...trying to find exactly the ringtone that expressed my personality...
To be more precise, your ringtone expresses what you perceive your personality is. If others could choose your ringtone, then you'd have one that probably matches your personality (or lack thereof) better.
...I hate patents on so-called "intellectual property" even worse. It's one thing to have a copyright on a particular piece of software, but a patent on what is little more than a file format is ridiculous. It's like having a patent on a metrical form. I'd like to see someone file a patent on iambic pentameter, then sue every poet or songwriter who tries to use it in their work.
"... that supposedly intelligent people are atill hell-bent on producing and consuming gasoline by preference."
Yes, you're so much better than those idiots.
And everything from the clothes you wear, the pizzas you eat, and the beverages you drink just magically appears in the store shelves every day without any dependence on fuel too.
Good Eats was bouncing all over the schedule, and I never missed a single new episode.
That's a good show, BTW.
My DVR is the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 (I think) offered by Cox. Perhaps Time Warner offers a better service, but when you have over 200 channels, browsing by title or genre is, for me, a frustrating waste of time.
This is especially true when the "genre" is just "Movie". I mean, there is a big difference between, say "War And Peace" and "Earnest Goes To Camp".
The TiVo Wishlist function is fantastic. For instance: I was watching the "Foyle's War" series on PBS last year. The star of that series is Michael Kitchen. I liked it so much, that I set up a wishlist to find any programs with Michael Kitchen in them.
The cable-supplied DVR probably looks great to anyone who has never used a TiVo before, but I've become spoiled.
1. TiVo handles the "season pass" better. If I set up a season pass to always record a show, the TiVo gets it, even if the network changes the air time. My cable DVR often misses shows for this reason. Sometimes it just doesn't record shows for no reason whatsoever.
2. Fast forward works better with TiVo. While fast-forwarding, when I hit the play button, the TiVo automatically backs up a few seconds, then plays, i.e., it takes into account the lag time between the moment my brain comprehends that I'm at the point I want to watch, and when the button-press is executed. This is particularly good when zipping through ads. The cable DVR stops right at the point play is executed, so I'm always missing the first few seconds after a commercial break.
3. The TiVo has a "wishlist" capability. I can tell it to find all movies which are "historical dramas", for example, or all "dog shows", or every show with "Danny DeVito" in it, and it will give me a list of those programs to select to record. The cable DVR doesn't even let me search for shows by title, let alone keyword.
4. Overall, the TiVo interface is much more user-friendly. The cable device seems to assume that what I want to do is watch TV all night long, and that I might want to hit the record button on something while I'm watching it.
As a user of both a TiVo and a DVR from my Cable company, I can tell you that the Cable company's idea of what a DVR should do is ridiculous. The TiVo is a vastly superior product in every way, save one -- it cannot record digital cable natively.
The designers of the Cable DVR are either a bunch of incredible fools, or could care less about the viewing experience of the customer (probably a little bit of both).
I am considering getting a Mini Mac. I want to know how well a Mac works and plays with Windows computers on the network. Most important to me is the ability to move files among the various machines.
Who is preventing unpopular opinions from being expressed?
The article, and my post, was referring to high school students. In school the teachers and principals frequently come down on the kids for expressing opinions.
The parents do the same. Some want the Bible removed from the library because they are atheists. Others don't want their child to study Mark Twain because his books have the word "nigger" in them. Still more don't want the kids reading Of Mice and Men or other novels because they are too "graphic".
Growing up in this kind of environment, the kids have a tendency to think that free speech is somehow wrong, and that ideas in and of themselves are dangerous.
BTW, I apologize to everyone for misspelling "blame" in my original post.
Some of you will probably flame me for this, but I think political correctness is behind a lot of this attitude. More often than not, when first amendment rights are trampled, political correctness is at the bottom of it.
Slashdot Mirror
I bought my first TiVo in 2000, when the company was only a year old. I was a charter member of the Cult of TiVo. But these days, I don't miss it.
You will in the future when Microsoft forces you to buy a new box or else.
Considering what I knew to be project Looking Glass
...how can we turn this into some sort of weapon?
...trying to find exactly the ringtone that expressed my personality...
To be more precise, your ringtone expresses what you perceive your personality is. If others could choose your ringtone, then you'd have one that probably matches your personality (or lack thereof) better.
...I hate patents on so-called "intellectual property" even worse. It's one thing to have a copyright on a particular piece of software, but a patent on what is little more than a file format is ridiculous. It's like having a patent on a metrical form. I'd like to see someone file a patent on iambic pentameter, then sue every poet or songwriter who tries to use it in their work.
Hmmm, sounds like they're taking business tips from Atari.
"... that supposedly intelligent people are atill hell-bent on producing and consuming gasoline by preference."
Yes, you're so much better than those idiots.
And everything from the clothes you wear, the pizzas you eat, and the beverages you drink just magically appears in the store shelves every day without any dependence on fuel too.
"OMG, they're TURKEYS!"
(God as my witness, I honestly thought turkeys could fly.)
"They're hitting the ground like sacks of wet cement!"
Magic 8-Ball? Tickle-Me-Elmo? WTF?! How about the ratchet wrench? The cordless drill? The Simpson P260 Multimeter?
Hey, next time your wife, girlfriend, or kid asks you to fix something, try waving your magic 8-ball at it, Sparky.
(Sheesh!)
That's an excellent example. It's also great if you are a fan of a particular actor or director.
Good Eats was bouncing all over the schedule, and I never missed a single new episode.
That's a good show, BTW.
My DVR is the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 (I think) offered by Cox. Perhaps Time Warner offers a better service, but when you have over 200 channels, browsing by title or genre is, for me, a frustrating waste of time.
This is especially true when the "genre" is just "Movie". I mean, there is a big difference between, say "War And Peace" and "Earnest Goes To Camp".
The TiVo Wishlist function is fantastic. For instance: I was watching the "Foyle's War" series on PBS last year. The star of that series is Michael Kitchen. I liked it so much, that I set up a wishlist to find any programs with Michael Kitchen in them.
The cable-supplied DVR probably looks great to anyone who has never used a TiVo before, but I've become spoiled.
Me too. I used to hate TV, now I almost have too much to watch.
1. TiVo handles the "season pass" better. If I set up a season pass to always record a show, the TiVo gets it, even if the network changes the air time. My cable DVR often misses shows for this reason. Sometimes it just doesn't record shows for no reason whatsoever.
2. Fast forward works better with TiVo. While fast-forwarding, when I hit the play button, the TiVo automatically backs up a few seconds, then plays, i.e., it takes into account the lag time between the moment my brain comprehends that I'm at the point I want to watch, and when the button-press is executed. This is particularly good when zipping through ads. The cable DVR stops right at the point play is executed, so I'm always missing the first few seconds after a commercial break.
3. The TiVo has a "wishlist" capability. I can tell it to find all movies which are "historical dramas", for example, or all "dog shows", or every show with "Danny DeVito" in it, and it will give me a list of those programs to select to record. The cable DVR doesn't even let me search for shows by title, let alone keyword.
4. Overall, the TiVo interface is much more user-friendly. The cable device seems to assume that what I want to do is watch TV all night long, and that I might want to hit the record button on something while I'm watching it.
There are others.
As a user of both a TiVo and a DVR from my Cable company, I can tell you that the Cable company's idea of what a DVR should do is ridiculous. The TiVo is a vastly superior product in every way, save one -- it cannot record digital cable natively.
The designers of the Cable DVR are either a bunch of incredible fools, or could care less about the viewing experience of the customer (probably a little bit of both).
I can't say I loaf Panera Bread's Wi-Fi: First, I got some java, and they installed a few cookies. Then I got the bagel virus.
I'm using Mozilla 1.7 with the same results.
From now on "genetically altered HIV virii" will be known as Happy Fun Gene Therapy.
Actually, that's probably what they would call it in Japan.
I don't think this article said anything useful.
If it came from Gartner Group, I will guarantee it didn't say anything useful.
computer scientist and can generate an enormous static charge from your keyboard to Get You.
Are you saying you're a real hot-dog programmer?
I thank everyone for the replies. I have been wanting a Mac for some time; ever since OSX I've wanted to play with the operating system.
I figure some Mac enthusiasts might respond.
I am considering getting a Mini Mac. I want to know how well a Mac works and plays with Windows computers on the network. Most important to me is the ability to move files among the various machines.
Well, I was thinking, it would be more fun to make up your own dialog.
Who is preventing unpopular opinions from being expressed?
The article, and my post, was referring to high school students. In school the teachers and principals frequently come down on the kids for expressing opinions.
The parents do the same. Some want the Bible removed from the library because they are atheists. Others don't want their child to study Mark Twain because his books have the word "nigger" in them. Still more don't want the kids reading Of Mice and Men or other novels because they are too "graphic".
Growing up in this kind of environment, the kids have a tendency to think that free speech is somehow wrong, and that ideas in and of themselves are dangerous.
BTW, I apologize to everyone for misspelling "blame" in my original post.
This is the first I've heard of "fansubbing". I wonder if the translations are accurate.
Some of you will probably flame me for this, but I think political correctness is behind a lot of this attitude. More often than not, when first amendment rights are trampled, political correctness is at the bottom of it.