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User: ocdude

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Comments · 35

  1. Re:Future Student Excuses on Report Says Schools Need 100Mbps Per 1,000 Users · · Score: 1

    This excuse already exists. I run a help desk for a LMS at a university, and I hear this pretty much non-stop from students. It's the new "the dog ate my homework".

  2. Re:Redundant on Diesel-Like Engine Could Boost Fuel Economy By 50% · · Score: 4, Insightful

    long distances like the beach

    If you're a long distance from a beach, you're doing it wrong.

  3. Re:Bad enough I pay for microtransactions in MMO's on Windows 8 Won't Play DVDs Unless You Pay For the Media Center Pack · · Score: 5, Funny

    if it takes Linux 4hrs longer to install vs. windows, its' not cost effective.

    Dude, you're doing it wrong.

  4. Re:For those of us who don't know... on 16-Year-Old Creates Scientific/Graphing Calculator In Minecraft · · Score: 5, Informative

    Minecraft is a sandbox type game where you can build stuff out of the environment. It has no scripting or math functions built in, nor does it really have any sort of logic gates built in. However, it does something called "redstone dust" which you can use as wires. The wiki explains more, but you can hand-craft logic gates out of it: http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Redstone_Dust

  5. Re:But don't hinder the average user from becoming on Why Was Hypercard Killed? · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The average user doesn't want to become us. They want to get stuff done and not have to think about the underlying application or hardware or even HOW they are getting their tasks accomplished.

  6. Re:Harmful on FCC Ups Penalties For Caller ID Spoofing · · Score: 2

    I have both lines of my cell phone account on the DNC list. Just because it's a cell phone doesn't mean you can't list your number on DNC.

  7. Re:No on patdowns, but still support the rape-scan on DOJ Could Ban Texas Flights Over Anti-Patdown Law · · Score: 1

    The company's called rapiscan. I use the pun all the time when flying, guess it doesn't come across well in text.

  8. No on patdowns, but still support the rape-scans? on DOJ Could Ban Texas Flights Over Anti-Patdown Law · · Score: 2
    I mean, there is this (emphasis mine):

    "Instead of threatening to shut down flights in Texas, why doesn't the TSA just show us their statutory authority to grope or ogle our private parts?" asked Simpson.

    But aside from that, and perhaps it's my unfamiliarity with the proposal, I don't see any indication that this is trying to end the practice of treating everyone like a criminal.

  9. Re:Could Someone Explain to me... on Mozilla Labs: the URL Bar Has To Go · · Score: 1

    CTRL-L or Command-L on a mac. They aren't getting rid of the URL bar, they are simply hiding it by default. I'm going to assume that similar to the tabs on top thing in Firefox4, there will most likely be a configuration you can change to show it by default.

  10. Re:I predict more are going to jump ship from Micr on Microsoft Admits OpenOffice.org Is a Contender · · Score: 1

    We're piloting putting OO.org on our thin clients in a computer lab we manage at SF State (California). The thin clients have four things on them, total: Firefox, Chrome, IE, and OO.org. Everything else can be used via remote desktop, but we rarely get anyone who needs anything other than a browser and open office.

  11. Re:what? on Google To Shut Down 411 Service · · Score: 1

    http://www.google.com/newproducts/ has a list of all of the google products out there, and even lets you filter by area of interest or search.

  12. Re:Exactly what CA is known for on California Moves To Block Texas' Textbook Changes · · Score: 1

    San Francisco is a bit of a bubble, politically. There are things that happen here that would not fly anywhere else in the state.

  13. Re:Not to sounds like a video snob ... on Netflix Streaming Arrives For the Wii · · Score: 1

    Of course, I've not put our Wii on hte 'net yet - don't need to, got kids to worry about with it...

    The Wii has parental controls, and the way they handle multiplayer online stuff anyway, there is pretty much no way for people to contact other people using the Wii online.

  14. Re:online lectures, not books on California To Move To Online Textbooks · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is actually starting to happen on my campus. Right now we have one set method of providing online courses through a learning management system (moodle) and a pilot of streaming the video and slides or providing downloadable audio podcasts of lectures. We are piloting another system this coming fall that should be more scalable.

    The problem is a bit two-fold. My department has been tasked with managing and supporting all of these applications. We have a skeleton staff as it is, and with the budget cuts it's getting harder to justify the money to hire student assistants (even through financial aid). Right now I've been placed in charge of mapping out our help desk for these applications with three students and myself doing the support work for 1,700 faculty and way too many students (about 30,000? I don't remember the number). College departments are coming to us to put materials online because they cannot afford paper. They have no interest in actually progressing and moving into the 21st century, but are forced to digitize materials due to lack of funds. If it were up to some of these departments, we'd still be using chalk on slates.

    The other part of the problem is actually maintaining the systems. We have three system administrators who have to balance time with supporting the servers running the applications and our internal office networks. These people, unfortunately, also get "borrowed" by whatever department on campus needs to supplement their IT staff (or lack thereof) when doing academically related projects. All of this with a shrinking budget and absurdly high expectations from the University.

    All this talk and movement of materials online is great. It provides more access to students exactly in your situation that would prefer learning at his or her own pace and time. Our campus is a major commuter school and apparently 80% of our students work on top of full loads of classes, with something like 60% of those working full time. Being able to do course materials (for the most part) without coming on to campus is a big plus. However, people also need to realize that doing this also shifts the pain of funding books monetarily onto departments that are already stretched to capacity.

  15. Re:Cool test methodology on First Ethernet Switch In Space · · Score: 2, Informative

    I think you need this

  16. Google cache on 6 Major Pre-Production Electric Vehicles Compared · · Score: 4, Informative

    The site was slashdotted, so here's the google cache

  17. Re:Smart. I'm going to take a look at using them. on Netflix Makes It Easy To Reach a Human · · Score: 1
    There's an option in your account preferences for having Blu-Ray discs sent to you if they have them available for any of the films in your queue. From their site:

    What are High-definition DVDs?

    High-definition DVDs make watching movies at home even better! With far sharper images, better sound and more features, high-definition greatly improves home entertainment. There are two formats of high-definition DVD: Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD.

    High-definition movies are available to you at no additional cost!

    What is the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc?

    HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc are two formats of high-definition DVDs, which greatly enhance home entertainment. Both formats offer far sharper images, better sound and more features than standard DVDs.

    One important difference between the two formats is that several major studios release their movies on only one format, Blu-ray or HD DVD. You can only see the format that your high definition DVD player supports (players currently do not support both formats). Of course, you can always see the standard DVD version of the movie, since all high-definition players are compatible with standard DVD (however, it's always a good idea to check with the manufacturer before you purchase your player).

    No matter which format of DVD you choose, Netflix will carry all HD DVD and Blu-ray movies that are released. You will need a new DVD player that can play the format you choose, as well as a high-definition TV and cables that support high-definition images.

    How do I get High-definition DVDs from Netflix?

    1. First, you'll need a DVD player that can play either Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD, special cables and a high-definition TV.
    2. Once you have the proper equipment, follow the link below to enable your account for HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc.
    3. Add movies to your Queue like you always do and if it's available on your preferred format, we'll automatically send it to you just like we do with standard DVD movies.

    Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with netflix at all. I've just had an account with them for two years.
  18. I can vouch for good support, but... on Netflix Makes It Easy To Reach a Human · · Score: 1

    I've had nothing but good experiences with Netflix phone support. I even had someone follow up with an issue by calling me back when it was resolved to make sure I was content. However, during certain times, the hold time is massive. I've regularly had to wait on hold listening to their elevator music for about 20 to 40 minutes. I've called them a lot during the past month due to DVDs being sent to me that were not in wide screen.

  19. Re:Some of the problems. on 10 Years After Big Blue Beat Garry Kasparov · · Score: 1
    I really hate to do this, but

    Garry Kasparov ego probably caused him to loose more then his brain power or his chess skills...if it is breathing or not overheating or a person behind it with a gun to shoot it if it looses. I believe the word you were looking for is lose.
    Here is a helpful website to aid you in your quest to learn the difference between loose and lose.
  20. Totally agree on Students Sue Anti-Plagiarism Service · · Score: 4, Informative

    This really pisses me off. I did all that work and it gets submitted, without prior consent sometimes, to a database for a company to make a profit off of while I get nothing in return? Of course, it all depends on the university as well. For example, I'm doing a year abroad. It shocked me that before coming to this university, we had to basically sign over copyright to the university for anything we created while students here. Essentially, every single project or paper I have turned in for a grade to this university now belongs to them. I raised the issue with the director of the program and she looked at me as if I was some sort of freak because I actually like retaining the rights to any content I create, giving it out as I see fit.

  21. Their site posts directions on not being crawled on Archive.org Sued By Colorado Woman · · Score: 2, Informative
    Robots.txt is a simple file one can put on their site to not have it crawled. Archive.org even posts what to put in a robots.txt file to prevent their bot from crawling one's site:

    User-agent: ia_archiver
    Disallow: /
    If robots.txt is not an option, they have instructions on how to contact them to have your site removed from their indexes, found here. There really is no excuse for having content that you want not to be crawled open to be crawled nowadays.
  22. Re:Some quick questions on linux software on Linux Desktops Catching On In Education · · Score: 1
    6) Family tree software (same question)
    GRAMPS project
  23. Re:Losing usplash and other wierd boot related thi on Upgrading to Ubuntu Edgy Eft a "Nightmare" · · Score: 1

    Once you boot into the generic kernel, smp will automatically be used as it is "built into" that particular kernel.

  24. Losing usplash and other wierd boot related things on Upgrading to Ubuntu Edgy Eft a "Nightmare" · · Score: 1
    I upgraded using the
    gksu "update-manager -c"
    method. It went smoothly for the most part, with the exception that my connection kept dropping out (damn you university internet in the UK!). When I rebooted, however, I noticed first that it failed on the swap test, then when I fixed the swap (it had lost what format it was for some reason. A reformat into swap brought it back) I rebooted and realized that not only had I lost swap, but I was now not seeing the usplash screen AND was booting into a 386 kernel. I was previously booted into a 686 kernel, and during the process, downloaded a "generic" kernel which supposedly had smp built in and obsoleted the 686 kernel. Long story short, I had to manually edit my menu.lst file so I would boot into the generic kernel and do some weird recopying of the usplash configuration and graphics in order for it to work.

    Oh well. I guess that's what I get for wanting the latest and greatest...
  25. My top 5 on What Are Your Top Five 'Comfort' Games? · · Score: 1

    1. Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It's speedy, rather mindless (requires only one button and the D-pad), and amusing
    2. Halo2 - Sometimes I just load it up to mess around on the multiplayer maps by myself. I've gotten to some interesting places on some of the maps as a result.
    3. Knights of the Old Republic II - I'll load some game that I have in the middle of gameplay and do side missions, or run around and kill things. Also rather mindless
    4. Tetris. No explaination needed.
    5. Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. It's fun on easy and normal, and if I decide I need more of a challenge bump up to hard.