I live in Chicago and just recently attended the Wired NextFest, where there was a demo for a "Power Assist Suite" (see a picture here: http://www.vcl.uh.edu/~pavlidis/nextfest/photos/Fi gure%2017.JPG). It was cool in concept, but I was rather let down having seen the thing in action; it was extremely cumbersome and took a good ten minutes to prepare.
The device here looks much more appropriate, while having many of the same features as the one presented at NextFest.
The Columbia Journalism Review has made this interesting report available. It shows the depth/breadth of media formats that Time Warner has control of. It's quite astounding, check it out.
-pararox-
Flocking Road Cones
on
Robocones
·
· Score: 4, Funny
Personally, I'd be more interested in seeing the development of flocking road cones. But that's just me:)
The old saying goes "Once bitten, twice shy." The average consumer has not simply been bitten - we've damn well lost appendages to these bloody big-business types who demand the squeezing of every last half-penny from the buyer.
It's really to be expected that GMail's services are going to come under fire. We're wary as a result of the repeat offenders who populate the market place.
I'm impressed with Google, and use their search engine almost exclusively. I hope they maintain themselves with this new e-mail thing - and really, do we have any reason to believe they will let their customer's down?
I'm really impressed with how Google has handled themselves since their inception. They have certainly been innovative, but most importantly they employ things that aren't seen enough in today's business world: openness and integrity.
I'm inherently paranoid (or, perhaps more appropriately, private) and always take things with a grain of salt - especially when it's coming from a business the size of Google.
That said, I don't blame Google for their desire to recoup costs by generating targeting advertisement. I'm very much impressed with how open they have been about the procedures they will use to actually target the ads. With this recent letter that so quickly and openly answers concerns made public recently, I'm happy to say here is a company that has been widly successful - all while being true gentlemen.
Does anyone have an account of what this motor would cost the average consumer?
My Grandmother: a story.
on
GNOME for Grandma
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
I recently visited my Grandmother, who is quickly approaching 80 years of age. She is *highly* non-technical, and her spouse recently passed away, so she is pretty much on her own (in more ways than one, obviously).
We bought a simple Compaq for her back in the late '90's which was running Windows '98. It was a constant source of consternation and trouble. I spoke with her, and after a little debating, convinced her to 'revolutionize' her computing experience by installing Linux.
This I infact did, putting SuSE on her machine. I told her: "now, just leave the machine on all the time. You can leave the 'internet' window (aka, browser) always open. Be happy!"
Happy she is. While the DE used is actually KDE, the success of her transition goes to show that Linux is ready. In all honesty, I was surprised with the rapidity with which she grew accustomed to her system.
The most advantageous thing about moving her over: no longer are there long stretches of time where she can't email because her computer is on the fritze (she often had to wait for me or her son to visit and correct things). We've been in constant electronic communication since. It's wonderful.
It appears that Element's servers have been reduced to mere elements, which is a shame as I think this is a worthy idea, and I'd love to get a glimpse at their site.
I see it's been said (derisively) that this is no new idea. While no one will content the accuracy of that statement, this is a new approach to offering a cohesive and well planned Linux box.
And that's a GOOD thing. How many times have we read the trolls complaining to the heavens how Linux would surely find better success if only it didn't take those extra few minutes to research your new hardware; if only it was better integrated, on both the hardware and the software level.
It appears we're all going to see if those complaints were truly the thing holding Linux back. As a former Mac user, who has been converted to Linux on account of my ability to pick it apart at the deepest or most shallow levels, the only thing I do truly miss was the slick unity Apple provided for it's consumers. Let's see if these guys can do the same.
I certainly won't wait with baited breath, but this is a cool and worthy idea. Good luck guys/gals.
While your point is valid in the way that many of Apple's customers buy a Mac for the total package. The cohesive nature of all things Mac (both on the hardware and software sides), which is so endemic to the platform, are a primary motivating factor.
That said, I initially began using Linux to fulfill both my curiosity, and for the availability of such high-powered software - all of which is largely free. That was back when I began my college work; I'm now old enough, and thereby have enough money in the bank, that the latter reason for my taking up Linux is not an important reason for my continuing use of it.
Truly, my interest and love for Linux is now supported solely by my unending curiosity in complex software systems. I want to be able to take apart and piece together all elements of my system; I want to be able to inspect and tinker.
I think a user's inability to do this on this still greatly proprietary MacOS platform, answers your original inquiry. YellowDog does support a true niche market; I'm glad they've been, and continue to be successful, and I think the reason for their success is that many people still cherish the ability of open software systems. Even if that system isn't as cohesive as MacOSX.
A comprehensive listing, that has been some years in the making, can be found at Insecure.org.
I found this page, created by the famous and brilliant Fyodor (of nmap fame), to be a truly indispensible resource when I first began to be interested in computer security.
If I was to reveal my bitchy side, I'd say, 'who cares? Let's move on.'
Slashdot carries an article on Moore's Law at least bi-weekly. It is a prescient topic in today's CS community, so I'll let that be.
What really troubles me is this: Moore's Law is something like Newtonian mechanics. It's very much relevant for the majority of activity, but with respect to the really cool stuff, it's totally passe.
Relativity and other theories have put Newton's material in the books of Uni freshmen. In the same way, I feel we should progress beyond Moore's Law - it's on-target, but can be superceded with enough human thought/effort.
It's been established previously in this thread: the supposed Longhorn skinning is ugly. Artistically speaking, it has some commendable points. That said, we who use and understand computers are generally rooted in logic and efficiency, and this set of schemes disregards that.
I'm a firm believer in F/OSS and use Linux always. I still maintain a Windows partiton on the lappy for Uni-related projects &c. I'm very much partial to the Windows 2000 desktop. It's barren enough to be effecient, and complex enough to be useful.
All stability issues aside, Microsoft has a strong advantage against Linux DE's largely because they implement functionality with the 'newly acquired user' in mind. KDE is a magnificent testiment to modern programming, and that team has accomplished UI capabilities I never thought I'd see in a UNIX environment. IT IS STILL MISSING that edge, that edge that beginners can grab a-hold of and incorporate into their daily lives.
I'm off on a tangent, which is inherent when a textbox maintains only some ~24 lines of previous text. Many appologies. Long and the short: if you are a power user, fuck the themes. Gnome and KDE have truly done programming wonders. But, like the currently efficient battery-gas driven cars, I'd rather move quickly, than be hampered by an ugly designed monstrosity (EV1?).
A forward thanks to you who have the forsight to buy an environmentally efficient car.
As a college student, I feel proud to say I've access to a quad-Xeon SCSI machine; this bad thing truly burns.
I run WebGUI on this machine, which recieves some 3 and a quarter million hits per month. Nothing to raise the eye brows at; but check it: on this machine the average uptime value is some 0.80. My personal (p3) machine, running a BBS, mail, bittorent, and web service maintains a constant 1.3+.
I've guaged the importance of SCSI drives in the equation via a (sadly) messy, but soon to be SourceForged Perl program. The result, confirming that which I've heard repeatedly, is that SCSI drives truly make the difference.
Pardon my former post for not being sufficiently clear. I'm drinking, so the logic gates are not properly aligned. To address you:
" I think you will find that you have to comply with a **lot** of regulations **and** be rock solid and proven."
I can make no claims against this. The Coast Gaurd is highly regulatory, making water travel both safe and very technical. It is for this reason that few (if any) all-encompassing (sp?) software navigation systems have been written. To do so would be a Hurculean task.
"AFAIK there is some very serious software available, over the years I have seen various applications published in the IEE computing and control journal......but it is probably very difficult to sell to conservative ship owners."
Again, you are quite on target with your responses. Indeed, many of these large ship owners (I am good friends with a powerful owner in the business, he's ~84 years of age) are of the old world. That said, a pervasive system providing navigation and docking capabilities would still attrack this man I speak of. He's certainly no fool; he does know what is advantageous to himself, and his business.
"BTW, a couple of years an investigation into a Greek shipping accident revealed that the ship was sailing itself and the crew were all watching a football match"
Be warned: many foreign countries do the world's shipping. Very few have the stringent regulations placed upon them as the Coast Guard places on US vessels. Incidentally, Coast Guard regs are so tough, ship manufacturing and manning are becoming more rare here in the states, hence the rapidly increasing pay.
In a bid to clear to my mind of the cobwebs, I took ~1 year off, and worked as a deck hand aboard a 656 foot shipping vessel (as a merchant marine).
At the time, I was mid-way through completion of a computer science degree, which I am currently finishing. I was completely shocked by the lack of pervasive computing on board the ship - a complex environment, where any and all silicon help could prove to be highly advantageous.
Two newly acquired computers, running NaviSailor were onboard, and provided (what most of my fellow mates/luddites took as) advanced information in a no-hassel manner.
There is a great deal of money to be made in the shipping business. It is a complex and intricate profession, and most of the people onboard shipping vessels exhibit a great degree of perfectionism. Afterall, wrecking a multi-million dollar ship with hundreds of thousands of dollars of onboard cargo would be quite disasterous to one's career.
The long and the short is that these people need attention. Here is a niche market ripe for the taking. Custom software geared towards making watches, navigation, and docking less error prone has yet to be made. All you who complain of a lack of work -- that fattest worms are found only by lifting the heavier stones.
This is only the next step in the re-regulation of the tech. industry. The balances were wildly thrown back during the (in)famous bubble, and have been tettering precariously for the past several years. I have never been terribly worried about the off-shoring of jobs; people are wont to be afraid of what they are unaccustomed to. I always figured this migration of jobs overseas was merely a balancing effect (as seen all throughout nature) to reregulate things. "All energy flows according to the whims of the great magnet," as HS Thompson said!
Of course, I'm still in school, biding my time until the (admittedly brightening) economy swings my way again.
I'm really impressed, and very much appreciative, of the amount of effort the Mozilla team has put forth over the years. I switched to Mozilla some 4 or 5 years ago, and haven't looked back since. The rapidity of development is truly astounding -- thanks girls and guys!
That having been said, I've been dissapointed with the latest iteration of the Mozilla browser. I've found 1.6 to be rather slow (autocomplete lags, for example), bug prone and (if I'm correct) java support is still on the fritz.
I'm liable to switch over to FireFox (or whatever it's called this week), except the Preference Toolbar (on which I'm hooked like a crack addiction) still does not function in this stripped down version of the Moz browser.
Anyway, I look forward to this newest version; really, I just wanted to express, in this post, my thanks for the effort put forth by the whole Moz team.
Though I'm likely to get hammered down around here for such a sentiment, I really think this is a result of MS declaring their intentions of ruling the websearching space.
Without the fear of competition, it's very likely that Google would stagnate - thanks Microsoft;)
I suspect it's only a matter of time until someone draws up a patent claim of the nature:
Patent 3,012,238,021...(ad infinitum) --- A method of inserting and pumping a large tubular or cylindrical item into a foes rectum, with the assistance of well studied lawyers...
Just watch, man, I'm telling the day is well nigh!
It's exciting to hear that wireless internet is becoming more prevalent in public places. It seems the US of A has been several paces behind other countries such as S. Korea when it comes to adoption of widely available, public internet access. Hopefully the ease of setting up wireless networks will remedy this situation.
My excitement to have instant information (via the Internet) at my fingertips, is, however, rather subdued when I consider the lack of precaution many people take securing their computers and networks. The recent spate of worms has proven a _real_ bother - my school network has been slowed to a grinding halt with the excessive bandwidth consumed by all this malware floating about.
The possibility that these worm issues escalate in direct proportion to the number of communities who go wireless is a concern of mine. I'm curious if any of you have read studies comparing wireless and wired networks, with respect to the rate of security issues that develop within large-scale communities?
One concept that seems to be lost on many people in the technology field was reinforced repeatedly by my mom in earlier years: "A true artist is able to determine when to stop." She herself was an artist.
Many tech people have tremendous hubris, and feel there is always something that can be improved upon. But is this actually the case?
I'd be inclined to say there are many projects out there which are truly done. The VSFTP daemon comes to mind. Development is hardly anything anymore, because the application does what is should securely and functionally; it's also lightweight and well coded.
That software is done, and it truly is wonderful. This same thing applies to wristwatches. While newfangled doodads tacked onto every angle of a product is very much in vogue amongst humans, it's certainly not the best way to make a useful item.
Slashdot Mirror
I live in Chicago and just recently attended the Wired NextFest, where there was a demo for a "Power Assist Suite" (see a picture here: http://www.vcl.uh.edu/~pavlidis/nextfest/photos/Fi gure%2017.JPG). It was cool in concept, but I was rather let down having seen the thing in action; it was extremely cumbersome and took a good ten minutes to prepare.
The device here looks much more appropriate, while having many of the same features as the one presented at NextFest.
The Columbia Journalism Review has made this interesting report available. It shows the depth/breadth of media formats that Time Warner has control of. It's quite astounding, check it out.
-pararox-
Personally, I'd be more interested in seeing the development of flocking road cones. But that's just me :)
-pararox-
I wholly agree with that sentiment.
The old saying goes "Once bitten, twice shy." The average consumer has not simply been bitten - we've damn well lost appendages to these bloody big-business types who demand the squeezing of every last half-penny from the buyer.
It's really to be expected that GMail's services are going to come under fire. We're wary as a result of the repeat offenders who populate the market place.
I'm impressed with Google, and use their search engine almost exclusively. I hope they maintain themselves with this new e-mail thing - and really, do we have any reason to believe they will let their customer's down?
I'm really impressed with how Google has handled themselves since their inception. They have certainly been innovative, but most importantly they employ things that aren't seen enough in today's business world: openness and integrity.
I'm inherently paranoid (or, perhaps more appropriately, private) and always take things with a grain of salt - especially when it's coming from a business the size of Google.
That said, I don't blame Google for their desire to recoup costs by generating targeting advertisement. I'm very much impressed with how open they have been about the procedures they will use to actually target the ads. With this recent letter that so quickly and openly answers concerns made public recently, I'm happy to say here is a company that has been widly successful - all while being true gentlemen.
Does anyone have an account of what this motor would cost the average consumer?
I recently visited my Grandmother, who is quickly approaching 80 years of age. She is *highly* non-technical, and her spouse recently passed away, so she is pretty much on her own (in more ways than one, obviously).
We bought a simple Compaq for her back in the late '90's which was running Windows '98. It was a constant source of consternation and trouble. I spoke with her, and after a little debating, convinced her to 'revolutionize' her computing experience by installing Linux.
This I infact did, putting SuSE on her machine. I told her: "now, just leave the machine on all the time. You can leave the 'internet' window (aka, browser) always open. Be happy!"
Happy she is. While the DE used is actually KDE, the success of her transition goes to show that Linux is ready. In all honesty, I was surprised with the rapidity with which she grew accustomed to her system.
The most advantageous thing about moving her over: no longer are there long stretches of time where she can't email because her computer is on the fritze (she often had to wait for me or her son to visit and correct things). We've been in constant electronic communication since. It's wonderful.
So where is the festival to be?
It appears that Element's servers have been reduced to mere elements, which is a shame as I think this is a worthy idea, and I'd love to get a glimpse at their site.
I see it's been said (derisively) that this is no new idea. While no one will content the accuracy of that statement, this is a new approach to offering a cohesive and well planned Linux box.
And that's a GOOD thing. How many times have we read the trolls complaining to the heavens how Linux would surely find better success if only it didn't take those extra few minutes to research your new hardware; if only it was better integrated, on both the hardware and the software level.
It appears we're all going to see if those complaints were truly the thing holding Linux back. As a former Mac user, who has been converted to Linux on account of my ability to pick it apart at the deepest or most shallow levels, the only thing I do truly miss was the slick unity Apple provided for it's consumers. Let's see if these guys can do the same.
I certainly won't wait with baited breath, but this is a cool and worthy idea. Good luck guys/gals.
While your point is valid in the way that many of Apple's customers buy a Mac for the total package. The cohesive nature of all things Mac (both on the hardware and software sides), which is so endemic to the platform, are a primary motivating factor.
That said, I initially began using Linux to fulfill both my curiosity, and for the availability of such high-powered software - all of which is largely free. That was back when I began my college work; I'm now old enough, and thereby have enough money in the bank, that the latter reason for my taking up Linux is not an important reason for my continuing use of it.
Truly, my interest and love for Linux is now supported solely by my unending curiosity in complex software systems. I want to be able to take apart and piece together all elements of my system; I want to be able to inspect and tinker.
I think a user's inability to do this on this still greatly proprietary MacOS platform, answers your original inquiry. YellowDog does support a true niche market; I'm glad they've been, and continue to be successful, and I think the reason for their success is that many people still cherish the ability of open software systems. Even if that system isn't as cohesive as MacOSX.
A comprehensive listing, that has been some years in the making, can be found at Insecure.org.
I found this page, created by the famous and brilliant Fyodor (of nmap fame), to be a truly indispensible resource when I first began to be interested in computer security.
Hope this helps!
-pararox-
If I was to reveal my bitchy side, I'd say, 'who cares? Let's move on.'
Slashdot carries an article on Moore's Law at least bi-weekly. It is a prescient topic in today's CS community, so I'll let that be.
What really troubles me is this: Moore's Law is something like Newtonian mechanics. It's very much relevant for the majority of activity, but with respect to the really cool stuff, it's totally passe.
Relativity and other theories have put Newton's material in the books of Uni freshmen. In the same way, I feel we should progress beyond Moore's Law - it's on-target, but can be superceded with enough human thought/effort.
It's been established previously in this thread: the supposed Longhorn skinning is ugly. Artistically speaking, it has some commendable points. That said, we who use and understand computers are generally rooted in logic and efficiency, and this set of schemes disregards that.
I'm a firm believer in F/OSS and use Linux always. I still maintain a Windows partiton on the lappy for Uni-related projects &c. I'm very much partial to the Windows 2000 desktop. It's barren enough to be effecient, and complex enough to be useful.
All stability issues aside, Microsoft has a strong advantage against Linux DE's largely because they implement functionality with the 'newly acquired user' in mind. KDE is a magnificent testiment to modern programming, and that team has accomplished UI capabilities I never thought I'd see in a UNIX environment. IT IS STILL MISSING that edge, that edge that beginners can grab a-hold of and incorporate into their daily lives.
I'm off on a tangent, which is inherent when a textbox maintains only some ~24 lines of previous text. Many appologies. Long and the short: if you are a power user, fuck the themes. Gnome and KDE have truly done programming wonders. But, like the currently efficient battery-gas driven cars, I'd rather move quickly, than be hampered by an ugly designed monstrosity (EV1?).
A forward thanks to you who have the forsight to buy an environmentally efficient car.
-pararox-
As a college student, I feel proud to say I've access to a quad-Xeon SCSI machine; this bad thing truly burns.
I run WebGUI on this machine, which recieves some 3 and a quarter million hits per month. Nothing to raise the eye brows at; but check it: on this machine the average uptime value is some 0.80. My personal (p3) machine, running a BBS, mail, bittorent, and web service maintains a constant 1.3+.
I've guaged the importance of SCSI drives in the equation via a (sadly) messy, but soon to be SourceForged Perl program. The result, confirming that which I've heard repeatedly, is that SCSI drives truly make the difference.
Pardon my former post for not being sufficiently clear. I'm drinking, so the logic gates are not properly aligned. To address you:
" I think you will find that you have to comply with a **lot** of regulations **and** be rock solid and proven."
I can make no claims against this. The Coast Gaurd is highly regulatory, making water travel both safe and very technical. It is for this reason that few (if any) all-encompassing (sp?) software navigation systems have been written. To do so would be a Hurculean task.
"AFAIK there is some very serious software available, over the years I have seen various applications published in the IEE computing and control journal......but it is probably very difficult to sell to conservative ship owners."
Again, you are quite on target with your responses. Indeed, many of these large ship owners (I am good friends with a powerful owner in the business, he's ~84 years of age) are of the old world. That said, a pervasive system providing navigation and docking capabilities would still attrack this man I speak of. He's certainly no fool; he does know what is advantageous to himself, and his business.
"BTW, a couple of years an investigation into a Greek shipping accident revealed that the ship was sailing itself and the crew were all watching a football match"
Be warned: many foreign countries do the world's shipping. Very few have the stringent regulations placed upon them as the Coast Guard places on US vessels. Incidentally, Coast Guard regs are so tough, ship manufacturing and manning are becoming more rare here in the states, hence the rapidly increasing pay.
Thanks for your response, it was well made.
-pararox-
In a bid to clear to my mind of the cobwebs, I took ~1 year off, and worked as a deck hand aboard a 656 foot shipping vessel (as a merchant marine).
At the time, I was mid-way through completion of a computer science degree, which I am currently finishing. I was completely shocked by the lack of pervasive computing on board the ship - a complex environment, where any and all silicon help could prove to be highly advantageous.
Two newly acquired computers, running NaviSailor were onboard, and provided (what most of my fellow mates/luddites took as) advanced information in a no-hassel manner.
There is a great deal of money to be made in the shipping business. It is a complex and intricate profession, and most of the people onboard shipping vessels exhibit a great degree of perfectionism. Afterall, wrecking a multi-million dollar ship with hundreds of thousands of dollars of onboard cargo would be quite disasterous to one's career.
The long and the short is that these people need attention. Here is a niche market ripe for the taking. Custom software geared towards making watches, navigation, and docking less error prone has yet to be made. All you who complain of a lack of work -- that fattest worms are found only by lifting the heavier stones.
-pararox-
We've had some problems with our server the last few days but it should be fixed now, sorry for the inconvenience it may have caused
And all I have to say is, 'my poor friends, you ain't seen nothing yet
-pararox-
This is only the next step in the re-regulation of the tech. industry. The balances were wildly thrown back during the (in)famous bubble, and have been tettering precariously for the past several years. I have never been terribly worried about the off-shoring of jobs; people are wont to be afraid of what they are unaccustomed to. I always figured this migration of jobs overseas was merely a balancing effect (as seen all throughout nature) to reregulate things. "All energy flows according to the whims of the great magnet," as HS Thompson said!
Of course, I'm still in school, biding my time until the (admittedly brightening) economy swings my way again.
As if most Slashdot readers truly need more wood when sitting before a computer ;)
I'm really impressed, and very much appreciative, of the amount of effort the Mozilla team has put forth over the years. I switched to Mozilla some 4 or 5 years ago, and haven't looked back since. The rapidity of development is truly astounding -- thanks girls and guys!
That having been said, I've been dissapointed with the latest iteration of the Mozilla browser. I've found 1.6 to be rather slow (autocomplete lags, for example), bug prone and (if I'm correct) java support is still on the fritz.
I'm liable to switch over to FireFox (or whatever it's called this week), except the Preference Toolbar (on which I'm hooked like a crack addiction) still does not function in this stripped down version of the Moz browser.
Anyway, I look forward to this newest version; really, I just wanted to express, in this post, my thanks for the effort put forth by the whole Moz team.
Regards,
=pararox=
Ok, you can actually view a pretty interesting image detailing how 'close to the edge' these ultra deeps actuall go!
0 04/07/images/j/formats/web_print.jpg
http://hubble.gsfc.nasa.gov/survey/hubbledev/db/2
This is amazing and wonderful stuff.
Regards,
-pararox-
Though I'm likely to get hammered down around here for such a sentiment, I really think this is a result of MS declaring their intentions of ruling the websearching space.
;)
Without the fear of competition, it's very likely that Google would stagnate - thanks Microsoft
"...detecting insertion of a storage media..."
I suspect it's only a matter of time until someone draws up a patent claim of the nature:
Patent 3,012,238,021...(ad infinitum) --- A method of inserting and pumping a large tubular or cylindrical item into a foes rectum, with the assistance of well studied lawyers...
Just watch, man, I'm telling the day is well nigh!
It's exciting to hear that wireless internet is becoming more prevalent in public places. It seems the US of A has been several paces behind other countries such as S. Korea when it comes to adoption of widely available, public internet access. Hopefully the ease of setting up wireless networks will remedy this situation.
My excitement to have instant information (via the Internet) at my fingertips, is, however, rather subdued when I consider the lack of precaution many people take securing their computers and networks. The recent spate of worms has proven a _real_ bother - my school network has been slowed to a grinding halt with the excessive bandwidth consumed by all this malware floating about.
The possibility that these worm issues escalate in direct proportion to the number of communities who go wireless is a concern of mine. I'm curious if any of you have read studies comparing wireless and wired networks, with respect to the rate of security issues that develop within large-scale communities?
One concept that seems to be lost on many people in the technology field was reinforced repeatedly by my mom in earlier years: "A true artist is able to determine when to stop." She herself was an artist.
Many tech people have tremendous hubris, and feel there is always something that can be improved upon. But is this actually the case?
I'd be inclined to say there are many projects out there which are truly done. The VSFTP daemon comes to mind. Development is hardly anything anymore, because the application does what is should securely and functionally; it's also lightweight and well coded.
That software is done, and it truly is wonderful. This same thing applies to wristwatches. While newfangled doodads tacked onto every angle of a product is very much in vogue amongst humans, it's certainly not the best way to make a useful item.