God, some perspective for once! Some standing back and looking at things for what they really are in our time! Thank you for reaffirming my extremely tenuous faith in Slashdotters.
You know, not only did I not think that robot was great at roller-skating, I just can't think of any real use for a roller-skating robot even if it were a real ace at the sport. Meanwhile, my house could use cleaning, and there aren't any robots to do it for me (well, Roomba et al, but I'm talking real cleaning). I think there needs to be a reevaluation of priorities in the robot design field. Who needs another goddamned dancing/skating/stairclimbing robot?
I don't know how many of us read Cheaper by the Dozen, the charming book about the twelve-child family of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, as kids, but I certainly did, and there's actually a surprisingly pertinent example of the failings of this kind of system in that book.
The family utilized this bidding system to decide who would do incidental chores. In one case, there was a fence that needed to be painted, and one of the girls (who was saving up for, IIRC, a new pair of roller skates) underbid the rest of her siblings by a lot of money because she really wanted the job although it absolutely was worth more than she was asking for it. She worked herself nearly into sickness but knew she had to finish the job, and eventually, bitter and tired, she got it done.
The difference is that in the book, her father was employing her, which meant that when she finally did get the fence painted, he took mercy on her and she found a new pair of skates on her pillow the night she finished. How many major employers give that much of a crap about their people?
I just find it amusing that Disney released all this news about their revolutionary, wonderful new launch system and then proceeded to roll out a new pyrotechnic show at Disneyland that, by all accounts, is disappointing at best compared to the one it replaced. Sure, it may be less polluting, but it's also a lot less fun.
Sure, there are other factors that caused the switch in shows, but the timing was unfortunate. They basically managed to associate environmentally friendly fireworks with totally boring fireworks, which, by an inspection of their description of the new launch technique, really isn't the case at all.
I know that people sell things like safes, etc. to paranoid college students, but honestly, don't waste your money. Take a few minor precautions (a laptop lock is a good idea for use in libraries where you're going to be up and about getting books and want to anchor your effects in a secure location) but basically you need to remember that, by and large, college kids are really stupid and naive, and they leave lots of expensive stuff lying around everywhere. It a criminal comes into your room trying to steal some quick booty, and doesn't see three iPods and a digital camera lying out in plain sight, he/she will go on to the room next to yours, where said items will amost certainly be in plain view on a desk. Lock your door; you'll be fine unless your college is in a really bad area. Also, for the love of god, lock up your bike.
As far as more general advice, heck, I'm still figuring college out myself, but I'd say be open and don't slack off too much. Also, take advantage of what will almost definitely be the best library you'll ever have access to, no matter where you are.
This attitude drives me nuts. Just because you're not doing anything wrong doesn't mean it's okay for the government to listen in on your phone calls/read your e-mail/whatever else, and not wanting total strangers to know all your business isn't paranoia.
Clearly, oversight is needed, but there seems to be no such thing in the continued erosion of privacy American citizens are experiencing right now.
I just hate the argument from "duh, this is happening, get used to it." Just because it's already going on doesn't make it fair or right.
Slashdot Mirror
God, some perspective for once! Some standing back and looking at things for what they really are in our time! Thank you for reaffirming my extremely tenuous faith in Slashdotters.
Their site is hosted in Germany, according to campus press coverage, which is how they've managed to remain anonymous.
You know, not only did I not think that robot was great at roller-skating, I just can't think of any real use for a roller-skating robot even if it were a real ace at the sport. Meanwhile, my house could use cleaning, and there aren't any robots to do it for me (well, Roomba et al, but I'm talking real cleaning). I think there needs to be a reevaluation of priorities in the robot design field. Who needs another goddamned dancing/skating/stairclimbing robot?
I don't know how many of us read Cheaper by the Dozen, the charming book about the twelve-child family of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, as kids, but I certainly did, and there's actually a surprisingly pertinent example of the failings of this kind of system in that book.
The family utilized this bidding system to decide who would do incidental chores. In one case, there was a fence that needed to be painted, and one of the girls (who was saving up for, IIRC, a new pair of roller skates) underbid the rest of her siblings by a lot of money because she really wanted the job although it absolutely was worth more than she was asking for it. She worked herself nearly into sickness but knew she had to finish the job, and eventually, bitter and tired, she got it done.
The difference is that in the book, her father was employing her, which meant that when she finally did get the fence painted, he took mercy on her and she found a new pair of skates on her pillow the night she finished. How many major employers give that much of a crap about their people?
I wonder if anyone will buy these, other than people buying them as joke gifts and those unhappy souls who think they'll be collectors' items someday.
I just find it amusing that Disney released all this news about their revolutionary, wonderful new launch system and then proceeded to roll out a new pyrotechnic show at Disneyland that, by all accounts, is disappointing at best compared to the one it replaced. Sure, it may be less polluting, but it's also a lot less fun.
Sure, there are other factors that caused the switch in shows, but the timing was unfortunate. They basically managed to associate environmentally friendly fireworks with totally boring fireworks, which, by an inspection of their description of the new launch technique, really isn't the case at all.
I know that people sell things like safes, etc. to paranoid college students, but honestly, don't waste your money. Take a few minor precautions (a laptop lock is a good idea for use in libraries where you're going to be up and about getting books and want to anchor your effects in a secure location) but basically you need to remember that, by and large, college kids are really stupid and naive, and they leave lots of expensive stuff lying around everywhere. It a criminal comes into your room trying to steal some quick booty, and doesn't see three iPods and a digital camera lying out in plain sight, he/she will go on to the room next to yours, where said items will amost certainly be in plain view on a desk. Lock your door; you'll be fine unless your college is in a really bad area. Also, for the love of god, lock up your bike. As far as more general advice, heck, I'm still figuring college out myself, but I'd say be open and don't slack off too much. Also, take advantage of what will almost definitely be the best library you'll ever have access to, no matter where you are.
Think of the iTunes Music Store, which isn't making much money but is selling tons of Apple hardware in the form of beautiful, beautiful iPods.
This attitude drives me nuts. Just because you're not doing anything wrong doesn't mean it's okay for the government to listen in on your phone calls/read your e-mail/whatever else, and not wanting total strangers to know all your business isn't paranoia. Clearly, oversight is needed, but there seems to be no such thing in the continued erosion of privacy American citizens are experiencing right now. I just hate the argument from "duh, this is happening, get used to it." Just because it's already going on doesn't make it fair or right.
I feel like a member of the trendy youth of tomorrow. This is how I saw the Matrix for the first time...wall of a dorm at MIT, couple of years ago.
Actually, the back button works fine in my Mozilla. So who knows what the hell is going on?