An undisclosed company buys a lincence to undisclosed IP for an undisclosed sum of money...
Hey guys, I have an undisclosed bridge in an undisclosed city I'd be happy to sell you! You know, you want to make sure you secure your water-crossing rights!
I find it is a lot of fun to write something just for the sake of doing it and letting people play. It's quite rewarding to get E-Mails from people who enjoy playing what you've done.
For those of you who liked Tetris I've got a multiplayer competitive version up and running at Blockwars. No ads or popups or any of that nonsense...
Blockwars isn't my end goal though... it's a testbed for the multiuser code I intend to use on more creative projects. So if you hit a bug, I'd love to know!:)
Blockwars: a real-time, multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
The chip will contain a compressed full-face image for use as a biometric. European biometric passports, by contrast, are planned to feature both retinal and fingerprint recognition biometrics on their smart cards.
What the article fails to mention is the most important aspect of the new design: the Terrorist Bit.
As the above biometrics only help to ascertain that you are you, it was felt an added feature to easily separate the terrorists from the regular population was necessary.
As such on the application form for your new passport will be a Terrorist checkbox. When the application is processed the Terrorist Bit is set accordingly.
The bit may also be set at anytime by authorized representatives of the US Gov't such as the RIAA, and MPAA. In addition undercover officers looking for any Anti-American expressions or beliefs - including privacy advocates, anti-war activists, free software advocates, alternative energy supporters, and anyone generally disagreeing with the supreme-leader-of-free-nations, George W Bush.
To ensure your security is of the highest order, each passport will include a unique license, the continuation of which requires an annual subscription fee. This license guarentees that no illegal copies of your passport can be made, its likeness replicated, or your identity compromised. The exact nature of the security measures taken are restricted for National Security reasons.
Sounds like your instructors are not very good at maintaining the interest of their students. If you need "enforcement" to maintain the attention of the class, something's really wrong with the way the class is being taught.
Obviously YANAT. As someone who is, let me respond to this:
Just as you can't please all of the people all of the time, you are not going to have every student totally interested and completely focused all of the time. The only way you might be able to achieve this (for a brief period) is with some theatrics which probably adds nothing to the lesson as a whole.
Now, lets say a student mind wanders off... if there are few other distractions one of two things are likely to happen:
- The student will daydream a bit then snap out of it, or
- The student will daydream for the rest of the class.
Either way it's an isolated student. They may miss the lesson entirely, but that's their problem later on.
Now, lets create an environment where it is easy for someone to access the web, IRC, IM, etc:
The same student drifts off and decides to check, say, Slashdot. They start reading an article. Decide to post a response, etc. Suddenly 20 minutes has gone by. At this point even if they turn back to the lesson odds are they've fallen way behind in it and will have trouble following it. This can lead to less than brilliant questions about content covered 10 minutes before - wasting other peoples time (and irritating those who are paying attention). They may distract and disturb those around them.
You're right when you say if they're not interested they'll find ways of goofing off. But when it's a student on their own they aren't likely to disturb others, or encourage them to stop paying attention. If they're ICQing classmates, banging away during a lecture, and what not, they are far more likely to be a disturbance to others.
Since we are in networked computer lab, and actually need it for our classes, this sort of thing can happen. The students who are totally wiped out from work and need a few Zzzz's I'll tend to leave alone. Those who are just goofing off, well, they get called on a lot. Hearing your name and looking up to see the lecture has stopped and everyone is staring at you tends to encourage people to follow along.
Learning is work, nobody likes work. It's a balance though, a sterile and boring class will hold nobody's attention. You try to mix things up and keep it interesting as much as you can while keeping it relevant... but sometimes rules and enforcement are needed for the good of both the distracted student, as well as the class as a whole.
(and this is coming from a one time class clown turned into College teacher. If I ever had myself as a student, I'd have kicked my own ass!)
12v Power Over CAT5?
on
PeltierBeer
·
· Score: 5, Funny
Power over CAT5 is quite handy, 20m of network cable should be enough to get me out in the sun with cold beer.
Ok, let me get this straight, he's running 12v down a regular ol', totally otherwise normal, completely unmarked, grey piece of unassuming CAT5 cable...
How long until something releases its magic blue smoke?
If prostitutes ever wanted to unionize, this may be the time.
Just like those Detroit auto workers, they may soon find that they've been replaced by robots...
Kind of puts an entirely different spin on 'having the system go down on you'!
Blockwars: a multiplayer, head to head game similar to Tetris.
School is already too easy, and if you skip any of it you'll be the only one at McDonald's who can't make change! You should be asking your teachers for extra homework!
Help me find a job, win $1000! [macetech.com]
Would this happen to be the voice of experience speaking?:)
Blockwars: a real-time, multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
From the Make-an-Orb-Clone-For-Under-$50 site: TX433 module $6.02
RX433 module $6.02
Shipping (Qkits) $9.17
2 Red LEDs $1.20
2 Green LEDs $2.76
2 Blue LEDs $2.60
Shipping (SuperbrightLEDs) $5.00
PIC16F84A $5.63
Shipping (Digikey) $6.00
Total $44.00
Note: Things like the Taplight, the PIC programmer, the circuit board, and the miscellaneous electronic parts have been omitted because they would have brought the total above $50
"Omitted because the would have brought the total above $50"?? Can I do that with my taxes? You know, I only made $nnnn this year... because any more would nock me into the next tax bracket!:)
Blockwars: a multiplayer, head to head game similar to Tetris
Presumably these will be equipped with an 802.11g-spot?
Yes, except you won't know where to find it, and the equipment will always fake a link light, so even if you think you've found it, you can't be sure.
Don't forget that they also tend to be highly unstable, suffer from monthly outages, and require enough regular maintenance that you'll likely have less time to spend fragging with the guys.
Watch out for the frequently required diamond upgrade too!
Blockwars: a real-time multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
environmentalism is really a path to world socialism and world government, in the same vein as the UN. every time an "environmental crisis" appears, there is a always a call for money. money from the government. also, each new claim comes with the associated calls for limits to our freedoms.
Terrorism is really a path to world socalism and a world government - in the same vein as the UN. Every time an "terrorist threat" appears, there is always a call for money. Money from the government. Also, each new claim comes with associated calls for limits to our freedoms.
It's easy for (some of you) Americans to shout "socialism!" everytime there is something you don't like, isn't there?
i hunt and fish, and love the outdoors as much as anyone. but, i think capitalism and freedom are far more important. do you really want the corrupt third world dictators telling the US how to run its economy?
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty damned sure I DON'T want the US telling the world what to do. I mean, how can the US sit and pontificate when their Congress" is corrupt? Or how about profiteering from a war which the US started preemtively and unilaterally on "humanitarian" grounds? Or actively supports terrorists" and backs dictatorial regimes when they are in the apparent best interest of the US? Or the best interests of certain member's of government?
Do I really want the corrupt nuclear supperpower to be telling the world how to run their affairs? No. And you should be worried too. The US is becoming the Land of the Progressively Less Free.
(I apologize for this being off-topic. When someone spouts off like this person did, I feel a need to respond. As for the current war in Iraq and the soldiers on the ground there: I support you and hope you come back safely. I do not support the government who sent you, or the reasons they give for doing so.)
I liked this up until they started beating the shit out of the car. They literally did all that work to trash the damn thing. They made it do jumps, tried to ski it on two wheels (which eventually made it flip over), rammed it with their trucks, and completely destroyed it. I don't get it. They made this really badass full-size remote controlled car, then they killed it.
You never owned an RC car as a child, did you? Jumping it, skidding, flipping, and generally crashing it is exactly what I (and everyone else I knew) did with them!
I mean, what else are you going to do with an RC car? Practice your road rules and parallel parking skills? Bah!
Blockwars: a real-time, multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
A link off the Contiki Screen Shots page listed:
The first two screen shots are actually historical - they show a Commodore 64 web browser browsing web pages served by a Commodore 64 web server:-) The Commodore 64 web server is hosted by Ullrich von Bassewitz and can be seen in action at http://c64.cc65.org/.
*sniff* Hmmm, do I smell burning plastic? Ahh yes, there melts another C64 powersupply.
Oh well, it died an honorable death. Damn/., destroying the remains of our technological history!:)
Blockwars: a realtime multiplayer game similiar to Tetris.
Sites like the two above should be censored from the Internet, as well as hardcore porn sites and sites that promote child endangerment, software piracy, and violence.
If you are in favor of sites that expose children in erotic sex acts or that promote killing people, you are the one with the problem, not me.
No, it's people like you who are the problem!
The danger with cencorship is who decides what is right and what is wrong? Your idea of acceptable may be very different from mine. Who's right?
American's love their guns on TV. Europeans tend to prefer skin. Personally I think the Europeans have that one right.
Your argument about Kiddie Porn and Child Endangerment, software piracy, and violence, are already covered by existing laws. They don't need extra regulations to make them illegal... they already are!
I am in favor of being able to conduct myself as I see fit, as long as I do not break any existing laws, whether you like what I have to say or not. It's called free speech and it's a fundamental freedom. Nobody says you have to listen to me. But don't you dare to shut me up because it upsets you!
Blockwars: a realtime multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
Argh, this kind of thing is really the wrong direction to be taking things.
Personally I believe that ISP's should be given the same common carrier status as phone companies: they are not liable for any content traveling through their system.
This would not prevent them from being able to act against persons violating the law. Ie: kiddy porn is illegal in most countries. If you try to host kiddy porn, you are breaking existing laws and can be nailed with traditional laws and warrants.
Not hosting the content on the ISP? Then why should the ISP be responsible for someone elses actions? Help them find the source, sure, but again under already established laws.
If you arrange to have someone killed via the phone that does not make Ma Bell an accessory to murder.
If when planning terrorist activities any carrier could be held liable then I'd save to say it's time to lock up every phone & cellular company - they're aiding and abetting terrorism!
So why should it be different for the net and ISP's?
Protect the children?? When are we going to protect ourselves from this ridiculousness?!
Blockwars: a realtime multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
While I've had a few interesting experiences with computers and bad things happening, the most fun have been with high power lasers.
One particular gig I was working on in Morocco for a New Years gig was one commedy of errors:
We're in the middle of the desert, on an island, trying to run lasers off a wacky generator. Worse the eletrics are completely non-standard and wiring codes have been thrown out the window. Just because a cable is green doesn't actually mean it was ground!
To add to the fun our control gear was all 110v, while the laser is two-phase, all connected via transformers to a 220 generator. Well somewhere along the lines our live and neutral lines crossed when being patched into the laser. Lasers exciters humm, but that's about it. THIS laser started making some nice crackling noises and generating ozone. Bad bad bad. Flipped the wires real fast and tried it again. Amazingly it still worked.
Worse was firing up the copper vapor. The plan was to shoot the beam out the top of the tower of this old Kasbar that sat on this island. We were going to fire it right at midnight on new years. Carrying that damned thing intro ruins was entertaining all by itself... but the real joy came when we went to the Kasbar 20min to midnight to fire it up (it has a 12minute heating cycle before you get real beams from it).
We arrive and behold: the person who had ran the 220v run had wired a *male* connector on the end. Yup, 220v's live dangling at the end of the wire. Of course the laser also had a male connector.
I highly recommend against trying to strip and splice a 5watt laser into a live 220v circuit. The sparks were pretty though. It was the only way to get the damn thing wired in time to get the beam shooting out for midnight. Incredibly it worked... and none of us got hurt.
Slashdot Mirror
An undisclosed company buys a lincence to undisclosed IP for an undisclosed sum of money...
Hey guys, I have an undisclosed bridge in an undisclosed city I'd be happy to sell you! You know, you want to make sure you secure your water-crossing rights!
Blockwars: a realtime multiplayer game. Go play!
I find it is a lot of fun to write something just for the sake of doing it and letting people play. It's quite rewarding to get E-Mails from people who enjoy playing what you've done.
For those of you who liked Tetris I've got a multiplayer competitive version up and running at Blockwars. No ads or popups or any of that nonsense...
Blockwars isn't my end goal though... it's a testbed for the multiuser code I intend to use on more creative projects. So if you hit a bug, I'd love to know! :)
Blockwars: a real-time, multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
What the article fails to mention is the most important aspect of the new design: the Terrorist Bit.
As the above biometrics only help to ascertain that you are you, it was felt an added feature to easily separate the terrorists from the regular population was necessary.
As such on the application form for your new passport will be a Terrorist checkbox. When the application is processed the Terrorist Bit is set accordingly.
The bit may also be set at anytime by authorized representatives of the US Gov't such as the RIAA, and MPAA. In addition undercover officers looking for any Anti-American expressions or beliefs - including privacy advocates, anti-war activists, free software advocates, alternative energy supporters, and anyone generally disagreeing with the supreme-leader-of-free-nations, George W Bush.
To ensure your security is of the highest order, each passport will include a unique license, the continuation of which requires an annual subscription fee. This license guarentees that no illegal copies of your passport can be made, its likeness replicated, or your identity compromised. The exact nature of the security measures taken are restricted for National Security reasons.
Blockwars: a free multiplayer game
Erm, you mean like Microsoft Bad, Linux Good?
Blockwars: multiplayer and it's free!
traceroute privaria.org
1 privaria.org-package.ready 50000ms
2 Picked-up-USPS 900000ms
3 Transfer-to-USPS-depot 300000000ms
4 (unknown)
5 (unknown)
6 (unknown)
Packet Loss 100%
Blockwars: multiplayer and it's free.
Bobby to criminal: Stop!! Or I'll say 'stop' again!!
Except here we have:
DOJ to MS: Comply!! Or we'll say 'comply' again!
Sad, yes. Surprising, no.
Blockwars: new features & bug fixes! All multiplayer. Go play.
As apposed to it coming a more attractive, yet equally severed, hand?
Blockwars: its multiplayer, try it.
Obviously YANAT. As someone who is, let me respond to this:
Just as you can't please all of the people all of the time, you are not going to have every student totally interested and completely focused all of the time. The only way you might be able to achieve this (for a brief period) is with some theatrics which probably adds nothing to the lesson as a whole.
Now, lets say a student mind wanders off... if there are few other distractions one of two things are likely to happen:
- The student will daydream a bit then snap out of it, or
- The student will daydream for the rest of the class.
Either way it's an isolated student. They may miss the lesson entirely, but that's their problem later on.
Now, lets create an environment where it is easy for someone to access the web, IRC, IM, etc:
The same student drifts off and decides to check, say, Slashdot. They start reading an article. Decide to post a response, etc. Suddenly 20 minutes has gone by. At this point even if they turn back to the lesson odds are they've fallen way behind in it and will have trouble following it. This can lead to less than brilliant questions about content covered 10 minutes before - wasting other peoples time (and irritating those who are paying attention). They may distract and disturb those around them.
You're right when you say if they're not interested they'll find ways of goofing off. But when it's a student on their own they aren't likely to disturb others, or encourage them to stop paying attention. If they're ICQing classmates, banging away during a lecture, and what not, they are far more likely to be a disturbance to others.
Since we are in networked computer lab, and actually need it for our classes, this sort of thing can happen. The students who are totally wiped out from work and need a few Zzzz's I'll tend to leave alone. Those who are just goofing off, well, they get called on a lot. Hearing your name and looking up to see the lecture has stopped and everyone is staring at you tends to encourage people to follow along.
Learning is work, nobody likes work. It's a balance though, a sterile and boring class will hold nobody's attention. You try to mix things up and keep it interesting as much as you can while keeping it relevant... but sometimes rules and enforcement are needed for the good of both the distracted student, as well as the class as a whole.
(and this is coming from a one time class clown turned into College teacher. If I ever had myself as a student, I'd have kicked my own ass!)
Blockwars: you know you wanna play.
Blockwars:go play!
ICANNABELIEVEIT!
Shouldn't it be ICANNCEIVABLE?
But I'm not sure if that word means what I think it means.
Blockwars: a realtime, multiplayer game. Go!
Ok, let me get this straight, he's running 12v down a regular ol', totally otherwise normal, completely unmarked, grey piece of unassuming CAT5 cable...
How long until something releases its magic blue smoke?
Blockwars: go play.
Kind of puts an entirely different spin on 'having the system go down on you'!
Blockwars: a multiplayer, head to head game similar to Tetris.
Help me find a job, win $1000! [macetech.com]
Would this happen to be the voice of experience speaking? :)
Blockwars: a real-time, multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
TX433 module $6.02
RX433 module $6.02
Shipping (Qkits) $9.17
2 Red LEDs $1.20
2 Green LEDs $2.76
2 Blue LEDs $2.60
Shipping (SuperbrightLEDs) $5.00
PIC16F84A $5.63
Shipping (Digikey) $6.00
Total $44.00
Note: Things like the Taplight, the PIC programmer, the circuit board, and the miscellaneous electronic parts have been omitted because they would have brought the total above $50
"Omitted because the would have brought the total above $50"?? Can I do that with my taxes? You know, I only made $nnnn this year... because any more would nock me into the next tax bracket! :)
Blockwars: a multiplayer, head to head game similar to Tetris
Yes, except you won't know where to find it, and the equipment will always fake a link light, so even if you think you've found it, you can't be sure.
Don't forget that they also tend to be highly unstable, suffer from monthly outages, and require enough regular maintenance that you'll likely have less time to spend fragging with the guys.
Watch out for the frequently required diamond upgrade too!
Blockwars: a real-time multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
Terrorism is really a path to world socalism and a world government - in the same vein as the UN. Every time an "terrorist threat" appears, there is always a call for money. Money from the government. Also, each new claim comes with associated calls for limits to our freedoms.
It's easy for (some of you) Americans to shout "socialism!" everytime there is something you don't like, isn't there?
i hunt and fish, and love the outdoors as much as anyone. but, i think capitalism and freedom are far more important. do you really want the corrupt third world dictators telling the US how to run its economy?
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty damned sure I DON'T want the US telling the world what to do. I mean, how can the US sit and pontificate when their Congress" is corrupt? Or how about profiteering from a war which the US started preemtively and unilaterally on "humanitarian" grounds? Or actively supports terrorists" and backs dictatorial regimes when they are in the apparent best interest of the US? Or the best interests of certain member's of government?
Do I really want the corrupt nuclear supperpower to be telling the world how to run their affairs? No. And you should be worried too. The US is becoming the Land of the Progressively Less Free.
(I apologize for this being off-topic. When someone spouts off like this person did, I feel a need to respond. As for the current war in Iraq and the soldiers on the ground there: I support you and hope you come back safely. I do not support the government who sent you, or the reasons they give for doing so.)
You never owned an RC car as a child, did you? Jumping it, skidding, flipping, and generally crashing it is exactly what I (and everyone else I knew) did with them!
I mean, what else are you going to do with an RC car? Practice your road rules and parallel parking skills? Bah!
Blockwars: a real-time, multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
Damnit, when I saw the headline I was thinking I'd finally get some cool 3D interface with zippy blue lights and neat sound FX!
I'm soooo disappointed. Now I don't even get a angry-spooky-face-in-a-spinning-thing when the kernel panics.
Blockwars: a realtime, multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
Wait a sec... isn't getting all hot and bothered down there supposed to be a good thing?
What? It's not? Do what with a girl?.....ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh I get it! So you're saying I've had it all wrong all this time? Damn...
Blockwars: a realtime, head-to-head game similar to Tetris.
I'll bet that pun goes over some people's heads.....
Lameness filter encountered. Post aborted!
Reason: Please use fewer 'bad joke' and 'puns'. Try adding some content.
:)
Blockwars: a multiplayer head-to-head game similar to Tetris.
The first two screen shots are actually historical - they show a Commodore 64 web browser browsing web pages served by a Commodore 64 web server
*sniff* Hmmm, do I smell burning plastic? Ahh yes, there melts another C64 powersupply.
Oh well, it died an honorable death. Damn /., destroying the remains of our technological history! :)
Blockwars: a realtime multiplayer game similiar to Tetris.
Whereas NZ has a population of 43.1 million .
Glad to hear someone is finally thinking of the sheep!
Blockwars: a realtime multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
If you are in favor of sites that expose children in erotic sex acts or that promote killing people, you are the one with the problem, not me.
No, it's people like you who are the problem!
The danger with cencorship is who decides what is right and what is wrong? Your idea of acceptable may be very different from mine. Who's right?
American's love their guns on TV. Europeans tend to prefer skin. Personally I think the Europeans have that one right.
Your argument about Kiddie Porn and Child Endangerment, software piracy, and violence, are already covered by existing laws . They don't need extra regulations to make them illegal... they already are!
I am in favor of being able to conduct myself as I see fit, as long as I do not break any existing laws, whether you like what I have to say or not. It's called free speech and it's a fundamental freedom. Nobody says you have to listen to me. But don't you dare to shut me up because it upsets you!
Blockwars: a realtime multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
Personally I believe that ISP's should be given the same common carrier status as phone companies: they are not liable for any content traveling through their system.
This would not prevent them from being able to act against persons violating the law. Ie: kiddy porn is illegal in most countries. If you try to host kiddy porn, you are breaking existing laws and can be nailed with traditional laws and warrants.
Not hosting the content on the ISP? Then why should the ISP be responsible for someone elses actions? Help them find the source, sure, but again under already established laws.
If you arrange to have someone killed via the phone that does not make Ma Bell an accessory to murder.
If when planning terrorist activities any carrier could be held liable then I'd save to say it's time to lock up every phone & cellular company - they're aiding and abetting terrorism!
So why should it be different for the net and ISP's?
Protect the children?? When are we going to protect ourselves from this ridiculousness?!
Blockwars: a realtime multiplayer game similar to Tetris.
One particular gig I was working on in Morocco for a New Years gig was one commedy of errors:
We're in the middle of the desert, on an island, trying to run lasers off a wacky generator. Worse the eletrics are completely non-standard and wiring codes have been thrown out the window. Just because a cable is green doesn't actually mean it was ground!
To add to the fun our control gear was all 110v, while the laser is two-phase, all connected via transformers to a 220 generator. Well somewhere along the lines our live and neutral lines crossed when being patched into the laser. Lasers exciters humm, but that's about it. THIS laser started making some nice crackling noises and generating ozone. Bad bad bad. Flipped the wires real fast and tried it again. Amazingly it still worked.
Worse was firing up the copper vapor. The plan was to shoot the beam out the top of the tower of this old Kasbar that sat on this island. We were going to fire it right at midnight on new years. Carrying that damned thing intro ruins was entertaining all by itself... but the real joy came when we went to the Kasbar 20min to midnight to fire it up (it has a 12minute heating cycle before you get real beams from it).
We arrive and behold: the person who had ran the 220v run had wired a *male* connector on the end. Yup, 220v's live dangling at the end of the wire. Of course the laser also had a male connector.
I highly recommend against trying to strip and splice a 5watt laser into a live 220v circuit. The sparks were pretty though. It was the only way to get the damn thing wired in time to get the beam shooting out for midnight. Incredibly it worked... and none of us got hurt.
blockwars.com