I'm a HUGE Star Wars fan. I actually can't wait for these films. With Kasdan adding to the script I'm hoping it won't be as annoying as some parts of EP 1 was. No, I'm not an apologist for Disney or Abrams, who actually annoys me sometimes, but I'm going to give this the benefit of the doubt. I actually believe these films will be pretty cool, probably much better than EP's 1-3.
Regarding Abrams as director, I couldn't stand the first Star Trek reboot, with "Spock Prime"(what the fuck is up with all the time travel bullshit! What is Spock Prime!?! When you get your time travel the next day?!?) but the second one was really good. I'm not expecting complete brilliance, but I bet they will be better than that steaming pile of bat shit known as Christopher Nolans nadir, AKA "The Dark Knight Rises". How anyone could rate that up on rottentomatoes is beyond me... And that came from the same guy who did "Inception", easily one of the best sci-fi films of the last decade.
But I digress...
I've never read ANY of the Star Wars EU books, etc;
I could give two shits about any of that...
The films and the animated Clone Wars series to me are what matters regarding "Canon".
Unlike Tolkien, Star Wars was a film first experience, one where Lucas is really the guy in charge, regardless of what others may wish.
You want nerd rage?
How about when Faramir takes Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath?!?
Unlike Star Wars, that example was(and countless other nastiness that Peter Jackson cooked up in his ridiculous Hobbits films) one where the audience already knew what was(supposed) to happen. I can't understand anyone getting miffed about how any Star Wars film turns out. There is little reference to check them by(except other films and animated series...) as opposed to Tolkien.
The really interesting thing is that it wasn't that long ago.
Hell, I didn't even start using a cell phone until about six years ago.
Now people have convinced themselves that they are akin to oxygen or sunlight.
FB logins are now required more and more to do things online.
A favorite radio station I listen to this morning mentioned all requests now must come via FB login.
Can't they see how utterly wrong this is?
It amazes me that anyone has to have this explained.
Then there are government entities, cities, counties, etc, that are requiring FB logins to communicate or connect with them.
This is so utterly wrong on so many levels.
The only thing that's "horrible" is your ridiculous assertion that no one wants over the air broadcasting.
Perhaps you weren't aware that over the air broadcasting now comes in a digital format(I know, who'd thunk!)
The signal I get to my HD tv looks great, always comes in perfectly, regardless of the weather(now that I have my antennae setup correctly). I have friends who have their content delivered "on wires" as you say, and I've seen it, and I'm amazed people would pay cable or satellite for such low quality.
You sound like a shill for cable and satellite!
I also use Netflix, which is over "a wire", and though I love the service and selection, I have more issues and headaches with Netflix than I do with my oh-so-horrible "junk off the air" as you call it.
I love watching my local PBS channels and other FREE programming over those horrible airwaves...
I love just being able to turn on my tv and JUST HAVE IT WORK.
And the best part is that IT'S FREE. No monthly bill.
No troubleshooting of firmware, ip/firewall settings, permissions, isp bullshit.
Really what has been happening to children in the last 50 years or so is an ascending curve of influences, combining to create a new "First World Race"(so to speak).
The effects of these influences have been studied and can be easily found on this "internet library".
So, in effect, we have a new generation that is:
less likely to play outside, interact/understand/empathize with the natural world, can't remember as much due to being able to look things up instantly online, is more likely to display symptoms of ADD/ADHD due to over-intake of sugar and ADD/ADHD drugs, has a much shorter attention span than previous generations, etc, etc.
None of this is any sort of conspiracy, but rather is due to the way technology and our modern world has "evolved" in the last half century.
To me one of the interesting things to note here is that less affluent children don't display these issues because they don't come from families who can afford the ADD-Constantly Connected-Sugar Ridden lifestyle that is now the norm in the middle and upper classes in the First World.
We are now and will continue seeing the affects of this "evolution".
So a while back I tried several different Linux desktops. Probably around 6 or 7. I used each one for about a week or two. They all had their Pros and Cons, but I went back to Ubuntu. I went back(it was the first one I tried...) for the stability, ease of use and software available.
And yes, I know all about the concerns with Amazon and how RMS feels about Ubuntu(which for the most part I agree with).
However I would reccommend it.
BUT!
About a week ago it started automatically going into sleep mode after ten minutes.
As of this writing I haven't figured out how to correct this.
It never did this before and it appears to ignore whatever Power Management settings I give it.
Yes I have Googled this and have tried many things suggested but nothing has worked so far...
If anyone has experienced this and knows the fix I would appreciate advice...
So where do you draw the line?
Is driving the speed limit, lets say 30 mph in a residential neighborhood, too slow and a "capp-able" offense?
Ten mph over the limit?
Fifteen?
This "technique" you describe is something most drivers of standard transmission have used and known about for over a century...
IMHO, it was automatic transmission, and it's "asleep at the wheel" style of driving that is encouraged where nary a thought travels the synapses as one languidly applies pressure to either the brake or gas pedals. People driving automatics are the ones speeding up to lights and stop signs, only to then have to slam on their brakes and repeat the cycle to the next light/stop sign.
Stick drivers are more thoughtful regarding how they drive.
I used to have Direct TV. For years... It was great.
But the monthly bills were too high, and I also had NF. I wondered why I had both and did some hard thinking about it.
I got rid of the satellite and kept NF.
I was totally satisfied with the DVD only plan for a while.
Then streaming came out and I tried that...
It worked great for about the first two years.
Now it is spotty and annoying.
Both NF and my ISP point the finger at the other one.
Right now I'm probably ok with NF not having the latest CRAP you can get from RedBox...
I always have to laugh at people who complain about what NF doesn't have...
I ask what films they want to watch and have to hide my derision.
NF actually has a large amount of incredible foreign and indie films, docs, all kinds of cool shit.
I never have a problem finding something to watch.
The problem is with the streaming itself.
What it doesn't have is the latest garbage peddled by the big studios, that for some reason most people want to watch.
I've been a NF user since they started(2004?) and have had a streaming plan with them since that was possible.
I can say unequivocally that their streaming performance has gone downhill to the point I'm considering cancelling and going back to the 3 DVD at a time plan.
I've called(yes you can do that...) NF several times to complain. I get the same excuses everytime, which boils down to "It's not our fault". I've contacted my ISP who shows that I've got the latest/greatest DSL modem, etc and that speedtest and streaming others like Youtube all check out fine.
There is a problem with NF streaming.
Should I assume this has something to do with the recent ruling about Net Neutrality?
In my case the problem started about six months ago and has gotten worse in the last two, so it was before that.
So when I watch a DVD I don't have all the bullshit to put up with that I do with streaming. To me NF streaming is akin to the early days of telephone or telegraph.
And yes, I do TOTALLY blame the ISP, but I really have no way to prove it.
My other choice of ISP? Comcast...(blech/blarg/belch/barf)
But AGW Warmist Fanatics such as yourself don't want to reduce the air pollution that causes health issues (Carbon MONOXOIDE, Sulfur dioxide, CFC, various particulates, etc) - they want to reduce CO2.
So you force efforts and money away from REAL pollution reduction to waste on reduction of a pretty much harmless gas that the entire biosphere of Earth has spent millions of years evolving to process in mass quantities.
This is in fact really my only beef with AGW religious fanatics such as myself, otherwise I wouldn't care how much you lie or mislead to make your case. But you are harming the environment directly, which is why I work to stop your dark and twisted philosophy from taking root where possible.
Wow, where do I begin replying to this...
1. When did I say I "don't want to reduce the air pollution that causes health issues"?
2. When did I "lie or mislead" to "make my case"?
3. Explain how I am "harming the environment directly", anymore than you are...?
And now to the piece de resistance(this is too good for words):
which is why I work to stop your dark and twisted philosophy from taking root where possible.
Do you know how nutty that sounds?
"Dark and twisted" philosophy? You need to crawl back into under your rock...
Damn Kendall, you gave me the best laugh I've had in a while!
Good luck on the comic book writing, and don't quit your day job!
There will come a time when the profits made by the corporations will start to be affected by the unemployment created by automation and robotics. It's inevitable.
How will the corporations and governments deal with mass unemployment?
That is as important a question as any of the other major crises that are headed our way.
Will we end up "living" in the "Foam Cubes", guarded and monitored by a Robot Police Force?
Will we end up like the people in "Surrogates"?
It is fascinating that no one wants to really take a hard long look at what is coming, isn't it?
Yes, we could live the utopian dream Marshall Brain presents in "Manna", but how likely is that to occur?
It is obvious with the manipulation that the 1% is marshaling, they are not going to let that happen under any circumstances...
Slashdot Mirror
I'm a HUGE Star Wars fan. I actually can't wait for these films. With Kasdan adding to the script I'm hoping it won't be as annoying as some parts of EP 1 was. No, I'm not an apologist for Disney or Abrams, who actually annoys me sometimes, but I'm going to give this the benefit of the doubt. I actually believe these films will be pretty cool, probably much better than EP's 1-3.
Regarding Abrams as director, I couldn't stand the first Star Trek reboot, with "Spock Prime"(what the fuck is up with all the time travel bullshit! What is Spock Prime!?! When you get your time travel the next day?!?) but the second one was really good. I'm not expecting complete brilliance, but I bet they will be better than that steaming pile of bat shit known as Christopher Nolans nadir, AKA "The Dark Knight Rises". How anyone could rate that up on rottentomatoes is beyond me... And that came from the same guy who did "Inception", easily one of the best sci-fi films of the last decade.
But I digress...
I've never read ANY of the Star Wars EU books, etc;
I could give two shits about any of that...
The films and the animated Clone Wars series to me are what matters regarding "Canon".
Unlike Tolkien, Star Wars was a film first experience, one where Lucas is really the guy in charge, regardless of what others may wish.
You want nerd rage?
How about when Faramir takes Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath?!?
Unlike Star Wars, that example was(and countless other nastiness that Peter Jackson cooked up in his ridiculous Hobbits films) one where the audience already knew what was(supposed) to happen. I can't understand anyone getting miffed about how any Star Wars film turns out. There is little reference to check them by(except other films and animated series...) as opposed to Tolkien.
Yea, but he's not the real George Lucas
I agree with your ranking completely.
Put Jedi and PM on the bottom, ESB and Ep 4 on the top.
Empire and Jedi are both better then than Ep. 4
In Borat voice "NOT!"
Ep 4 is much better than Jedi.
There should be a scene with him fawning over a light saber and muttering "my precioussss".
Bingo.
The really interesting thing is that it wasn't that long ago.
Hell, I didn't even start using a cell phone until about six years ago.
Now people have convinced themselves that they are akin to oxygen or sunlight.
FB logins are now required more and more to do things online.
A favorite radio station I listen to this morning mentioned all requests now must come via FB login.
Can't they see how utterly wrong this is?
It amazes me that anyone has to have this explained.
Then there are government entities, cities, counties, etc, that are requiring FB logins to communicate or connect with them.
This is so utterly wrong on so many levels.
is the only thing driving users to Google+.
Where the hell are welders making 150k???
Underwater.
The only thing that's "horrible" is your ridiculous assertion that no one wants over the air broadcasting.
Perhaps you weren't aware that over the air broadcasting now comes in a digital format(I know, who'd thunk!)
The signal I get to my HD tv looks great, always comes in perfectly, regardless of the weather(now that I have my antennae setup correctly). I have friends who have their content delivered "on wires" as you say, and I've seen it, and I'm amazed people would pay cable or satellite for such low quality.
You sound like a shill for cable and satellite!
I also use Netflix, which is over "a wire", and though I love the service and selection, I have more issues and headaches with Netflix than I do with my oh-so-horrible "junk off the air" as you call it.
I love watching my local PBS channels and other FREE programming over those horrible airwaves...
I love just being able to turn on my tv and JUST HAVE IT WORK.
And the best part is that IT'S FREE. No monthly bill.
No troubleshooting of firmware, ip/firewall settings, permissions, isp bullshit.
LOL!!!
I'm banking on Fred and Carrie writing this into "Portlandia" somehow.
Good Lord what a gift from the people of Portalnd to comedy fans everywhere!
Really what has been happening to children in the last 50 years or so is an ascending curve of influences, combining to create a new "First World Race"(so to speak).
The effects of these influences have been studied and can be easily found on this "internet library".
Here are a few:
1. The increased intake of Sugar in the American diet.
2. The ill affects of Multi-Tasking
3. How the overuse of consumer electronics is ruining sleep patterns
4. Kids don't play outside as much or at all
So, in effect, we have a new generation that is:
less likely to play outside, interact/understand/empathize with the natural world, can't remember as much due to being able to look things up instantly online, is more likely to display symptoms of ADD/ADHD due to over-intake of sugar and ADD/ADHD drugs, has a much shorter attention span than previous generations, etc, etc.
None of this is any sort of conspiracy, but rather is due to the way technology and our modern world has "evolved" in the last half century.
To me one of the interesting things to note here is that less affluent children don't display these issues because they don't come from families who can afford the ADD-Constantly Connected-Sugar Ridden lifestyle that is now the norm in the middle and upper classes in the First World.
We are now and will continue seeing the affects of this "evolution".
the man hours you will waste on transitioning and people having issues with the new machines
Yeap, because with Win8, no difficulties to transitioning from XP, right?
Classic Shell to the rescue!
"How do I get out of whatever tonka-toys demo software this is and back to the OS? I want to check the specs."
Windows Key - X
So a while back I tried several different Linux desktops. Probably around 6 or 7. I used each one for about a week or two. They all had their Pros and Cons, but I went back to Ubuntu. I went back(it was the first one I tried...) for the stability, ease of use and software available.
And yes, I know all about the concerns with Amazon and how RMS feels about Ubuntu(which for the most part I agree with).
However I would reccommend it.
BUT!
About a week ago it started automatically going into sleep mode after ten minutes.
As of this writing I haven't figured out how to correct this.
It never did this before and it appears to ignore whatever Power Management settings I give it.
Yes I have Googled this and have tried many things suggested but nothing has worked so far...
If anyone has experienced this and knows the fix I would appreciate advice...
The universe doesn't revolve around you.
Bingo!
So where do you draw the line?
Is driving the speed limit, lets say 30 mph in a residential neighborhood, too slow and a "capp-able" offense?
Ten mph over the limit?
Fifteen?
This "technique" you describe is something most drivers of standard transmission have used and known about for over a century...
IMHO, it was automatic transmission, and it's "asleep at the wheel" style of driving that is encouraged where nary a thought travels the synapses as one languidly applies pressure to either the brake or gas pedals. People driving automatics are the ones speeding up to lights and stop signs, only to then have to slam on their brakes and repeat the cycle to the next light/stop sign.
Stick drivers are more thoughtful regarding how they drive.
Or Gravity
You haven't seen Inception.
I used to have Direct TV. For years... It was great.
But the monthly bills were too high, and I also had NF. I wondered why I had both and did some hard thinking about it.
I got rid of the satellite and kept NF.
I was totally satisfied with the DVD only plan for a while.
Then streaming came out and I tried that...
It worked great for about the first two years.
Now it is spotty and annoying.
Both NF and my ISP point the finger at the other one.
Right now I'm probably ok with NF not having the latest CRAP you can get from RedBox...
I always have to laugh at people who complain about what NF doesn't have...
I ask what films they want to watch and have to hide my derision.
NF actually has a large amount of incredible foreign and indie films, docs, all kinds of cool shit.
I never have a problem finding something to watch.
The problem is with the streaming itself.
What it doesn't have is the latest garbage peddled by the big studios, that for some reason most people want to watch.
The Hobbit?
Give me a break.
Inconvenient you say? Not for me...
I've been a NF user since they started(2004?) and have had a streaming plan with them since that was possible.
I can say unequivocally that their streaming performance has gone downhill to the point I'm considering cancelling and going back to the 3 DVD at a time plan.
I've called(yes you can do that...) NF several times to complain. I get the same excuses everytime, which boils down to "It's not our fault".
I've contacted my ISP who shows that I've got the latest/greatest DSL modem, etc and that speedtest and streaming others like Youtube all check out fine.
There is a problem with NF streaming.
Should I assume this has something to do with the recent ruling about Net Neutrality?
In my case the problem started about six months ago and has gotten worse in the last two, so it was before that.
So when I watch a DVD I don't have all the bullshit to put up with that I do with streaming. To me NF streaming is akin to the early days of telephone or telegraph.
And yes, I do TOTALLY blame the ISP, but I really have no way to prove it.
My other choice of ISP?
Comcast...(blech/blarg/belch/barf)
But AGW Warmist Fanatics such as yourself don't want to reduce the air pollution that causes health issues (Carbon MONOXOIDE, Sulfur dioxide, CFC, various particulates, etc) - they want to reduce CO2.
So you force efforts and money away from REAL pollution reduction to waste on reduction of a pretty much harmless gas that the entire biosphere of Earth has spent millions of years evolving to process in mass quantities.
This is in fact really my only beef with AGW religious fanatics such as myself, otherwise I wouldn't care how much you lie or mislead to make your case. But you are harming the environment directly, which is why I work to stop your dark and twisted philosophy from taking root where possible.
Wow, where do I begin replying to this...
1. When did I say I "don't want to reduce the air pollution that causes health issues"?
2. When did I "lie or mislead" to "make my case"?
3. Explain how I am "harming the environment directly", anymore than you are...?
And now to the piece de resistance(this is too good for words):
which is why I work to stop your dark and twisted philosophy from taking root where possible.
Do you know how nutty that sounds?
"Dark and twisted" philosophy? You need to crawl back into under your rock...
Damn Kendall, you gave me the best laugh I've had in a while!
Good luck on the comic book writing, and don't quit your day job!
There will come a time when the profits made by the corporations will start to be affected by the unemployment created by automation and robotics. It's inevitable.
How will the corporations and governments deal with mass unemployment?
That is as important a question as any of the other major crises that are headed our way.
Will we end up "living" in the "Foam Cubes", guarded and monitored by a Robot Police Force?
Will we end up like the people in "Surrogates"?
It is fascinating that no one wants to really take a hard long look at what is coming, isn't it?
Yes, we could live the utopian dream Marshall Brain presents in "Manna", but how likely is that to occur?
It is obvious with the manipulation that the 1% is marshaling, they are not going to let that happen under any circumstances...