On the flip side, an editor like vi trades intuitiveness for precision and speed. Sure, you need to memorize some keys and commands, but the end result is improved speed, productivity, and precision. Like all things worth learning, there is a curve, and it is painful, but there are benefits.
Why software engineers seem to think intuitivity is something worth striving for in their tools is beyond me, very few other engineering tools strive for intuitivity. Can you just figure out how to use AutoCAD to design a house? What about a TI calculator to perform calculus? Can you just intuitively use a slide rule? Of course not, because if these tools were designed with intuitivity in mind, and not overall effectiveness when trained properly, people would not be able to be nearly as productive with them.
The problem with both editors is that there is a steep learning curve just to get started. You can't write and save "Hello, world" in vi without knowing the difference between command and insert mode, and the appropriate keystrokes to get you there and back. And gods help you if you have a typo and need to backspace to overwrite your mistakes. Editors shouldn't force a level of mastery just to do the ass-simple basics. Take an IDE like Eclipse. If you just want to 'edit', everything works like you'd expect: Cut, copy, paste and undo are based on well known and STANDARD keystrokes (here is where the "intuitive" part comes in). Editor keys work like they do in every other normal text editor out there (Wow! Even the arrow keys!). Ctrl-S or File->Save saves your file. Any noobie can be instantly competent with editing, without knowing a single bell or whistle. However, once proficiency is gained, a user can become insanely productive with Eclipse. Everything from error corrections, macros, stub generation, and code completion to full source refactorings are a mere hotkey away. This is the model that should be embraced. It allows the total newbie to be 'productive enough' while giving the expert all the speed and flexibility that they'd ever need.
Popular music would float to the top, sure, but popular and good are not equivalent concepts. Like free jazz much? Some of it is excellent, but none of it is popular.
I would argue that among Jazz fans, some of these artists would do quite well. Jazz aficionados pay for music just like anyone else.
Mod parent up! Record labels exist for two reasons:
To put up the cash for recording.
To package, promote, and distribute the end product.
With inexpensive, accessible recording software, artists can create a quality product much, much cheaper than they could in the past. Plus, with the Internet, there is really no compelling reason for physical media anymore. Music can be promoted and sold virally, with nearly 100% of the proceeds going directly into the artist's pocket. Compare this with the paltry 2-5% artists would get through the traditional sales model!
The Record Labels' days are numbered. Their sales model is outdated, inefficient, generally produces an inferior product, and siphons cash away from the artists themselves. They are now nothing more than an expensive middle-man.
Since 9/11, the taliban and al qaeda have lost their main bases in Afghanistan.
This statement stopped being true in 2006. The Taliban have re-established their foothold in Afganistan - now funded by the exploding export of Opium. Al-Qaida now has free movement in the Pashtun regions of Pakistan. An may I remind you, Pakistan has Nukes! The MSM certainly has its issues, but you need to stop treating the garbage that's spewed from the right-wing punditocracy as 'facts'.
Out of the 10 current films, three of them involve time travel with the intent of changing the present. Are the writers so bereft of fresh ideas that they need to go back to this stale premise again??? Gahh! Jar Jar was annoying, but at least he was original.
Apparently the idea is to impeach Bush and Cheney -- so that the Speaker of the House, that living profile in courage, can be sworn in as President.
Have I got it right??
No, you don't. The idea is to impeach Bush and Cheney because there is compelling evidence that they have committed High Crimes and Misdemeanors against the People of the United States.
Nixon? I'm not here to defend the guy, but he was never impeached. He resigned in the face of a likely impeachment proceeding.
I'm well aware of that. But by the time he resigned, articles of impeachment and removal from office were all but a certainty. You cannot discuss the history of presidential impeachment without mentioning Nixon, as his actions demonstrated the very reason why Congress is vested with this power.
^ No, but you *do* see radical Christians calling for more war and destruction and mayhem in the middle east in hopes that it'll encourage Jesus to do his encore. Christian fundies don't need to carry the swords - they have our government to spill the blood.
Pelosi did our republic a great disservice when she said that "Impeachment is off the table." Impeachment isn't a matter of convenience or political expediency, it is a matter of congressional Duty. Now, I realize that the 2/3 Senate vote to remove either Bush or Cheney from office will never be reached. But by not trying - by not at least bringing articles of impeachment out of the People's House, congress is effectively saying to us and future generations of Americans that the Executive Branch is free to operate above the Law. This is simply unacceptable. We need our Children to open their history books and see Bush and Cheney's name next to Clinton and Nixon. They need to see that the Laws that govern them govern ALL Americans.
Although, yes, their decision was based on the idea that across national news, it was ambiguous if his candidacy was real or not.
Colbert has said numerous times in the past weeks that he is a serious candidate in South Carolina, and nowhere else. This is probably what doomed him, as the SC Democratic committee bases its decisions in no small part on the National electability of a candidate. You simply cannot win a national election if you only run in one state.
Slashdot Mirror
Ummm, a guy doesn't have to "raise offspring". Ever hear of "single mothers"?
GP is talking about Carbon...
Let me put this silly little slapfight to end once and for all..
They Both SUCK!!
No, but if he fights Darth Ballmer, we'll see how he can use the Force to deflect a thrown chair.
- To put up the cash for recording.
- To package, promote, and distribute the end product.
With inexpensive, accessible recording software, artists can create a quality product much, much cheaper than they could in the past. Plus, with the Internet, there is really no compelling reason for physical media anymore. Music can be promoted and sold virally, with nearly 100% of the proceeds going directly into the artist's pocket. Compare this with the paltry 2-5% artists would get through the traditional sales model!The Record Labels' days are numbered. Their sales model is outdated, inefficient, generally produces an inferior product, and siphons cash away from the artists themselves. They are now nothing more than an expensive middle-man.
^No, but it's still a Felony in many states.
Whensthenextbus?
No, but I kiss yours with it!
Out of the 10 current films, three of them involve time travel with the intent of changing the present. Are the writers so bereft of fresh ideas that they need to go back to this stale premise again??? Gahh! Jar Jar was annoying, but at least he was original.
Are you ... selling something??
^ No, but you *do* see radical Christians calling for more war and destruction and mayhem in the middle east in hopes that it'll encourage Jesus to do his encore. Christian fundies don't need to carry the swords - they have our government to spill the blood.
^ Mod parent way the hell up!
Pelosi did our republic a great disservice when she said that "Impeachment is off the table." Impeachment isn't a matter of convenience or political expediency, it is a matter of congressional Duty. Now, I realize that the 2/3 Senate vote to remove either Bush or Cheney from office will never be reached. But by not trying - by not at least bringing articles of impeachment out of the People's House, congress is effectively saying to us and future generations of Americans that the Executive Branch is free to operate above the Law. This is simply unacceptable. We need our Children to open their history books and see Bush and Cheney's name next to Clinton and Nixon. They need to see that the Laws that govern them govern ALL Americans.
If you look, you can probably find a couple of kitchen appliances with more computing power than ENIAC. ;)
I don't think Goodwin's law is applicable here. We have the German government acting like ... well... Nazis.
Manufacturer and model number,please...