January/February of 2011, you'll get the first book in the League of Scientists. It's about a group of science geeks in seventh grade who use science and critical thinking to solve seemingly-supernatural mysteries. Seems to be right in line with the poster's request.
The IBM iSeries Integrated xSeries Server scoffs at this late entry.
That's what they call the "IxS". Also used to be called the "IFS". Earlier versions ran Windows 2000 Server. A little limited in the old days in terms of CPU, but they're pretty nice today. Drive speed, however, has always been phenomenal.
So you read the title, and thought I was no less annoying than all the people near the turn of the century using "2000" in all their software version names, movies and ads? Those always seriously bugged me, so I can empathize.
My reasoning for using the "t" word was I wanted to differentiate between talking about solar sails in a science context versus the technology. That is, the former would focus more on motion physics, theory and research issues, and the latter would be more nuts-and-bolts, physical design and results type of report.
You got that right. In this article, I wrote about the conversion process and recommended a recorder. But you're still limited to home movies or really old (pre-Macrovision) tapes.
The recorder I mentioned works really well, though. It was easy to convert my Mystery Science Theater 3000 collection to DVD.
What task using say, Microsoft Office 98 can
not be done that can be done using Microsoft
Office XP? Don't go to marketing literature to
answer it, answer it off of the top of your
head.... I want to know what actual features
that real people use didn't yet exist in MS
Office 98 that people depend on now in Office XP.
My example: Email archiving size limitations. My environment's Exchange server has a 16GB limitation for the mail store. That means the total of everyone's mailbox must add up to less than 16GB, or Outlook stops working.
We can compensate for this by using PST files - offline personal archive files. So great, right? We can archive to a PST to keep the main store size down. Or that's the theory.
The problem is that Office 2000 (Outlook 2000) can't read PST files greater than 1.8GB. When you hit that size, the PST and Outlook both become non-functional.
A band-aid is to manually create a new PST when the old PST file size gets too big. But with 200 non-technical users, this isn't done easily.
So we have a size restriction at the server and user level. This is a very specific reason why I need Office 2003 on my clients: Outlook has no size restrictions with PST files.
Now, isn't the strangest thing about this issue the name of the website? "MoneyFactory.com" points to the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing?
I mean, MoneyFactory is cutesy and kinda funny. I didn't think anyone in the government has a sense of humor. Doesn't that scare anyone here? It's like if the website for the FBI was http://www.trenchcoats.com.
Does anyone have any statistics on the growth rate of the Libertarian party on a national level? I'm talking about percentage of votes in presidential primaries (during the years the LP had a canidate), or a comparison of percentages of growth rates of party registrations compared to Democrats or Republicans?
I thought I had heard that the LP was growing fast, and that is the case at City and State level, but browsing around on the web for a while turned up very little in the way of National-level statistics.
Yes, IBM has stood behind Linux for a while now. As I type this, I'm wearing a T-Shirt that I bought in Rochester about 4 years ago: It's got the symbols for "Peace, Love and Penguins" on the front and "IBM eServer" on the back.
IBM has shown a real interest in Linux since Linux started to hit mainstream visibility about 5-6 years ago.
I don't know if they've pushed "Linux-specific hardware", but they have gone through great pains (with the iSeries AS/400 / eServers specifically) to make them Linux compatible and run Linux natively, either as the primary partition or part of a multi-partition system.
I can't see how they could do this for free. I would imagine, like the recent article about Grand Haven, MI, there will indeed be a cost associated with the service.
Okay, so that's Grand Haven, Philly... Any others?
You've got to realize who the target audience is. We're not talking 25-year-old married guys/girls. We're not talking college guys/girls with easy access to porn. We're talking about teens who are either too shy to talk to the opposite sex, or want an adult-version of the tomagotchi. Hopefully the pricing will reflect the audience (like PENNIES for a boquet of flowers), otherwise this is a terrible idea.
And there is something to be said for simplicity. I remember something from 15 years ago called "MEGAMAID", displayed on my Amiga. Just a scrolling picture with appropriate sound effects and music. Very simple... But hours of fun!
I like Java. There, I've said it. It's easy and good for non-complex functions. When you start getting more complex, other tools have their uses. But for quick and dirty (or just simple) work, Java succeeds as an easy-to-implement solution. I think you can justify a tool that's a "language for the masses": Sometimes you just really need a good hammer.
All talk of "libertarianism vs. conservatism" or "marionettes vs. puppets" aside, the part I found interesting was reading the "About the Film" section, page 2, talking about Matt and Trey:
"But they've never before done it with marionettes."
...and there was no joke immediately following!
System needs to be designed better
on
You've Got PC
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
Regarding the 256MB of RAM...
I still can't figure out why today's PCs are still shipping with 256MB as the standard. Windows XP behaves much worse with 256MB versus something like 512MB.
It's like when I purchased my car a few years ago. With like 1000 miles on it, it handled horribly in snow and bad weather. I thought the car was designed poorly, until I realized it was the tires. I had a very important part of the package slowing everything down.
My point: Who cares if it's a 2gHz CPU? With 256MB you'll be paging to that 5400RPM drive too much to notice the benefit.
1) I emailed and received a response from Katie Tarbox yesterday:
"I appreciate your thoughts and understand them completley. It is not posted on my web site, but this issue is between Katie Jones and Penguin Putnam. They own the name Katie.com as a published book and decided to call it that. I can do nothing in my power to change it. I would suggest if you would like your voice to be heard and a chance that something is done about it, direct your sympathy to Penguin Putnam."
According to her, it's the publishers at fault here. Can anyone verify this?
2) I like the reference to the "hacker movement" supporting Katie Jones. Perhaps we should start spreading the news a-la Kevin Mitnick? Start plastering "FREE KATIE.COM" stickers everywhere!
Right. Read the article, though, or the sumamry by Jones on katie.com - the lawyer for Tarbox is insisting that the katie.com domain be donated to Tarbox, even though Jones has been paying for it and using it for years.
Katie Jones is very open and informative about this situation on the katie.com website. Interesting that Katie Tarbox herself doesn't have any response to this problem. (Unless her lawyer is keeping her quiet.)
Seems to me like the katie.com publisher and probably Tarbox screwed up in not checking domain registration before printing. They've gotta suck up their own mistake, and not hassle Jones about donating the name back.
...To test the "opium-like" drug. I'm that dedicated to scientific advance.
Of course, the last time I heard something like that, it was from a bartender who suggested a drink and told me "it was as close to legal opium as you could get".
So, one interesting night later, I have this advice: Stay away from Chartreuse.
As a usa.net user of 8+ years, I wanted to defend them and bash them at the same time:
Their service didn't actually stop. In July of 2001, they dropped the free service and required you to upgrade to the pay service if you wanted to keep your account. They did it fairly, though, with plenty of warning.
The account is $40 per year. Taken from the netaddress.com website, here's what you get:
10 MB storage
Virus scanning of ALL inbound and outbound messages and attachments
Enhanced spam filtering powered by Brightmail® Anti Spam
No advertising
Customer service
Easy access to email anywhere, anytime, through any Web browser
POP3 email access (i.e., via Microsoft Outlook)
Forward messages to a wireless device
Email collection from other accounts
Secure login
...While they added features like spam filtering and POP3 access down the road, the 10 megs limit hasn't changed. They didn't keep with the times, and were unable or unwilling to compete, which is why I dropped them and now have a gmail account.
I'm always excited when I see these in the mail. Each one of these has very nice websites as well:
2600 - This self-described magazine for hackers is information packed. http://www.2600.com
Skeptic - This takes a good look at the supernatual world and disassembles it. From UFO abductees to simple bad science, it's intelligent and fun. (And it even comes with a special kids section at the back pages of each issue.) http://www.skeptic.com
Skeptical Inquirer - Like Skeptic, only it's a little dry (not meant as a criticism) and doesn't deal with the sensationalist stories as often. Intelligent stuff in this one - I've gotta be focused to read it. http://www.csicop.org/
Venus Swimsuit Catalog - "Honest, honey - the people who lived here before us were on the mailing list!" http://www.venusswimwear.com
Slashdot Mirror
January/February of 2011, you'll get the first book in the League of Scientists. It's about a group of science geeks in seventh grade who use science and critical thinking to solve seemingly-supernatural mysteries. Seems to be right in line with the poster's request.
[Disclaimer: I'm the author.]
The IBM iSeries Integrated xSeries Server scoffs at this late entry. That's what they call the "IxS". Also used to be called the "IFS". Earlier versions ran Windows 2000 Server. A little limited in the old days in terms of CPU, but they're pretty nice today. Drive speed, however, has always been phenomenal.
Comprehensive? Not as much as I'd like. Subjective? Probably. But it still should help with the original question. And save ya money, too.
My reasoning for using the "t" word was I wanted to differentiate between talking about solar sails in a science context versus the technology. That is, the former would focus more on motion physics, theory and research issues, and the latter would be more nuts-and-bolts, physical design and results type of report.
You're saying you're not impressed with my skill?
My first exposure to solar sails was the story The Mote in God's Eye, which is the reason why I asked the JPL the question about laser-powered solar sails. Haven't yet read Sunjammer, but intend to soon! Andy
The recorder I mentioned works really well, though. It was easy to convert my Mystery Science Theater 3000 collection to DVD.
No, we're on Exchange 2000, and caught in a Catch-22.
My example: Email archiving size limitations. My environment's Exchange server has a 16GB limitation for the mail store. That means the total of everyone's mailbox must add up to less than 16GB, or Outlook stops working.
We can compensate for this by using PST files - offline personal archive files. So great, right? We can archive to a PST to keep the main store size down. Or that's the theory.
The problem is that Office 2000 (Outlook 2000) can't read PST files greater than 1.8GB. When you hit that size, the PST and Outlook both become non-functional.
A band-aid is to manually create a new PST when the old PST file size gets too big. But with 200 non-technical users, this isn't done easily.
So we have a size restriction at the server and user level. This is a very specific reason why I need Office 2003 on my clients: Outlook has no size restrictions with PST files.
Aren't all IBM servers and PCs designed, built and tested in Rochester, MN, USA?
I mean, MoneyFactory is cutesy and kinda funny. I didn't think anyone in the government has a sense of humor. Doesn't that scare anyone here? It's like if the website for the FBI was http://www.trenchcoats.com.
I thought I had heard that the LP was growing fast, and that is the case at City and State level, but browsing around on the web for a while turned up very little in the way of National-level statistics.
IBM has shown a real interest in Linux since Linux started to hit mainstream visibility about 5-6 years ago.
I don't know if they've pushed "Linux-specific hardware", but they have gone through great pains (with the iSeries AS/400 / eServers specifically) to make them Linux compatible and run Linux natively, either as the primary partition or part of a multi-partition system.
Okay, so that's Grand Haven, Philly... Any others?
One city at a time...
And there is something to be said for simplicity. I remember something from 15 years ago called "MEGAMAID", displayed on my Amiga. Just a scrolling picture with appropriate sound effects and music. Very simple... But hours of fun!
I like Java. There, I've said it. It's easy and good for non-complex functions. When you start getting more complex, other tools have their uses. But for quick and dirty (or just simple) work, Java succeeds as an easy-to-implement solution. I think you can justify a tool that's a "language for the masses": Sometimes you just really need a good hammer.
Hello, my name is 744418 and I'm a Java user.
"But they've never before done it with marionettes."
Regarding the 256MB of RAM...
I still can't figure out why today's PCs are still shipping with 256MB as the standard. Windows XP behaves much worse with 256MB versus something like 512MB.
It's like when I purchased my car a few years ago. With like 1000 miles on it, it handled horribly in snow and bad weather. I thought the car was designed poorly, until I realized it was the tires. I had a very important part of the package slowing everything down.
My point: Who cares if it's a 2gHz CPU? With 256MB you'll be paging to that 5400RPM drive too much to notice the benefit.
"I appreciate your thoughts and understand them completley. It is not posted on my web site, but this issue is between Katie Jones and Penguin Putnam. They own the name Katie.com as a published book and decided to call it that. I can do nothing in my power to change it. I would suggest if you would like your voice to be heard and a chance that something is done about it, direct your sympathy to Penguin Putnam."
According to her, it's the publishers at fault here. Can anyone verify this?
2) I like the reference to the "hacker movement" supporting Katie Jones. Perhaps we should start spreading the news a-la Kevin Mitnick? Start plastering "FREE KATIE.COM" stickers everywhere!
Won't the kiddies grow out of the kid-centric PC? Or will it be a race between children growing up and PC obsolescence?
Right. Read the article, though, or the sumamry by Jones on katie.com - the lawyer for Tarbox is insisting that the katie.com domain be donated to Tarbox, even though Jones has been paying for it and using it for years.
Seems to me like the katie.com publisher and probably Tarbox screwed up in not checking domain registration before printing. They've gotta suck up their own mistake, and not hassle Jones about donating the name back.
Of course, the last time I heard something like that, it was from a bartender who suggested a drink and told me "it was as close to legal opium as you could get".
So, one interesting night later, I have this advice: Stay away from Chartreuse.
Their service didn't actually stop. In July of 2001, they dropped the free service and required you to upgrade to the pay service if you wanted to keep your account. They did it fairly, though, with plenty of warning.
The account is $40 per year. Taken from the netaddress.com website, here's what you get:
10 MB storage
Virus scanning of ALL inbound and outbound messages and attachments
Enhanced spam filtering powered by Brightmail® Anti Spam
No advertising
Customer service
Easy access to email anywhere, anytime, through any Web browser
POP3 email access (i.e., via Microsoft Outlook)
Forward messages to a wireless device
Email collection from other accounts
Secure login
I'm always excited when I see these in the mail. Each one of these has very nice websites as well:
2600 - This self-described magazine for hackers is information packed. http://www.2600.com
Skeptic - This takes a good look at the supernatual world and disassembles it. From UFO abductees to simple bad science, it's intelligent and fun. (And it even comes with a special kids section at the back pages of each issue.) http://www.skeptic.com
Skeptical Inquirer - Like Skeptic, only it's a little dry (not meant as a criticism) and doesn't deal with the sensationalist stories as often. Intelligent stuff in this one - I've gotta be focused to read it. http://www.csicop.org/
Venus Swimsuit Catalog - "Honest, honey - the people who lived here before us were on the mailing list!" http://www.venusswimwear.com