORPGs. Both aim to have only 1 common environment for all players (instead of multiple servers which are they're own self contained worlds). And Wish plans on having unique quests (not having the same old quests everyone has the chance to get and following some solution guide to finish it). Actual change to the environment can actually be done by the players themselves. Whether or not the implementation is good remains to be seen.
Although vandalism is a problem, there are some ideas that could address the particular issues you mention. Not that I necessarily advocate this, but surveillance (either visually or through identity verification) could be implemented for indemnification. Self cleaning mechanisms like what's done in some public city toilets could be build into these vehicles. Or a no tolerance policy, similar to what the NYC transit system inacted to stop graffiti, could be put in place.
Excellent points - implementations don't get build on their own. What goes around comes around. Karma will see to your accolades. Insert your own "Field of Dreams" reference here.
Slashdot Mirror
This is quite true - try this with pyrex and vegetable oil. The pyrex will "disappear" when submerged into the oil.
Is that legally enforceable, requiring you to put in several months notice before leaving? In certain states in the US, there's an "at will" employment rule where the employee can quit at any time, and also the employer can let an employee go at any time. It is usually courtesy to give a couple of weeks notice, but not a legal requirement.
Of course if you are contractually bound to your agreement, then this is a moot issue.
It seems cross platform applications are also small in number. Mozilla, OpenOffice.org, Apache, etc. are all good cross platform non-Java applications, but such multi platform supported applications also seem rare in number. And personally I prefer the Java language over C/C++ for development, and I'm sure many others do as well.
Google could've done either with Google Earth, but they decided not to for whatever reason.
I was not kidding about a Java client application. Java's come a long way in the past decade. Truly cross platform and usable desktop applications would be a refreshing reality. Take a look at Eclipse and Azureus for real world examples.
AFAIK, there aren't as many client side Java application developers as client side application developers, whether it's on Windoze, Linux, Mac OS, etc.
If someone could write a excellent graphic intensive Java application (e.g. a game) to showcase Java's viability as a desktop platform, it would help address this developer adoption problem.
This reminds me of the Incarnations of Immortality series by Piers Anthony.
And where's the Linux version? Or a Java version?
Where can I get my free bronze sword? Sounds like an interesting piece of wall decor. :)
Too bad Google Earth runs only on Windoze. :(
Illuminati Y2K has a Microstuff card:
Power 6/3, Resistance 8, Income 5, Straight, Conservative, Criminal.
The base game has a Silicon Valley card, but I don't remember the stats for that.
I once took a class back in college which discussed some of limitations of virtual reality (this was back in '93). Until some of these things are addressed, and not just the economic factors, VR might not really ever take off.
For example, how do you address the gravity problem? How can you virtually simulate something that has physical weight, like throwing a virtual ball and catching it?
And if we have public access to VR devices (assuming it's still economically unfeasible for mass market personal purchasing), how do you cope with the "icky" factor? Would you want to use some VR helmet or gloves after some greasy, unkempt guy just used it?
Perhaps true VR may not be possible unless it was purely a sensory experience (like in The Matrix) or using artificially created matter (like holodecks), and the best we're going to get are fancy 3D displays with some amount of immersion.
All we hear is radio ga ga anyway. Podcasting's the way to go.
Particle Man? Doing the things a particle can?
I watched this movie recently, and I felt that it didn't have the same sort of dread that built up in the book. Some of the overarcing concepts were glossed over in the movie such as Newspeak. Only the scene w/ the thought police was done well I thought from the movie. The book was definitely superior IMO.
Would be funny if "developers" was two syllables. Hmmm, coders, coders, coders, coders...
That's an entertaining anecdote, but I think such opportunities for players to affect the world at large are very rare. In a game with thousands of players, not everyone can be the hero. If this happened in a shard-less game, this would've been very interesting indeed. Too bad Wish got cancelled. Maybe Dark and Light will see the light of day.
I'm inclined to agree here. Nethack simply isn't very enticing after getting repeatedly killed over and over, and starting over from scratch. I do not find that to be an enjoyable way to spend time.
You could disprove this handily, which is still a proof.
In your definition, does FTL travel require some propulsion system that's FTL? I'm not sure this is possible. However, some sort of "teleportation" effect like wormholes might be more likely. Perhaps I should read up more on general relativity (in which case these are all aspects of the same).
I use Road Runner, and use Linux primarily. I don't remember installing any software when I first got the service (years ago), just simply plugging in the cable modem, then plugging in an ethernet cable. It was easy as a cookie. To hell with Windows.
I thought the "Windows" only support would be a problem with the Neuros as well, but there's an open source sync manager for Linux (and other POSIX compliant OSs maybe) made by Xiph called Positron. http://www.xiph.org/positron/ I think we'll be waiting years for official Linux support on these PMPs, and life is short unfortunately, especially since USB mass storage on Linux is still rather iffy (for now). At least Neuros has opened up their firmware, hardware (specs), and software. I've been looking to replace my "old school" Neo for a while, and had considered an iPod for a while, but Neuros seems to have decent digital recording built in (even better if you get an external pre-amp/microphone).
It's the same reason why I keep Mozilla suite. There doesn't appear to be any simple, open-source, stable HTML editors available. By the moon, I don't even know any simple, open-source, stable XML editors for that matter either.
And as much as I like to use Emacs for development, it's painful for HTML.
I wouldn't give SpikeTV Video Game Awards much creedance. It's like taking Blockbuster Awards too seriously. The audience for SpikeTV is hardly academically minded, so the show caters to its audience. No surprise there. TV is a vast wasteland anyway.
Some new MMORPGs coming out next year, such as Dark and Light and Wish should address some of these issues present in current MMORPGs. Both aim to have only 1 common environment for all players (instead of multiple servers which are they're own self contained worlds). And Wish plans on having unique quests (not having the same old quests everyone has the chance to get and following some solution guide to finish it). Actual change to the environment can actually be done by the players themselves. Whether or not the implementation is good remains to be seen.
Although vandalism is a problem, there are some ideas that could address the particular issues you mention. Not that I necessarily advocate this, but surveillance (either visually or through identity verification) could be implemented for indemnification. Self cleaning mechanisms like what's done in some public city toilets could be build into these vehicles. Or a no tolerance policy, similar to what the NYC transit system inacted to stop graffiti, could be put in place.
Excellent points - implementations don't get build on their own. What goes around comes around. Karma will see to your accolades. Insert your own "Field of Dreams" reference here.
Orbital Mind Control Lasers! Those crazy Gnomes of Zurich...