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User: eberry

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Comments · 104

  1. DirecTV had this, and then got rid of it. on TiVo Lets You Respond to Ads · · Score: 2, Insightful

    When I got DirecTV some 4 or 5 years ago, it had this same function. When watching a commercial an graphic "I" would appear to mean that it's interactive. If you pressed the "I" button on the remote it would ask if you wanted more information mailed to you.

    Not every commercial had this mind you. In fact only one I know of, some SUV commercial did this.

    DirecTV has since got rid of it. They had a number of interactive features they since gotten rid of. I used to be able to enter a zip code and get weather. It would also store my favorite cities. One channel, Bloomberg maybe, let me store stock tickers, and it would display the current stock price. So much for interactive TV.

    What I really want is a way to vote on commercials. If I give it a thumbs down I don't want to see it again. Or better yet, let me subscribe to a show, for a small fee, and let me watch it commercial free. Stop rehashing the same bad ideas please.

  2. Not that different from the rest of the world... on Kansas Challenges Definition of Science · · Score: 1

    Let's really put this into context. While I find this to be a complete embarrassment, I think people are overreacting. Most of the people are this board on just spouting anti-American comments. And they call us racist.

    Let's face it, in a world where people burying children alive as part of a religious ceremony, kill others in the name of Allah, and believe in Papal Infallibility, this surprises you? Really?

    Hopefully this will either be laughed out of existence or maybe people will realize the disservice they will be doing to their children.

    But just because one school system in one state decides to question science doesn't represent the downfall of mankind, much less whole of the USA.

  3. I would like to remind everyone... on Man Sells Baby to Pay for Gadgets · · Score: 0, Redundant

    It's April Fools Day.

  4. First teach teachers to use them on Students Do Better Without Computers · · Score: 2, Insightful

    In college we had a web-based program called Blackboard. Where teachers could put notes, the students could converse, etc. This made a great addition to class room learning. It's too bad only a few professors actually used it. And when I asked about it, most never even heard of it.

    Can we at least teach these people how to use the technology before we begin to blame it?

  5. Scanning books? on Google's Library Up and Running · · Score: 1

    I am all for digitizing our libraries. But some of the texts are already in ebook form. Why don't they just return results from Project Gutenberg?

    I know if I am looking for books on Sherlock Holmes, it won't be through Google Print. I am going straight to Gutenberg.

  6. Just once I'd like someone to call me 'Sir'... on Bill Gates to Receive Honorary UK Knighthood · · Score: 1

    ...without adding 'You're making a scene.'

  7. Is Weird Al out there? on G4 Drops TechTV Name · · Score: 1

    I got a new song idea for you.

    I want my,
    I want my,
    I want my TechTV.

    Or maybe he can save the channel with the help of Michael Richards.

  8. Windows XP Only? on Paint.NET: The Anti-GIMP? · · Score: 2, Informative

    ...designed to be used on computers that run Windows XP

    The author mentions twice that it runs only with Windows XP. It runs with Windows 2000, and presumably with any version of Windows that has the .NET Framework installed.

    Now I wonder, does it run with Mono?

  9. Re:SCI-FI is the most consistently disappointing T on Le Guin Peeved About Earthsea Miniseries · · Score: 1

    I stand corrected. I can't wait to check out the new episodes.

  10. Re:SCI-FI is the most consistently disappointing T on Le Guin Peeved About Earthsea Miniseries · · Score: 1

    That's probably the mini-series that was done last year. New BG episodes have not aired on SCI-FI.

  11. Not by the consumer it doesn't on U.S. Govt. Stipulates Free Annual Credit Reports · · Score: 1

    You can view your own credit report as much as you want. This doesn't show up as a request, nor does it lower your score. What lower's you score is if credit card companies request your credit report. So if you apply for 5 cc in 6 months, each one will lower your score.

    This is why people get upset when companies check your credit report without permission. Sometimes your own CC company does this so they can raise your limit. Any rate it's a hit against it.

    But don't worry about checking your own credit report. Not only that you can only do it once a year. I check my credit report every 6 months. If fact I use a service (offered by equifax) that emails me whenever anything changes on my credit report and I can look it up.

  12. Agreed on Ohio Law Could Send Spammers To Jail · · Score: 1

    Charge these people a fine of say, double what they made on their scam.

    The problem is people in prison also cost us money. A lot more money when they were flooding my inbox with spam. It cost something like $20,000/year per prisoner here in the U.S.

    Just fine the shit out of the bastard and move on. It would also be prudent to spend more time/money on anti-spam software, which would protect you from spam coming from offshore (i.e. out of your State/countries jurisdiction. If there is such a thing for the U.S.)

  13. Sven Co-op on Half-Life 2 Deathmatch Confirmed · · Score: 1

    Did you ever try Sven Co-op for original Half-Life?

    They are suppose to come out with a version for HL2.

  14. It's not an automatic download on Half-Life 2 Deathmatch Confirmed · · Score: 3, Informative

    You can NOT download DM by NOT clicking on Half-Life: Deathmatch in the game list. And by NOT clicking download.

    You have to put in some effort to download it, it's not automatic.

  15. They already have on Ion-Propulsion Craft Reaches The Moon · · Score: 1

    NASA launched Deep Space 1 back in 1998.

    Welcome to the party.

    From the article:
    April 6, 1999: The ion propulsion system on Deep Space 1 is the culmination of over 50 years of development on electric engine systems in space. Launched on Oct. 24, 1998, Deep Space 1 will be the first spacecraft to actually use ion propulsion to reach another planetary body.

  16. I live in Ohio on Kerry Concedes Election To Bush · · Score: 1

    I live in Cincinnati and we don't even have electronic voting machines. Just the same old paper ballot. I talked to friends in 4 different counties and not one of them had electronic voting machines. Nothing to see here.

    Not that I voted for him, but I believe Bush won Ohio fair and square. And I am glad that the Nation and Ohio will not have to deal with a long, protracted court battles over provisional ballots.

  17. One table project on Funniest IT Related Boasts You've Heard? · · Score: 1

    "We are going to combine all our databases...", or "We are going to create a datamining database", otherwise known as the "One database project"

    At least these people will settle for one database. I have a "Financial Analyst" in my company who wants all data in one table. No I am not kidding. So he can make queries in Access without having to do joins.

    And yes I explained the concepts of normalization until I was blue in the face. Regardless, I refuse to accommodate these people.

    Some famous quotes:
    "If I had created indexes in my Access database, I am sure it would be just as fast as SQL Server."

    "Why do you use SQL Server instead of Access?"

    "The XXXX program was all me." - Overhead coming from a wannabe PHB about an application I wrote for the company. And at the time I didn't even now who this person was.

    "How can I put my Access database on the web?"

  18. DO NOT CLICK ABOVE LINK on 11,000 Words on the Star Wars Trilogy DVDs · · Score: 1

    Just look at the URL.

    Why was this modded up?

  19. Doesn't the media do research anymore? on Will Google Launch A Browser? · · Score: 1

    Already, its Gmail free e-mail system gives users 100 megabytes of storage space on a remote network -- providing consumers a virtual hard drive.

    This article must have been written by Dan Rather.

  20. Tax deductable donations on Mozilla's Goodger on Firefox's Future · · Score: 1

    For all the U.S. residents you can make a tax deductable donation to the Mozilla Foundation.

  21. Read the fine print on Trouble for Tivo and NetFlix Partnership? · · Score: 3, Informative

    I can't find it now, but Walmart's site specifically stated that you would be charged for any DVDs lost in the mail. Where as Netflix absorbs that cost.

    And as for Netflix, you can still cancel and restart your membership online.

  22. UnixKit correction on Essential Software for Thumbdrives? · · Score: 1

    The story contains the wrong URL for the Unixkit for Windows.

  23. Better political quiz on Slashdot Goes Political: Announcing politics.slashdot.org · · Score: 1

    The questions on the political compass are left biased. Take this question for example, "If economic globalisation is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather than the interests of trans-national corporations." Who would choose other than serving humanity? It could be argued that serving the interest of corporations in turn, serves humanity.

    A better political (and smaller) quiz is located here.

  24. d-skins on Movie Playback From 1TB Holographic Disc · · Score: 1

    You need to invest in DVD condoms. Check out d-skins - protective disc skins.

  25. Would I pay for this? on MMOG Subscription Analysis Provides New Insights · · Score: 1

    I would consider playing such a game. The problem with all the MMORPG of today is that too much is handled by the computer. You camp an orc village, monster spawns, you kill it, rinse, repeat. There needs to be DMs. MMORPG are just graphical chat rooms, where players shout "*DING* Lvl 58!". I wish there was a MMORPG where professional DMs ran adventures.

    But your price tag is a little too steep. Perhaps paying 9.99 a month, while charging extra for adventures. Sunday afternoon, 3 hour adventure - Only $10.00. It would be cheaper than a movie, more entertaining than TV, and would require some thought. Now that I would pay for.

    On another note, NPR had an interesting feature this morning on Dungeons and Dragons turns 30; where they discussed it's affect on computer gaming.