I started taking my laptop to meetings for note-taking years ago. For me, it was just as effective in helping me to internalize the information as was taking long-hand notes. The only difference was that I could easily search my electronic notes. Diagrams could present a challenge, but I could typically describe them (or, sometimes approximate them) using text. Most often, handouts covered the key graphics. In a classroom environment, I'd prefer to use a digital camera, but I'm sure it would freak some instructors out.
It will be interesting to see if the study examined sleep patterns of those who use the Internet to a far greater degree than others. Lack of sleep over an extended period of time has been linked to depression in many studies. Thus, the Internet surfing behaviors could be causing the subjects to get less sleep, thereby increasing the likelihood that they experience depression. The validity of the claim will come down to how well the study authors controlled for other variables, the overal validity of their methods, and whether or not other groups can replicate the results.
Determining the validity of the correllation depends on how well they controlled for other variables. I've not seen the actual study, so I don't know how they determined the direction of correllation.
You raise a good philosophical question. My guess as to the answer most would propose is that "the natural world" is that as it exists before (without, in spite of) human intervention.
My guess is that the new OS's power utilization habits are markedly different from XP, and that the battery had become conditioned to the old usage patterns. While the battery still likely would have shown decline and failure under your old OS, it might have come on more gradually. Switching to the new OS could be akin to replacing an alternator or other mechanical component in an older car--the changes that occur from the installation of the new part put additional strain on some of the other components, so they end up failing shortly thereafter.
That's why I always like to find out what repairs have been done before I buy a used car. If someone replaced the alternator, but nothing else, I figure that I'll be replacing the water pump and a few other items over the next few month if I buy the car. The real bargains are when you find out they've replaced most of the front-end components, and are then dumping the car because they see it as a money pit. If they've taken care of most of the potential problems, I've just found a vehicle that should run for at least 50k miles and should be able to get it at a bargain price. My little Mercury Tracer was like that. I picked it up at about $90k miles because the previous owner got tired of being nickled-and-dimed by regular repairs. I've now owned it for the past six ore more years, and have only had a few hundred dollars of repairs. I've put over 110k miles on the vehicle (yes, a '90s model Mercury Tracer that's still on the road with over 201k miles!).
It is just so easy to let an analogy become another rabbit trail...
When supporting laptop users in a large office, we often saw the following pattern: those who typically used their batteries regularly (draining them most, if not all of the way), tended to need replacement batteries less often than those (mostly managers/officers) who typically left their machines plugged in/docked almost all of the time. Some of those users would only use their laptops on battery power a few times a year. They were the ones who reported battery problems (e.g., battery life less than an hour, battery would not charge) most often.
With textbooks, the trend is to customize the text for each term and each instructor--that way, the books have limited or no value on the secondary market and all students are forced to buy new.
Instructors need to move away from these publishing houses and need to start publishing their own titles independently. Then, the best instructor-written texts can be adopted by those schools that want to use them, and it creates an incentive for other instructors (who feel that they can better present the material, or feel that they have more up-to-date information) to compete on the open market for readers.
I wish there were a way we could join together with virtual torches and pitchforks against the big publishing houses.
Um...some of us still thought "vegetable" had four syllables, even if some of those bloody regional dialects pronounce it as two. As my kindergarten teacher (who also served as musical director) regularly yelled from the stage: enunciate!
I can still hear her now: I-NUHN-SEE-EYT! I--NUHN--SEE--EYT!! I---NUHN---SEE---EYT!!!
I visited the site and was shocked to learn that one of the headsets that would be for sale would actually retract. I thought all of that was done via CGI. Very impressive prop work, indeed.
I just wish their merchandising division would have capitalized on the popularity of the shows years ago--most of my kids have wanted to dress up as one character or another at halloween, and I'd love to have a replica Zat. If they had made semi-decent toy Zats that cost about as much as a Nerf gun, I'd probably have one on my desk right now.
It makes some sense on one level--an appropriate time and space for the game--but it would not alleviate other suspicions, particularly that the game is being used as cover for other plans (e.g., escape plan, assault on another inmate or guard, gang activity). There are no easy answers. If it were me making the call, I'd rather have small groups of inmates playing games togeter than to see them pumping iron in the gym for hours each day. Most prison systems go beyond providing inmates with the means for maintaining their health and give them opportunities to become massively ripped (and potentially more dangerous). What's wrong with situps, push-ups, and similar exercises that don't require weight machines or free weights?
I've played in small groups (2-3) and large groups (up to 15). The large groups can get unweildy at times, but those groups were typically a bunch of experienced college players who were undertaking massive adventures in a DM's own created world. Oftentimes, those sessions would go very long when there were massive battles (even under simple 1st ed. AD&D rules). Sometimes we would only get through one battle in a night (typically 4-6 hours). I preferred groups of not more than about 8 people, just to keep the game moving.
In a prison environment, the guards and the rule book(s) will define what is considered an allowable group size. Thus "big group" or "small group" are irrelevant in such situations. Either the behavior is allowed or it isn't.
I'm not sure I have an alternative to offer, as much as to suggest that the staff of the prison needs to be educated as to the nature of RPG gameplay. If similar group activities are allowed, once the decision makers are made aware of the nature of the game and its gameplay, I'd hope they'd work to find a resonable solution. Those incarcerated would find it in their best interest to be conscious of the behaviors and discussions in which they participate that might be viewed negatively by the administration, so that they may be avoided. In particular, it seems that the administration misunderstands the role of Dungeon Master. They see it as "gang leader" but it would be more appropriate to view it as "facilitator", or a combination of "creative director", "storyteller", and "judge" (arbiter of in-game decisions). If the campaign were run over defined periods (e.g., 8-weeks at a time), perhaps the DM role could rotate to other group members, thereby defying the assumption that it is a position akin to being a "gang leader" where power is not shared.
It seems that any alternative could similarly be misinterpreted by prison staff. Any RPG that would incorporate scenarios with weapons, conflicts, and corrdination by a game master would be subject. Switching to a highly futuristic realm might help shift the focus away from some perceived threats (e.g., "I'll stab him with my dagger") but could also add others (e.g., "I'll shoot him", "I'll blast him with my laser"). The same could be said of creating unique words to represent common objects (e.g., "'ungala'" instead of 'knife'")--codes can be broken and using them might do more to raise suspicions.
This topic really tugs on something inside of me. I often use my imagination to create stories and scenarios in my own mind, but my times of playing AD&D (and other games) with a group of friends were by and far someof the most enjoyable times and stories I have in memory. I cannot imagine being in such a controlled environment that even a game like AD&D would be denied me. I would likely fall back to writing more fiction, and then sharing those stories with others, perhaps setting up story exchanges. Could a group decide on a topic or scenario each week, and then have each member write a story that fits the scenario? The stories could be shared and then another member could pick the scenario for the following week. That misses the collaborative aspects, however.
As someone who was a long-time AD&D player who also worked for a time in a maximum security/close custody prison facility, my perspective may be a bit different from other who have replied here. In the prison environment, there are strict rules regarding fraternization among the incarcerated (prisoners/inmates). Often, there are limits on the number who may gather at one time, rules regarding proximity to others, and rules regarding communications. Inmates might not be allowed to carry stacks of personal papers or items from room to room. Any time inmates gather, it is suspect. Any time they are talking in hushed tones, it is suspect. Any time they are passing notes, it is suspect. Any talk of weapons or violoent actions puts the guards/officers at a heightened state of alert. Anything that might be viewed as gang-like behavior is suspect. Anything that could be viewed as cover for gang behavior is suspect.
Now, if you have been an AD&D player (or a player of any number of other RPG games), think about the dynamics of game play. Games often include more than two or three people. Players often carry a stack of papers (e.g., maps, character sheets, game manuals) to and from game sessions. The group might get loud, but some members of the group might have a secret side conversation with another player or the DM. Notes might need to be passed (e.g., "I want to pickpocket the baron", "I want to move into the shadows behind the paladin"). Table conversation will include various weapons and tactics. Althought talk of some medieval weapons could easily be discerned as fantasy (e.g., "I'll run him through with my halberd"), others could easily match a contemporary context (e.g., "I'll knife the guard while you try to get his keys"). Most groups with which I've played held the DM in high regard; it was as if the DM had his own cult following or at least a lot of resepect. That behavior, to the untrained observer, would appear to mimic some gang behavior. Prison guards have no way of knowing if such a behavior is just a game, overt gang activity, or a game being used to hide gang activity. To strive for safety and control, they must err toward interpreting events as the worst possible scenario.
If you are an RPG player, think through things that were said around your game table, and try to imagine hearing them as a prison guard or corrections officer. How might you interpret them?
People who really got into their game playing often would talk about the game anywhere and everywhere. Can you imagine a guard in a lunchroom overhearing AD&D players discussing a plan to escape the tower by feigning illness before attacking the guards when they come to investigate? Can you imagine players discussing plans to dig an (in-game) escape tunnel while having recreation time in the yard? The game could easily be used as a veil to allow the player to communicate real escape plans out in the open while the rest of the facility thinks they are just a bunch of RPG geeks. I can't say I fully agree with the decision to bar AD&D, but I can say that I understand the reasoning behind the decision.
Given there are so many societies around the world where literacy rates are not as high as they are in the West, these units are actually a pretty good idea. You may not agree with the message in this context (audio Bibles), but the application of the technology is useful. A master recording can be made in a specific language or dialect, and then the units can be distributed by NGOs or locals with more resources. People who might not be able to read can now listen to a messge without being constrained by the availability of electrical power.
These could be used for basic literacy training (in conjunction with a text or print), could take the place of a teacher in remote areas where lessons could be loaded and the units could be taken in for upgrades (new recordings) periodically. They're particularly nice for areas with limited infrastructure.
I agree with you completely. That's why I'm sure the lawsuits are soon to commence (fighting the use of unapproved non-medical devices for medical purposes).
Supply and demand aside, when it comes to medical devices (or any special purpose device or package, for that matter), you often pay a premium for intangible features--specific certifications or backings, regulatory approval, availability through an authorized source, etc.
A friend of a friend is in the business of selling supply packages for a specific law enforcement function via government contract. He's repackaging and selling items anyone could get at retail for a fraction of the cost. In fact, it was my friend who suggested to his associate that the supplies included in the packages not be the ones embossed the with house-brand label of the supplier from which he was getting them, since it wouldn't take too long for the end-user to realize that they could purchase the same items on their own.
Or, look at medical fast drying adhesives (e.g. "super glue"). Boxers were using glues they bought at hardware stores for years before the medical community considered a medical use. Now doctors and clinics can order supplies of "medical grade" superglue that cost many times more than their non-medical versions. According to my physician, there really was no difference between the two products. The medical one was simply something billable at a higher price, and it carried the implied benefit of being somehow more sterile than the other product. I don't know if there is any real difference in how the lots are produced, but our doctor recommended "super glue" for quick at-home fix ups of cuts and gouges that might otherwise might require a stitch (or staple) or two.
Just give it some time and you'll likely see lawyers and lobbyists from medical device manufacturers fighting to stop the practice of using "non-approved" devices for patient diagnosis, therapy, or prevention.
In reviewing the comments, I did not notice anyone raising the idea of wanting to (or needing to) change numbers (except one who noted that they like getting a new number when they move so that old acquaintances can be dropped). If the phone number becomes the primary hook on which all other identities are hung, what happens when you want an unlisted number or have need to change numbers? Victims of domestic abuse, some State employees (like corrections officers), and others have reasons to either switch numbers or request an unlisted number. In Minnesota, corrections officers can even request vehicle license plates that are registered to the State so that the inmates can't use their personal license plate numbers as a means to have friends on the outside look up personal information on them (the corrections officers).
I have no problem with your general argument. I was more taking issue with one of your original points that suggested Hotmail was (in my loose paraphrase from memory) still plagued with tons of junk mail. I was trying to convey that they improved in that respect. You're right in that I would never use that Hotmail eddress [What's wrong with that neologism, anyway?] on my resume or in a deliberate job hunt, but it is still a useful tool. I use it with sites like LinkedIn because I don't want others spamming my preferred eddresses.
Slashdot Mirror
I started taking my laptop to meetings for note-taking years ago. For me, it was just as effective in helping me to internalize the information as was taking long-hand notes. The only difference was that I could easily search my electronic notes. Diagrams could present a challenge, but I could typically describe them (or, sometimes approximate them) using text. Most often, handouts covered the key graphics. In a classroom environment, I'd prefer to use a digital camera, but I'm sure it would freak some instructors out.
Kudos on the work you did to figure this one out! I appreciate the time you took to investigate this one.
Obviously the Anonymous Coward's attempt at humor was not understood by all...
It will be interesting to see if the study examined sleep patterns of those who use the Internet to a far greater degree than others. Lack of sleep over an extended period of time has been linked to depression in many studies. Thus, the Internet surfing behaviors could be causing the subjects to get less sleep, thereby increasing the likelihood that they experience depression. The validity of the claim will come down to how well the study authors controlled for other variables, the overal validity of their methods, and whether or not other groups can replicate the results.
Determining the validity of the correllation depends on how well they controlled for other variables. I've not seen the actual study, so I don't know how they determined the direction of correllation.
You raise a good philosophical question. My guess as to the answer most would propose is that "the natural world" is that as it exists before (without, in spite of) human intervention.
My guess is that the new OS's power utilization habits are markedly different from XP, and that the battery had become conditioned to the old usage patterns. While the battery still likely would have shown decline and failure under your old OS, it might have come on more gradually. Switching to the new OS could be akin to replacing an alternator or other mechanical component in an older car--the changes that occur from the installation of the new part put additional strain on some of the other components, so they end up failing shortly thereafter.
That's why I always like to find out what repairs have been done before I buy a used car. If someone replaced the alternator, but nothing else, I figure that I'll be replacing the water pump and a few other items over the next few month if I buy the car. The real bargains are when you find out they've replaced most of the front-end components, and are then dumping the car because they see it as a money pit. If they've taken care of most of the potential problems, I've just found a vehicle that should run for at least 50k miles and should be able to get it at a bargain price. My little Mercury Tracer was like that. I picked it up at about $90k miles because the previous owner got tired of being nickled-and-dimed by regular repairs. I've now owned it for the past six ore more years, and have only had a few hundred dollars of repairs. I've put over 110k miles on the vehicle (yes, a '90s model Mercury Tracer that's still on the road with over 201k miles!).
It is just so easy to let an analogy become another rabbit trail...
When supporting laptop users in a large office, we often saw the following pattern: those who typically used their batteries regularly (draining them most, if not all of the way), tended to need replacement batteries less often than those (mostly managers/officers) who typically left their machines plugged in/docked almost all of the time. Some of those users would only use their laptops on battery power a few times a year. They were the ones who reported battery problems (e.g., battery life less than an hour, battery would not charge) most often.
Why must our view of the natural world be limited to the terrestrial sphere?
With textbooks, the trend is to customize the text for each term and each instructor--that way, the books have limited or no value on the secondary market and all students are forced to buy new.
Instructors need to move away from these publishing houses and need to start publishing their own titles independently. Then, the best instructor-written texts can be adopted by those schools that want to use them, and it creates an incentive for other instructors (who feel that they can better present the material, or feel that they have more up-to-date information) to compete on the open market for readers.
I wish there were a way we could join together with virtual torches and pitchforks against the big publishing houses.
Um...some of us still thought "vegetable" had four syllables, even if some of those bloody regional dialects pronounce it as two. As my kindergarten teacher (who also served as musical director) regularly yelled from the stage: enunciate!
I can still hear her now: I-NUHN-SEE-EYT! I--NUHN--SEE--EYT!! I---NUHN---SEE---EYT!!!
lol - good retort!
I visited the site and was shocked to learn that one of the headsets that would be for sale would actually retract. I thought all of that was done via CGI. Very impressive prop work, indeed.
So it still won't be any good if I want to write while sprawled out on the floor, or on the bed... the pencil always goes through the paper.
I just wish their merchandising division would have capitalized on the popularity of the shows years ago--most of my kids have wanted to dress up as one character or another at halloween, and I'd love to have a replica Zat. If they had made semi-decent toy Zats that cost about as much as a Nerf gun, I'd probably have one on my desk right now.
It makes some sense on one level--an appropriate time and space for the game--but it would not alleviate other suspicions, particularly that the game is being used as cover for other plans (e.g., escape plan, assault on another inmate or guard, gang activity). There are no easy answers. If it were me making the call, I'd rather have small groups of inmates playing games togeter than to see them pumping iron in the gym for hours each day. Most prison systems go beyond providing inmates with the means for maintaining their health and give them opportunities to become massively ripped (and potentially more dangerous). What's wrong with situps, push-ups, and similar exercises that don't require weight machines or free weights?
I've played in small groups (2-3) and large groups (up to 15). The large groups can get unweildy at times, but those groups were typically a bunch of experienced college players who were undertaking massive adventures in a DM's own created world. Oftentimes, those sessions would go very long when there were massive battles (even under simple 1st ed. AD&D rules). Sometimes we would only get through one battle in a night (typically 4-6 hours). I preferred groups of not more than about 8 people, just to keep the game moving.
In a prison environment, the guards and the rule book(s) will define what is considered an allowable group size. Thus "big group" or "small group" are irrelevant in such situations. Either the behavior is allowed or it isn't.
I'm not sure I have an alternative to offer, as much as to suggest that the staff of the prison needs to be educated as to the nature of RPG gameplay. If similar group activities are allowed, once the decision makers are made aware of the nature of the game and its gameplay, I'd hope they'd work to find a resonable solution. Those incarcerated would find it in their best interest to be conscious of the behaviors and discussions in which they participate that might be viewed negatively by the administration, so that they may be avoided. In particular, it seems that the administration misunderstands the role of Dungeon Master. They see it as "gang leader" but it would be more appropriate to view it as "facilitator", or a combination of "creative director", "storyteller", and "judge" (arbiter of in-game decisions). If the campaign were run over defined periods (e.g., 8-weeks at a time), perhaps the DM role could rotate to other group members, thereby defying the assumption that it is a position akin to being a "gang leader" where power is not shared.
It seems that any alternative could similarly be misinterpreted by prison staff. Any RPG that would incorporate scenarios with weapons, conflicts, and corrdination by a game master would be subject. Switching to a highly futuristic realm might help shift the focus away from some perceived threats (e.g., "I'll stab him with my dagger") but could also add others (e.g., "I'll shoot him", "I'll blast him with my laser"). The same could be said of creating unique words to represent common objects (e.g., "'ungala'" instead of 'knife'")--codes can be broken and using them might do more to raise suspicions.
This topic really tugs on something inside of me. I often use my imagination to create stories and scenarios in my own mind, but my times of playing AD&D (and other games) with a group of friends were by and far someof the most enjoyable times and stories I have in memory. I cannot imagine being in such a controlled environment that even a game like AD&D would be denied me. I would likely fall back to writing more fiction, and then sharing those stories with others, perhaps setting up story exchanges. Could a group decide on a topic or scenario each week, and then have each member write a story that fits the scenario? The stories could be shared and then another member could pick the scenario for the following week. That misses the collaborative aspects, however.
As someone who was a long-time AD&D player who also worked for a time in a maximum security/close custody prison facility, my perspective may be a bit different from other who have replied here. In the prison environment, there are strict rules regarding fraternization among the incarcerated (prisoners/inmates). Often, there are limits on the number who may gather at one time, rules regarding proximity to others, and rules regarding communications. Inmates might not be allowed to carry stacks of personal papers or items from room to room. Any time inmates gather, it is suspect. Any time they are talking in hushed tones, it is suspect. Any time they are passing notes, it is suspect. Any talk of weapons or violoent actions puts the guards/officers at a heightened state of alert. Anything that might be viewed as gang-like behavior is suspect. Anything that could be viewed as cover for gang behavior is suspect.
Now, if you have been an AD&D player (or a player of any number of other RPG games), think about the dynamics of game play. Games often include more than two or three people. Players often carry a stack of papers (e.g., maps, character sheets, game manuals) to and from game sessions. The group might get loud, but some members of the group might have a secret side conversation with another player or the DM. Notes might need to be passed (e.g., "I want to pickpocket the baron", "I want to move into the shadows behind the paladin"). Table conversation will include various weapons and tactics. Althought talk of some medieval weapons could easily be discerned as fantasy (e.g., "I'll run him through with my halberd"), others could easily match a contemporary context (e.g., "I'll knife the guard while you try to get his keys"). Most groups with which I've played held the DM in high regard; it was as if the DM had his own cult following or at least a lot of resepect. That behavior, to the untrained observer, would appear to mimic some gang behavior. Prison guards have no way of knowing if such a behavior is just a game, overt gang activity, or a game being used to hide gang activity. To strive for safety and control, they must err toward interpreting events as the worst possible scenario.
If you are an RPG player, think through things that were said around your game table, and try to imagine hearing them as a prison guard or corrections officer. How might you interpret them?
People who really got into their game playing often would talk about the game anywhere and everywhere. Can you imagine a guard in a lunchroom overhearing AD&D players discussing a plan to escape the tower by feigning illness before attacking the guards when they come to investigate? Can you imagine players discussing plans to dig an (in-game) escape tunnel while having recreation time in the yard? The game could easily be used as a veil to allow the player to communicate real escape plans out in the open while the rest of the facility thinks they are just a bunch of RPG geeks. I can't say I fully agree with the decision to bar AD&D, but I can say that I understand the reasoning behind the decision.
Given there are so many societies around the world where literacy rates are not as high as they are in the West, these units are actually a pretty good idea. You may not agree with the message in this context (audio Bibles), but the application of the technology is useful. A master recording can be made in a specific language or dialect, and then the units can be distributed by NGOs or locals with more resources. People who might not be able to read can now listen to a messge without being constrained by the availability of electrical power.
These could be used for basic literacy training (in conjunction with a text or print), could take the place of a teacher in remote areas where lessons could be loaded and the units could be taken in for upgrades (new recordings) periodically. They're particularly nice for areas with limited infrastructure.
I agree with you completely. That's why I'm sure the lawsuits are soon to commence (fighting the use of unapproved non-medical devices for medical purposes).
Supply and demand aside, when it comes to medical devices (or any special purpose device or package, for that matter), you often pay a premium for intangible features--specific certifications or backings, regulatory approval, availability through an authorized source, etc.
A friend of a friend is in the business of selling supply packages for a specific law enforcement function via government contract. He's repackaging and selling items anyone could get at retail for a fraction of the cost. In fact, it was my friend who suggested to his associate that the supplies included in the packages not be the ones embossed the with house-brand label of the supplier from which he was getting them, since it wouldn't take too long for the end-user to realize that they could purchase the same items on their own.
Or, look at medical fast drying adhesives (e.g. "super glue"). Boxers were using glues they bought at hardware stores for years before the medical community considered a medical use. Now doctors and clinics can order supplies of "medical grade" superglue that cost many times more than their non-medical versions. According to my physician, there really was no difference between the two products. The medical one was simply something billable at a higher price, and it carried the implied benefit of being somehow more sterile than the other product. I don't know if there is any real difference in how the lots are produced, but our doctor recommended "super glue" for quick at-home fix ups of cuts and gouges that might otherwise might require a stitch (or staple) or two.
Just give it some time and you'll likely see lawyers and lobbyists from medical device manufacturers fighting to stop the practice of using "non-approved" devices for patient diagnosis, therapy, or prevention.
In reviewing the comments, I did not notice anyone raising the idea of wanting to (or needing to) change numbers (except one who noted that they like getting a new number when they move so that old acquaintances can be dropped). If the phone number becomes the primary hook on which all other identities are hung, what happens when you want an unlisted number or have need to change numbers? Victims of domestic abuse, some State employees (like corrections officers), and others have reasons to either switch numbers or request an unlisted number. In Minnesota, corrections officers can even request vehicle license plates that are registered to the State so that the inmates can't use their personal license plate numbers as a means to have friends on the outside look up personal information on them (the corrections officers).
Just think--the graphics in the dream scenes where Alf fillets the family cat would be killer!
I have no problem with your general argument. I was more taking issue with one of your original points that suggested Hotmail was (in my loose paraphrase from memory) still plagued with tons of junk mail. I was trying to convey that they improved in that respect. You're right in that I would never use that Hotmail eddress [What's wrong with that neologism, anyway?] on my resume or in a deliberate job hunt, but it is still a useful tool. I use it with sites like LinkedIn because I don't want others spamming my preferred eddresses.