People. Longest running sci-fi series EVER! Dr. Who. While you might not get to be a Time Lord, you could be a Dalek (Nations estate willing), Cyberman, Auton, hell, there's too many to consider here... But yeah, being a Time Lord would kick a$$.
BBC? You listening?
How about Hitchhiker's Guide?
There's a gazillion comic book franchises... But those are truly character-driven and yes, I know it's being done already...
Seems like all the old school RPG's would be ripe as well. I've always wondered why Steve Jackson doesn't get into it. Illuminati would be scads of fun, and GURPS would be great as a framework for creating your own MMORPG.
And what about Ghostbusters? Animal House?
Since some people would like to filter wheat from chaff (in the players), how about "Flatland"? Heck, you could even play it on a cell phone!
They're still doing it. I guess Time/Warner is still mightier than the law. But I just went to CNN, and BAM! a big fat pop-under. Wonder if they'll be compliant any time soon? (NOTE: it ain't spyware causing this, it's actual code on the CNN.com site-- turn off popup blockers and try it, it's fun!). Hey, let's all file a complaint!
The link thing is a non-issue. You can't threaten legal action over this. Yeah, some don't like deep links. Too bad! The sad thing about deep links for some sites (ahem, newspapers mostly) is that they die within days if not hours.
The quote thing is a measurable entity. From what I've seen there's probably not a case. Just a twitchy legal dept. inspired by the likes of SCO...
As the Jerky Boys said, "sue everybody!"
Here's what I am going to do (replied earlier): I'm cancelling my subscription to EWeek over this. I know that many of the writers there probably cringe at this sort of foolishness (not the linking, the "fair use" quoting). So it's sad when the lawyers decide to crush the little guy in the name of stockholders... BUT, there it is. How can I be sure their reportage is accurate when their grasp of the 1st Amendment is so slippy?
I'm cancelling my subscription to EWeek over this. I know that many of the writers there probably cringe at this sort of foolishness (not the linking, the "fair use" quoting). So it's sad when the lawyers decide to crush the little guy in the name of stockholders... BUT, there it is. How can I be sure their reportage is accurate when their grasp of the 1st Amendment is so slippy?
Did anyone see the news today? New hires are WAY down... The only perks I've gotten recently: 1. We get to work 200 more hours this year for the same pay 2. More responsibility! 3. Same old free coffee
Namely, 70 year old judges with no clue what the "innernet" is, who blindly grant motions on their docket for meritless lawsuits so they can get in a few rounds of golf before their prostate exams...
I read the other day that Sony is tops in what consumers see as a "best brand." Up there with Coke, Dell, and others. Another metric here shows Sony at the top of the consumer electronics heap too...
More proof that your average consumer is dumb as a post. (Joe Dirt anyone?)...
Was pointed out months ago. Any technology monoculture is doomed to be a pain in the a$$.
Our labs (which are a pretty hostile environment for machines anywhere) are constantly under attack by some fool kid trying to hack something, download porn, etc. Usually the only thing they accomplish is that we have to re-image the drives, and if somebody foolishly left info on that machine, it's gone.
True about the placement issues. But I think there's a place for Macs, Linux boxes in tech schools (I happen to teach in one).
Either Linux or Mac machines could be used in gen ed courses, or in the libraries for research and paper-writing. Also, if it's Word, etc. you're pining for, why not have some Wine?
Cool! I read about your Mac labs at VT... as we all did... Macs actually account for a larger market share than Linux boxes, and the new Macs are UNIX-y (FreeBSD is what Darwin was based on). However, in some industries Macs dominate. I just had a student get chastised because she brought a CD with a zipped AVI (which is goofy enough) to an interview with a person who had a Mac running OS 9!!!
This is great in theory, but some schools (wisely) don't allow you to jack in to the LAN. Also, we toyed with the idea of GIVING laptops to the students, only to stop smoking crack long enough to realize what they'd do to laptops (and how much it'd cost us).
I just listened to "The Road Ahead" a little while back (the revised 1998 edition)... Gates mentioned several schemes for legally acquiring music online, and NONE of them were as simple as this:
$.99 a song, you pretty much own it.
Oh no! Bill had a dozen schemes, pay per month, maybe you pay a small amount each time you LISTEN to the song, etc... But it ALWAYS involved a continuous pay cycle. That's just stupid. So much for his powers of future observation...
Was it really such a simple thing for iTunes to be so effective? Yep! The jury is back with their verdict: we want to OWN our media (in that we want it when we want it after paying only once).
My wife will give up her $10,000+ DVD collection when you pry it from her cold hands...
This is absolutely a valid point. I was considering Konfabulator (and until I see more/better widgets from Cupertino may still) until I saw Dashboard. Apple is getting into a rather nasty habit here...
Of course, Microsoft isn't much better, but at least they'll buy you out before crushing you... Right?
Then again, there are cases where 3rd parties are making better stuff than Apple. Witness 'A Better Finder Rename' and 'Wheel' (Wheel is from Spymac, along with a host of.mac-esque services that outdo Apple on pricepoint at least).
In the late 80's I remember a series of articles in one of the "homebrew" electronics magazines (Electronics Monthly perhaps?) regarding just such a machine: a robotic lawnmower.
I've thought about it since then, but I can tell you what I remember.
The functional pieces (meaning the nasty cutting bits) were dual discs with small hooks mounted on swivels. There were three hooks (they were flat hooks, like mini-scythes) per disc, and they rotated in opposite directions. Centrifugal force would propel them outwards and I assume this was a "it won't bust itself on a rock" mechanism...
As for the self-mowing part, here's what you did. You had a memory bank and rudimentary control system. First you would manually drive it around the perimeter of your yard (and anything else you didn't want to get cut up), thus programming it with the borders of your area.
The rest I forget. Keep in mind we're talking late 80's-- crappy batteries, crummy microcontrollers, etc.
It was simple, but it looked like it would work. If I hadn't been a high school kid whose parents poo-pooed every cool idea I had (business ideas) then I'd have mass-produced the suckers and made a fortune by now!
I had a similar experience in life. And after some hard times I've learned to overcome my limitations. I consider myself very successful (although I've traded fame and fortune for a happy family, and fame & fortune can wait)-- but it was a tough road.
Hellen Keller was unique, brilliant, and deaf and blind. This did not stop her from doing some amazing things. I believe you must want to continue in your current course. It's the easy thing to do, and, quite frankly, this is the road most people choose.
But you have a choice! You can choose a different route. However you do it, learn to fight the ADD (or whatever), the procrastination, etc. Learn to focus, to follow through. Or don't. It's TOTALLY up to you.
However, if you do not overcome the limitations you see in yourself, what have you got? This much I know: you will see less "gifted" individuals achieve more, earn more, and do more than you.
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People. Longest running sci-fi series EVER! Dr. Who. While you might not get to be a Time Lord, you could be a Dalek (Nations estate willing), Cyberman, Auton, hell, there's too many to consider here... But yeah, being a Time Lord would kick a$$.
BBC? You listening?
How about Hitchhiker's Guide?
There's a gazillion comic book franchises... But those are truly character-driven and yes, I know it's being done already...
Seems like all the old school RPG's would be ripe as well. I've always wondered why Steve Jackson doesn't get into it. Illuminati would be scads of fun, and GURPS would be great as a framework for creating your own MMORPG.
And what about Ghostbusters? Animal House?
Since some people would like to filter wheat from chaff (in the players), how about "Flatland"? Heck, you could even play it on a cell phone!
You're absolutely right. I use Safari on my personal machine (and install Firefox on as many machines as I can at work). No pop-ups for me!
And you're right. I wrote before I read. IM popups are a non-issue on my Mac, however.
They're still doing it. I guess Time/Warner is still mightier than the law. But I just went to CNN, and BAM! a big fat pop-under. Wonder if they'll be compliant any time soon? (NOTE: it ain't spyware causing this, it's actual code on the CNN.com site-- turn off popup blockers and try it, it's fun!). Hey, let's all file a complaint!
The link thing is a non-issue. You can't threaten legal action over this. Yeah, some don't like deep links. Too bad! The sad thing about deep links for some sites (ahem, newspapers mostly) is that they die within days if not hours.
The quote thing is a measurable entity. From what I've seen there's probably not a case. Just a twitchy legal dept. inspired by the likes of SCO...
As the Jerky Boys said, "sue everybody!"
Here's what I am going to do (replied earlier):
I'm cancelling my subscription to EWeek over this. I know that many of the writers there probably cringe at this sort of foolishness (not the linking, the "fair use" quoting). So it's sad when the lawyers decide to crush the little guy in the name of stockholders... BUT, there it is. How can I be sure their reportage is accurate when their grasp of the 1st Amendment is so slippy?
Good thinking jr. college lawboy!
I'm cancelling my subscription to EWeek over this. I know that many of the writers there probably cringe at this sort of foolishness (not the linking, the "fair use" quoting). So it's sad when the lawyers decide to crush the little guy in the name of stockholders... BUT, there it is. How can I be sure their reportage is accurate when their grasp of the 1st Amendment is so slippy?
Did anyone see the news today? New hires are WAY down... The only perks I've gotten recently:
1. We get to work 200 more hours this year for the same pay
2. More responsibility!
3. Same old free coffee
Woohoo!
Namely, 70 year old judges with no clue what the "innernet" is, who blindly grant motions on their docket for meritless lawsuits so they can get in a few rounds of golf before their prostate exams...
I read the other day that Sony is tops in what consumers see as a "best brand." Up there with Coke, Dell, and others. Another metric here shows Sony at the top of the consumer electronics heap too...
More proof that your average consumer is dumb as a post. (Joe Dirt anyone?)...
Was pointed out months ago. Any technology monoculture is doomed to be a pain in the a$$.
Our labs (which are a pretty hostile environment for machines anywhere) are constantly under attack by some fool kid trying to hack something, download porn, etc. Usually the only thing they accomplish is that we have to re-image the drives, and if somebody foolishly left info on that machine, it's gone.
True about the placement issues. But I think there's a place for Macs, Linux boxes in tech schools (I happen to teach in one).
Either Linux or Mac machines could be used in gen ed courses, or in the libraries for research and paper-writing. Also, if it's Word, etc. you're pining for, why not have some Wine?
Cool! I read about your Mac labs at VT... as we all did... Macs actually account for a larger market share than Linux boxes, and the new Macs are UNIX-y (FreeBSD is what Darwin was based on). However, in some industries Macs dominate. I just had a student get chastised because she brought a CD with a zipped AVI (which is goofy enough) to an interview with a person who had a Mac running OS 9!!!
This is great in theory, but some schools (wisely) don't allow you to jack in to the LAN. Also, we toyed with the idea of GIVING laptops to the students, only to stop smoking crack long enough to realize what they'd do to laptops (and how much it'd cost us).
I just listened to "The Road Ahead" a little while back (the revised 1998 edition)... Gates mentioned several schemes for legally acquiring music online, and NONE of them were as simple as this:
$.99 a song, you pretty much own it.
Oh no! Bill had a dozen schemes, pay per month, maybe you pay a small amount each time you LISTEN to the song, etc... But it ALWAYS involved a continuous pay cycle. That's just stupid. So much for his powers of future observation...
Was it really such a simple thing for iTunes to be so effective? Yep! The jury is back with their verdict: we want to OWN our media (in that we want it when we want it after paying only once).
My wife will give up her $10,000+ DVD collection when you pry it from her cold hands...
This is absolutely a valid point. I was considering Konfabulator (and until I see more/better widgets from Cupertino may still) until I saw Dashboard. Apple is getting into a rather nasty habit here...
.mac-esque services that outdo Apple on pricepoint at least).
Of course, Microsoft isn't much better, but at least they'll buy you out before crushing you... Right?
Then again, there are cases where 3rd parties are making better stuff than Apple. Witness 'A Better Finder Rename' and 'Wheel' (Wheel is from Spymac, along with a host of
In the late 80's I remember a series of articles in one of the "homebrew" electronics magazines (Electronics Monthly perhaps?) regarding just such a machine: a robotic lawnmower.
I've thought about it since then, but I can tell you what I remember.
The functional pieces (meaning the nasty cutting bits) were dual discs with small hooks mounted on swivels. There were three hooks (they were flat hooks, like mini-scythes) per disc, and they rotated in opposite directions. Centrifugal force would propel them outwards and I assume this was a "it won't bust itself on a rock" mechanism...
As for the self-mowing part, here's what you did. You had a memory bank and rudimentary control system. First you would manually drive it around the perimeter of your yard (and anything else you didn't want to get cut up), thus programming it with the borders of your area.
The rest I forget. Keep in mind we're talking late 80's-- crappy batteries, crummy microcontrollers, etc.
It was simple, but it looked like it would work. If I hadn't been a high school kid whose parents poo-pooed every cool idea I had (business ideas) then I'd have mass-produced the suckers and made a fortune by now!
Hope this helps!
I had a similar experience in life. And after some hard times I've learned to overcome my limitations. I consider myself very successful (although I've traded fame and fortune for a happy family, and fame & fortune can wait)-- but it was a tough road.
Hellen Keller was unique, brilliant, and deaf and blind. This did not stop her from doing some amazing things. I believe you must want to continue in your current course. It's the easy thing to do, and, quite frankly, this is the road most people choose.
But you have a choice! You can choose a different route. However you do it, learn to fight the ADD (or whatever), the procrastination, etc. Learn to focus, to follow through. Or don't. It's TOTALLY up to you.
However, if you do not overcome the limitations you see in yourself, what have you got? This much I know: you will see less "gifted" individuals achieve more, earn more, and do more than you.
Best of luck!