LOL. Nice diatribe and a good handle too. Appropriate for you it seems. Your response is so off that I don't even know where to start. Fortunately, I don't even have the desire to. Please return back to your normal posting of 0 and 1 point postings.
Isn't Microsoft using its monopoly power to (Windows platform) to introduce a new product that competes with existing products? Anti-virus companies are already making products to handle security, then Microsoft includes that functionality in the OS itself.
This is quite similar to the inclusion of Internet Explorer. And OS level disk defragmentation (remember PC Tools anyone?).
Now if Microsoft were to include preventatives/prophylactics in the OS, that's one thing, but including AV software, even if integrated into the OS, seems to be stretching things a bit.
Of course, this is the company that said it was cheaper to break the law and fight it in court than it was to follow the law.
I actually read about the breakup, here, on Slashdot, first, before any news channel. This was the first time that I saw something (news significant) on the 'net before it came out on TV... Kind'a shocking it was. It was a real geek moment for me though.
>>The problem (mostly sulfur in fossil fuels) was reduced significantly
I've got some trees in the mountains of North Carolina that beg to differ. They are dying, and have been at more than alarming rates, for the entire time. Firs and Pines are taking a beating from Acid Rain coming down from manufacturing to the North and West of us.
Posted and reposted through out the community for over a week at least. Reddit has this conversation about it, started six days ago: http://reddit.com/info?id=28041
First time I've really seen Slashdot behind the curve.
50 year old biker chick? She told me she was a 18 year old Taiwanese College freshman with a lot of time on her hands. Man, talk about looking through Internet goggles!
39 now, so that means 22, 21 or so years old. I suppose I really predate that time period a little bit as my math points to 1988, 1987. I did use some Mac SE's before or around that time. The memory is getting a little fuzzy:)
duh. Resolution adds more pixels, but the ration remains the same. I use 1280x1024 on the 19" flat screen and 1400x1050 on the 19" Monitor. The title bars and start menu/task bar still take up too much space proportionately.
Why is so much space devoted to areas that don't require it? The title bars are too large and the task bar is way too large. I've always been fond of those themes that reduce the task bar, window controls, and title bar down to a more reasonable size. I've been mouse clicking for 17,18 years now. I can precisely click on an icon that is 24x24. They need to reduce the overall size of these controls because they aren't used nearly as much as the content. Right now, having a title bar, menu bar, button bar, tabs for tabbed browsing, and a status bar makes each window so much smaller than it should be. It's the content of the window that is important (even the desktop "window"), not the controls for it.
Having said that, I do like the transparent window title bars. Kinda nice. Different like OS X was different.
I heard the MPAA will be suing all.XXX domain owners for trademark violation with respect to the Triple X (xXx) movie franchise. BTW - Vin Diesel was much better.
How long till the US government requires porn sites to use.XXX as their domain suffix. How long at least until it's introduced then shot down anyway?:)
I've used Runtime Revolutions' DreamCard for the PC and it's Mac OS X version seems just as competent. It's a holdover from the HyperCard days apparently, but the IDE is OK. The scripting language seems Basic like but the syntax can be a little odd. Might be worth looking at though.
If Basic is not to much the turn off, then perhaps RealBasic might be worth a look. The IDE and language remind me of a combination of the VS6 and PowerBasic products combined for OS X.
Again, most/.'ers will probably sneer at these tools since they aren't C and possibly aren't enterprise level solutions. But for a quick tactical level program, they might make for a good solution.
Probably worth less then $0.02, but I thought I'd add some RAD into the conversation.
Next up, AOL will publish the worst of the music onto CD's so that you can surf AOL offline. The new CD's will be made by the billions and distributed to a snail mailbox near you.
An interesting example-- I wonder why you chose that? Never mind; it serves this discussion well.
Well, the original posting of mine was concerning the public display of (my opinion) objectionable material.
Your words imply that Christian political action can appropriately use tyranny of the majority as a model for shaping society to what the Christian group believes is acceptable human behavior.
I meant no such implication and will review my position for such. However, if you substitute Republican, Democrat, Baby Boomer, or Environmentalist in place of Christian than your sentence becomes truly interesting. I believe that there is a very significant backlash against Christianity and that the backlash is not felt/would not be felt by other "interest" groups. That backlash against an elder, against non-whites, against women is considered very politically incorrect. However, the double standard of applying it towards Christians raises my hackles.
I fail to see how this is a public problem.
Please cross-reference my comments about double standards above. I have a character flaw of not being able to stand being dismissed outright without a hearing. When society steps on me this way, it is irritating. In that way it is a personal issue, but my reaction in Best Buy was a fight against that dismissal. Madison Avenue and Hollywood are pushing amoral ideals at me and they won't stop. Rather than whine and do nothing, I try social activism.
Thus it has been a real treat discussing this topic with you. You have been persuasive and made good points. This kind of open discussion is possible with many Christians, perhaps even with most. I will note that I am a little more activist than most in my peer group, but my membership in Slashdot probably would reveal that.
Someone as articulate as you can use such subterfuges to great unfair advantage.
Ahhh, shades of Nehemiah Scudder (RA Heinlein - Revolt in 2100). (What? That's heresy for a Christian to read!) I sometimes wonder what a religious dictatorship would be like and if it could truly be benign. Then I re-read The Handmaid's Tale (Heresy!) and I quickly realize again that such a thing is not possible. There are way too many extremist Christians (and Muslims, Jews, et al) for such a beast to be true.
Mainstream Christianity is not about undue influence though, in my opinion, although we do like that GWB is espousing Christian ideals in a leadership role. Those ideals have been trampled on for a while now. I agree with your point about unduly influencing public opinion, but I'm not sure if you would hold that opinion if my beliefs and yours were in common. The majority is always influential. There will always be a minority, although hopefully they might be unrepressed.
The majority of the US citizens seem to think that the tax burden should be shouldered a bit more by the richer citizens. That makes the richer citizens a minority. Should we say no to this policy because the minority might be repressed? The ideal of democracy is majority rule. Perhaps it's the potential of rule that is Christian oriented or even Christ-centric that is problematic?
In my view I am representing my articles of faith strongly. Not strenously, but certainly enough to create a breeze. I think that there are many others in many areas that represent their beliefs or knowledge similarly. Enough that opinions are swayed, beliefs are changed, and maybe even laws are enacted. I point out President Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, the original George W., as well as modern day leaders from Ghandi to King to Mother Theresa to Nelson Mandela. I'm not them by any means, so please don't think I'm drawing a parallel. They were able to galvanize the minority and cause the majority point of view to be changed. Laws enacted, Government's overthrown even. I don't seek that, but I do resist when I have pornography put in my face.
I spent most of my 14.4 modem time hanging out in British Legends, an MORPG which was so social. I enjoyed the humor, taunting, and cooperative spirit that the game encouraged and required. I remember using , so maybe I misremember *g*. Either way, it was clearly set off from the normal communications. was used a lot too, not that I recollect. This was during 1990 and 1991 when I was online. I remember visiting the foods->desserts->relishes(?) forum in order to get a recipe for Onion Jelly for my wife. I posted and had 2 recipes for green pepper jelly within a few hours, and 3 or 4 onion jelly recipes within a day. Incredible community spirit. Fortunately a network hack let me use a dial-out modem from Raleigh, NC via my WCU student account. I couldn't afford the Long Distance bill on top of the $9.60 / hour.
OK, I wanted to allow you the decision to talk offline if needed. Either way is acceptable:)
We do have a key logjam in the discussion over whether to accept the Bible as a source of authority. I agree with you that it my _belief_ that the Bible is accurate. I'll add further that I see it as being complete, true, authentic, sufficient, and God authored. We'll have to get past that though somehow, in order to establish common ground.
How do my beliefs impact on you? Hardly, if at all, my comments herein and your conversation notwithstanding. It is possible that if enough persons believe as I do that the overall movement might affect you. For example, there seems to be enough... "prudishness?"... in America that we have laws banning the public display of nudity. In that way you are affected.
However, I think that there are many Christians who are moderate who feel that society scorns them and flat out rejects their ideals. I've definitely seen this in the course of this discussion thread. The backlash against the rejection has in some cases resulted in an increased stance of social activism. The Roaring Lambs movement is just such a reaction. It was my goal in my action at the Best Buy to speak out and let the store understand that the material at hand was offensive. Similarly, at a local gas station, I have requested that the FHM, Maxim, Biker whatever, magazines be removed from the eye level of my children. The laws of the land say that such magazines are not pornographic because they contain no nudity. But the magazines are clearly designed to incite lust and lustful thoughts in men. I certainly don't want my 9 and 6 year old boys exposed to that thought process until they have the capability to accept, reject, or divert those thoughts.
My faith is strong. I say that I know many things that are bibical. However, I also recognize that I don't see the whole picture. That we clearly see through the glass darkly. Therefore, I don't support such extremism as found in the Catholic/Protestant war in Northern Ireland. I cringe at the thought of the various inquisitions carried out at the behest of the Church.
However, I do feel that man is shown the spirit of God continually. In the perfect creation around us, in the echoes of Him in the way we live. God is love. We love. That is an echo which reflects how we are created in his image. I think that many people look for satisfaction in life, searching through possessions, relationships, and the teachings of more learned people. We look for a compass that can guide us because that need is a part of us that desires God.
A major point of my discussion here would be that so many people are negatively viewing the Christian church as a result of the extremism shown by many prominent and influential Christians. These people, however, like all of us are sinners. The idea that we are supposed to be perfect is a fallacy. A fallacy that casts a pall on Christians when someone is seen as being imperfect. God teaches us to love and loves us even when we fall away from Him. BTW - He also teaches us to be good stewards of the Earth.
There is so much right with the Christian faith that I want others to know about it. I want to reflect God's love and hope that I am doing that well now and always.
Communications involves a message, a sender, and a receiver. The message can be thought of as a channel or a carrier. When we talk face to face or even over the phone, additional message channels are used. Body language, hand gestures, vocal tone, facial expressions, and even attire communicate messages that may reinforce the main channel, conflict with it, or provide additional information that is irrelevant to the main channel.
As the article points out, chatting online is more akin to verbalizing than it is to writing. There is instantaneous feedback. However, there is only one channel that is conveyed in the words, intrepretation, connotation, and nuance aside. That's why we have begun using emoticons and other symbols. To enrich the communications process, providing additional information on the back channels. Jargon like BRB, AFAIK, CYA, and even 'K are just shortcuts. They let us communicate faster. However, like any language, the meaning of the shortcuts has to be agreed on first. Back in the CompuServe days (before emoticons even), we used *g* to indicate a grin, smile, or laugh. By setting off the term with symbols, we made sure it was confused as a word and that it had to be interpreted.:)
So the language is not being polluted. It's just being enhanced for the new communications method. I look forward to the day we're using picts as in Greg Bear's Eon series. Communications could be so much more that it is today.
Ah, see, a step forward in communications. And we're not yelling:)
Let's see if we can step closer together...
I concede that much is done, and way too much has been done, in the name of God and Christianity, that is cruel, inhumane, and definitely not what God intended. What part of "Thou shalt not kill" do we not understand?. I believe that these actions and the people who use them to further political agendas are reprehensible.
Could you admit that there may be movement within the Christian faith that is good, true, and pure. That follows the command to "Love thy neighbor as thyself." That doesn't support censorship or the surpression of science.
It is truly unfortunate that Christianity has received the miserable reputation that it has in the eyes of so many. But as with any organization, how we choose to see it depends on who we are looking at and how we feel about them. There is much more positive that is never seen because, that too, is a belief: To God be the glory not to me.
We are called to social activism, I believe, thus my request to have offensive material removed. However, I wouldn't dare impose on your right to view the material. That's not my responsiblity as a Christian, in my view.
Slashdot Mirror
LOL. Nice diatribe and a good handle too. Appropriate for you it seems. Your response is so off that I don't even know where to start. Fortunately, I don't even have the desire to. Please return back to your normal posting of 0 and 1 point postings.
Bleeding edge is fine, but there's got to be a reason.
erm... when did SQL Server get object oriented?
/>
T-SQL would accept is thusly:
SELECT * FROM books WHERE LEN(title) > 142
Besides, oo would dictate is as title.length
<SQLNazi="Yes"
Isn't Microsoft using its monopoly power to (Windows platform) to introduce a new product that competes with existing products? Anti-virus companies are already making products to handle security, then Microsoft includes that functionality in the OS itself.
This is quite similar to the inclusion of Internet Explorer. And OS level disk defragmentation (remember PC Tools anyone?).
Now if Microsoft were to include preventatives/prophylactics in the OS, that's one thing, but including AV software, even if integrated into the OS, seems to be stretching things a bit.
Of course, this is the company that said it was cheaper to break the law and fight it in court than it was to follow the law.
Of course, I was referring to the Discovery blowing up, not the Challenger. Silly me.
I actually read about the breakup, here, on Slashdot, first, before any news channel. This was the first time that I saw something (news significant) on the 'net before it came out on TV... Kind'a shocking it was. It was a real geek moment for me though.
>>The problem (mostly sulfur in fossil fuels) was reduced significantly
I've got some trees in the mountains of North Carolina that beg to differ. They are dying, and have been at more than alarming rates, for the entire time. Firs and Pines are taking a beating from Acid Rain coming down from manufacturing to the North and West of us.
Posted and reposted through out the community for over a week at least. Reddit has this conversation about it, started six days ago: http://reddit.com/info?id=28041
First time I've really seen Slashdot behind the curve.
50 year old biker chick? She told me she was a 18 year old Taiwanese College freshman with a lot of time on her hands. Man, talk about looking through Internet goggles!
>>Go to a different store (if you're so ethically declined).
Might be better written as "Go to a different store if you are so unethically inclined."
[/nazi]
39 now, so that means 22, 21 or so years old. I suppose I really predate that time period a little bit as my math points to 1988, 1987. I did use some Mac SE's before or around that time. The memory is getting a little fuzzy :)
duh. Resolution adds more pixels, but the ration remains the same. I use 1280x1024 on the 19" flat screen and 1400x1050 on the 19" Monitor. The title bars and start menu/task bar still take up too much space proportionately.
Why is so much space devoted to areas that don't require it? The title bars are too large and the task bar is way too large. I've always been fond of those themes that reduce the task bar, window controls, and title bar down to a more reasonable size. I've been mouse clicking for 17,18 years now. I can precisely click on an icon that is 24x24. They need to reduce the overall size of these controls because they aren't used nearly as much as the content. Right now, having a title bar, menu bar, button bar, tabs for tabbed browsing, and a status bar makes each window so much smaller than it should be. It's the content of the window that is important (even the desktop "window"), not the controls for it.
Having said that, I do like the transparent window title bars. Kinda nice. Different like OS X was different.
I heard the MPAA will be suing all .XXX domain owners for trademark violation with respect to the Triple X (xXx) movie franchise. BTW - Vin Diesel was much better.
How long till the US government requires porn sites to use .XXX as their domain suffix. How long at least until it's introduced then shot down anyway? :)
Priceless parody that will live in my heart forever.
I've used Runtime Revolutions' DreamCard for the PC and it's Mac OS X version seems just as competent. It's a holdover from the HyperCard days apparently, but the IDE is OK. The scripting language seems Basic like but the syntax can be a little odd. Might be worth looking at though.
/.'ers will probably sneer at these tools since they aren't C and possibly aren't enterprise level solutions. But for a quick tactical level program, they might make for a good solution.
If Basic is not to much the turn off, then perhaps RealBasic might be worth a look. The IDE and language remind me of a combination of the VS6 and PowerBasic products combined for OS X.
Again, most
Probably worth less then $0.02, but I thought I'd add some RAD into the conversation.
Next up, AOL will publish the worst of the music onto CD's so that you can surf AOL offline. The new CD's will be made by the billions and distributed to a snail mailbox near you.
There's no way this story is a dupe!
An interesting example-- I wonder why you chose that? Never mind; it serves this discussion well.
Well, the original posting of mine was concerning the public display of (my opinion) objectionable material.
Your words imply that Christian political action can appropriately use tyranny of the majority as a model for shaping society to what the Christian group believes is acceptable human behavior.
I meant no such implication and will review my position for such. However, if you substitute Republican, Democrat, Baby Boomer, or Environmentalist in place of Christian than your sentence becomes truly interesting. I believe that there is a very significant backlash against Christianity and that the backlash is not felt/would not be felt by other "interest" groups. That backlash against an elder, against non-whites, against women is considered very politically incorrect. However, the double standard of applying it towards Christians raises my hackles.
I fail to see how this is a public problem.
Please cross-reference my comments about double standards above. I have a character flaw of not being able to stand being dismissed outright without a hearing. When society steps on me this way, it is irritating. In that way it is a personal issue, but my reaction in Best Buy was a fight against that dismissal. Madison Avenue and Hollywood are pushing amoral ideals at me and they won't stop. Rather than whine and do nothing, I try social activism.
Thus it has been a real treat discussing this topic with you. You have been persuasive and made good points. This kind of open discussion is possible with many Christians, perhaps even with most. I will note that I am a little more activist than most in my peer group, but my membership in Slashdot probably would reveal that.
Someone as articulate as you can use such subterfuges to great unfair advantage.
Ahhh, shades of Nehemiah Scudder (RA Heinlein - Revolt in 2100). (What? That's heresy for a Christian to read!) I sometimes wonder what a religious dictatorship would be like and if it could truly be benign. Then I re-read The Handmaid's Tale (Heresy!) and I quickly realize again that such a thing is not possible. There are way too many extremist Christians (and Muslims, Jews, et al) for such a beast to be true.
Mainstream Christianity is not about undue influence though, in my opinion, although we do like that GWB is espousing Christian ideals in a leadership role. Those ideals have been trampled on for a while now. I agree with your point about unduly influencing public opinion, but I'm not sure if you would hold that opinion if my beliefs and yours were in common. The majority is always influential. There will always be a minority, although hopefully they might be unrepressed.
The majority of the US citizens seem to think that the tax burden should be shouldered a bit more by the richer citizens. That makes the richer citizens a minority. Should we say no to this policy because the minority might be repressed? The ideal of democracy is majority rule. Perhaps it's the potential of rule that is Christian oriented or even Christ-centric that is problematic?
In my view I am representing my articles of faith strongly. Not strenously, but certainly enough to create a breeze. I think that there are many others in many areas that represent their beliefs or knowledge similarly. Enough that opinions are swayed, beliefs are changed, and maybe even laws are enacted. I point out President Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, the original George W., as well as modern day leaders from Ghandi to King to Mother Theresa to Nelson Mandela. I'm not them by any means, so please don't think I'm drawing a parallel. They were able to galvanize the minority and cause the majority point of view to be changed. Laws enacted, Government's overthrown even. I don't seek that, but I do resist when I have pornography put in my face.
you gu
I spent most of my 14.4 modem time hanging out in British Legends, an MORPG which was so social. I enjoyed the humor, taunting, and cooperative spirit that the game encouraged and required. I remember using , so maybe I misremember *g*. Either way, it was clearly set off from the normal communications. was used a lot too, not that I recollect. This was during 1990 and 1991 when I was online. I remember visiting the foods->desserts->relishes(?) forum in order to get a recipe for Onion Jelly for my wife. I posted and had 2 recipes for green pepper jelly within a few hours, and 3 or 4 onion jelly recipes within a day. Incredible community spirit. Fortunately a network hack let me use a dial-out modem from Raleigh, NC via my WCU student account. I couldn't afford the Long Distance bill on top of the $9.60 / hour.
What rough beast Its hour come 'round at last Slinks its way towards Cuppertino To be born.
OK, I wanted to allow you the decision to talk offline if needed. Either way is acceptable :)
... "prudishness?" ... in America that we have laws banning the public display of nudity. In that way you are affected.
We do have a key logjam in the discussion over whether to accept the Bible as a source of authority. I agree with you that it my _belief_ that the Bible is accurate. I'll add further that I see it as being complete, true, authentic, sufficient, and God authored. We'll have to get past that though somehow, in order to establish common ground.
How do my beliefs impact on you? Hardly, if at all, my comments herein and your conversation notwithstanding. It is possible that if enough persons believe as I do that the overall movement might affect you. For example, there seems to be enough
However, I think that there are many Christians who are moderate who feel that society scorns them and flat out rejects their ideals. I've definitely seen this in the course of this discussion thread. The backlash against the rejection has in some cases resulted in an increased stance of social activism. The Roaring Lambs movement is just such a reaction. It was my goal in my action at the Best Buy to speak out and let the store understand that the material at hand was offensive. Similarly, at a local gas station, I have requested that the FHM, Maxim, Biker whatever, magazines be removed from the eye level of my children. The laws of the land say that such magazines are not pornographic because they contain no nudity. But the magazines are clearly designed to incite lust and lustful thoughts in men. I certainly don't want my 9 and 6 year old boys exposed to that thought process until they have the capability to accept, reject, or divert those thoughts.
My faith is strong. I say that I know many things that are bibical. However, I also recognize that I don't see the whole picture. That we clearly see through the glass darkly. Therefore, I don't support such extremism as found in the Catholic/Protestant war in Northern Ireland. I cringe at the thought of the various inquisitions carried out at the behest of the Church.
However, I do feel that man is shown the spirit of God continually. In the perfect creation around us, in the echoes of Him in the way we live. God is love. We love. That is an echo which reflects how we are created in his image. I think that many people look for satisfaction in life, searching through possessions, relationships, and the teachings of more learned people. We look for a compass that can guide us because that need is a part of us that desires God.
A major point of my discussion here would be that so many people are negatively viewing the Christian church as a result of the extremism shown by many prominent and influential Christians. These people, however, like all of us are sinners. The idea that we are supposed to be perfect is a fallacy. A fallacy that casts a pall on Christians when someone is seen as being imperfect. God teaches us to love and loves us even when we fall away from Him. BTW - He also teaches us to be good stewards of the Earth.
There is so much right with the Christian faith that I want others to know about it. I want to reflect God's love and hope that I am doing that well now and always.
Communications involves a message, a sender, and a receiver. The message can be thought of as a channel or a carrier. When we talk face to face or even over the phone, additional message channels are used. Body language, hand gestures, vocal tone, facial expressions, and even attire communicate messages that may reinforce the main channel, conflict with it, or provide additional information that is irrelevant to the main channel.
:)
As the article points out, chatting online is more akin to verbalizing than it is to writing. There is instantaneous feedback. However, there is only one channel that is conveyed in the words, intrepretation, connotation, and nuance aside. That's why we have begun using emoticons and other symbols. To enrich the communications process, providing additional information on the back channels. Jargon like BRB, AFAIK, CYA, and even 'K are just shortcuts. They let us communicate faster. However, like any language, the meaning of the shortcuts has to be agreed on first. Back in the CompuServe days (before emoticons even), we used *g* to indicate a grin, smile, or laugh. By setting off the term with symbols, we made sure it was confused as a word and that it had to be interpreted.
So the language is not being polluted. It's just being enhanced for the new communications method. I look forward to the day we're using picts as in Greg Bear's Eon series. Communications could be so much more that it is today.
Ah, see, a step forward in communications. And we're not yelling :)
Let's see if we can step closer together...
I concede that much is done, and way too much has been done, in the name of God and Christianity, that is cruel, inhumane, and definitely not what God intended. What part of "Thou shalt not kill" do we not understand?. I believe that these actions and the people who use them to further political agendas are reprehensible.
Could you admit that there may be movement within the Christian faith that is good, true, and pure. That follows the command to "Love thy neighbor as thyself." That doesn't support censorship or the surpression of science.
It is truly unfortunate that Christianity has received the miserable reputation that it has in the eyes of so many. But as with any organization, how we choose to see it depends on who we are looking at and how we feel about them. There is much more positive that is never seen because, that too, is a belief: To God be the glory not to me.
We are called to social activism, I believe, thus my request to have offensive material removed. However, I wouldn't dare impose on your right to view the material. That's not my responsiblity as a Christian, in my view.