I bet your gay as all youre saying is pointless bent stuff. Only a queer would waste their time posting commints like that.
Well, had you bothered to take a few seconds to look at my personal web page, you would have seen this picture of my wife, and possibly even found this page, all of which would have shown the falsity of your statement.
Members of the gay community are not especially known for their grammatical expertise -- some may be very skilled, linguistically, others less so. Sexual orientation has little to do with knowledge of the English language.
As for taking on a personal crusade to stand up for those less skilled than others, I am well known for loudly voicing my opinions, and I do love to write.
You, on the other hand, seem barely able to communicate, despite being, apparently from the UK where the language was popularized, and are too cowardly to post other than as an AC.
When you decide to come out of the closet, let me know and we can discuss this further.
Some people have suggested words like Guru, Wizard, and so on as a replacement for Hacker. Aside from the inherent hubris involved in assigning such titles to oneself, they are not analogous.
Hacker does not necessarily imply a high level of skill; there can be (and are) inept hackers.
Instead, Hacker refers to what we do -- explore, experiment, stretch the limits of our knowledge and experience.
Hackers are the people who take apart the kitchen radio to see what's inside. Hackers dis-assemble software to see how something was done. They build web pages just to use a new HTML tag. They write code to see if they can get the computer to do something. They put marshmallows in the microwave and try to build time machines. They buy padlocks and try to pick them with a paper clip. They know exactly what it feels like to put a 9v battery to your tongue.
The defining characteristics of a Hacker are that they are:
insanely curious
driven to see what they can do or build
always learning, especially through hands-on experimentation
less interested in seeing something work than in finding out how it works.
Sometimes these traits lead a person to trample the rights of others -- dismantling your parent's radio, sticking a 9v to your little sister's tongue, breaking into a bank's computer -- most often harmlessly, but occasionally doing real damage. These are rogue hackers: crackers.
Just as the general public has a rough time distinguishing rogue cops from cops in general, bad teachers from teachers in general, and so on, so do they have a problem separating crackers from hackers.
I'm not sure what a good replacement would be, but I think it should be something that brings to mind -- for Hackers and the general public alike -- the important qualities of the average hacker.
The best, I'm afraid, that I can come up with is Exploratech, but I'm not worried. I'm sure someone will come up with a suitable term.
Well, well, well... did we get up on the wrong side of the net this morning?
when referring to the third party, is is "their" not there. You half-witted, half-baked, pig-eating piece of crap !
You are correct; the proper word in this context would have been their.
However, for some reason, it seems especially easy to confuse these homonyms (and others, like to, too, and two) in the world of electronic communications. Even I, who would never make such a mistake in (traditional) writing or speaking, have caught myself misusing such words. I am not sure why this is the case, but it does seem to be common.
Furthermore, in the world of the internet, it is incorrect to assume that everyone you meet is a native english speaker. Having attempted to discuss classic computers in french (after 3 years of high school french, 2 years of college, and occasional use at home and socially) I am continually amazed at how well non-native english speakers actually do. How good is your French, German, Tagalog, mandarin, cantonese, etc.?
And lastly, a lack of emphasis on good grammar does not necessarily indicate lower intelligence. I know plenty of geniuses who are barely coherent, grammatically speaking. Personally, I'm one of the few people I know who knows the proper use of a semicolon, yet I am still patting myself on the back for finally comprehending the function of a capacitor. Eloquence of communication does not equal general intelligence.
So, you scoff at the mistakes of others, yet is that any different from any other type of discrimination? It is simply the labelling of some attribute of another as a weakness so that one can feel better about one's own inadequacies.
In the US, ISP's for the most part, have been claiming to be common carriers (I think that's the term) wherein they simply provide the method with no editing. The phone company is the best example -- they are not liable if you call someone and threaten them, or use the phone to plan a crime.
In general, what demon has done would be a bad policy because as soon as you start censoring your content, you are no longer a common carrier and are responsible for all the content you carry.
In this instance, however, it sounds like an individual response to a specific case rather than a general policy.
Still, I hope when it is all said and done, they put back the messages and be done with it. Mind you, ianal.
There's an enormous difference between supporting xDSL on Linux and Windows.
You miss my point. Wrong kind of support. What I said was:
Okay, so maybe they're not set up to do the handholding that they do for windows lusers, but do they need to?
They could, like PacBell does, say "we can't help you set up linux, but we don't care if you use it."
The comments made suggested that there was some configuration necessary on their end to allow linux clients to use the service. This is simply not the case. It doesn't matter what's on the client end, as long as the client can handle the protocols and whatnot.
Certainly, handholding for linux users will require training and so on, but my point was that a lack of skill on Bell South's part should not prevent a skilled client from using DSL with Linux without such handholding.
There are a lot of people who would never know that there weren't any tech support people sitting by the phone, as long as the service keeps working. And Linux people are that kind of people.
(Okay, so I'm not being overly eloquent tonight. But you get what I mean. Or not.)
I actually (ironically) had to call PacBell DSL support today (had to turn off/on my DSL modem) and mentioned that I had posted a note on Slashdot about how well the service was working for me.
The guy responded by saying that yes, he had been reading about BellSouth DSL and Linux on slashdot earlier.
Basically, PacBell techs generally don't know about Linux (they bring a windows laptop to make sure the line is up) but they have no problem with people using Linux with their DSL. They don't even have a problem with people hanging a network off their connection (as I have done.)
And lastly, my guy actually knew something about Linux (had me do an IFCONFIG) and didn't talk to me as if I used my CD tray as a cupholder.
About a month ago, I signed up with Pacific Bell for DSL service in San Francisco.
I was getting married, and figured that the higher cost would be offset by eliminating my and my girlfri^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hwife's dial-up accounts. (Okay, so that was just an excuse.8^)
Well, I did have a bit of a rough start -- they didn't show up for the first install appointment and when I called, the gal on the phone made another appointment, but didn't tell anyone about it. But the third time was a charm. A guy from Southern California (up here specifically for DSL installs) showed up, knew what he was doing, hooked things up, and voila.
I've got a splitter on the wall in the garage (along with all the other phone line stuff) which runs upstairs to my office/mess where it plugs into an Alcatel modem. The DSL modem is connected to a Kingston PCMCIA ethernet card in an old laptop with a broken screen. This runs Linux and serves as the gateway to my new home network via a Linksys PCMCIA ethernet card.
The PacBell guy was able to get a connection right away and start downloading stuff; it took me a little longer as this was my first time using Linux seriously. (Don't stick your toe in, just jump on in! 8^) But, I did figure it out, and now have another Linux box, my DOS/Win3.11 laptop, a Win3.11 box by the bed, a Mac, and a Win95 box hooked up, with my wife's big mac and my dad's pc coming on-line soon.
It works great -- I've had only two problems: one, PacBell was having a problem and was up again in an hour (like any ISP might have) and once the modem had to be reset. So, yes, I'm quite happy. PacBell provides the DSL Modem, the NIC for whatever type of computer you have (PC or Mac, ISA, PCI, NuBus, or PCMCIA) and sets it all up for you. The guy that did it for me handled everything except setting the card up under Linux -- he was a windows guy (nice nonetheless). I already had wiring in place, but he would have run it if I didn't from the garage to the attic.
The best part is the cost. The setup (includes the modem and NIC) is $199, but the monthly fee for 384K download/128K upload is $50 ($39/mo for the DSL and $10 for the ISP stuff) and includes a static IP. However, that's a minimum guaranteed download speed -- I've regularly gotten over 1.5mbps download speeds.
So, I have to say I am most happy with my PacBell DSL service and can recommend it highly, if you're in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Since it is unlikely that the German guy used their code, or even their image file format, it must be the idea of a 360 degree image that they think they own.
But surely, I can't be the only one who remembers visiting Disneyland and soaring around China in a 360 degree movie theatre?
Then, of course, I've got a swivel chair that creates the same effect; maybe they should sue Herman Miller as well?
And heck, who came up with the idea for dividing a circle into 360 equal portions? Gotta sue them (or their heirs) too!
For that matter, the whole universe seems to be infringing on IPIX's 360 degree panoramic view concept. Can't really sue the big bang. Maybe Steven Hawking? (Or God, for those that think he exists?)
As I see it, there are three main issues brought to light by the littleton shootings. They are:
The problems with our society that lead to excessive violence, too-easy access to weaponry, etc. These include parental incompetence, a lack of emphasis on education (inadequate funding, supplies, etc.), and so on.
The systematic persecution and abuse of high school students because of differences (whatever they may be), sometimes with the acceptance, or even approval, of the school administration.
The excessive distrust and trampling of student rights in the wake of littleton due to the fear that anyone who shared certain arbitrary attributes with the shooters might, at any time, do the same.
Katz's stories, and the tales he related were partially about the second issue, and heavily about the third. The village voice ignored the third issue and decided that the second issue was unimportant.
In reality, the first issue is what needs to be dealt with by mainstream society. The second by school administrators and the students themselves and the last will eventually die down, but hopefully will leave us a little wiser (not bloody likely!) and kinder.
Mind you, I'm not trying to make light of any of this. I'm just trying to point out that it's not a single, simple issue, but actually the combination of several. Each must be dealt with individually and appropriately.
32K was the maximum amount of RAM they could access at any one time. It used the 8-bit 8085 as its CPU, so the max it could access is 64K, of which half was used for the ROM.
And the 300 baud modem!
All of them had the built-in 300bps modem, although iirc the euro models had it disabled.
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I seem to recall that the automated trains of BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) are all controlled by earlier DEC PDP's (ca. 30 years ago).
I sure hope they don't win, though; If the DEC boxen were replaced by windoze machines, there is no way the trains would run exactly on time, like they do now. ("Attention passengers, there is a 15 minute delay on the Pittsburg-Baypoint line while we reboot the system. Again.")
Once we get past the cute comments about abacuses and 100-year-old accountants (my Dad turns 72 tomorrow), we can get to some real history.
In the last day or so, I've received inquiries from someone using a Canon Cat (Early work processor) and from someone still using an Epson HC-40 (early portable CP/M machine.)
Not everyone has succombed to the idea that if it isn't the latest and greatest computer hardware and software, it doesn't work. I drive a 1959 Land Rover; it still gets me where I want to go. Likewise, a lot of people still use computers that do what they need to do without the cost, complexity, and learning curve that newer machines represent.
Unfortunately, Dell is ignoring the fact that the IBM PC and its successors more than anything else to destroy the innovation, creativity, and variety that had existed previously in the computer industry. Very few desktop "PC's" are collectible; virtually none would be of interest to a museum of any quality or reputation.
Okay, I mostly agree with you that it is very much the parent's fault, etc., but I have to comment on one of my pet peeves:
"in posession of the semi-auto pistol?"
Almost all pistols sold these days are semi-automatics. The only exceptions are revolvers and a few high-priced target pistols.
Semi-automatic simply means that after firing, the next cartridge is loaded into the chamber for you. You then have to release the trigger and pull back on it to fire again. Fully-automatic means that as long as you hold the trigger back, it will continue to fire. Pump spray bottles are semi-automatic; a garden hose is fully automatic.
It's not a big deal, except that the media loves to say "semi-automatic weapons" to get everyone's panties in a bunch, when really, it's no big deal. Full-auto is notable; semi-auto isn't.
"Compare the US to other countries. In Europe there are far fewer "school-incidents". You Americans cannot continue to bluntly deny this fact."
Okay, compare the US to, say, Yugoslavia and the rest of that area. Or Northern Ireland. Or Rwanda. Or Israel/Palestine/Etc. Or...
Sure, there are countries where there are less murders than the US. (I hear Singapore is very clean, too.) And there are countries where there are a lot more.
I think in the US, we like our killing on a retail level; elsewhere wholesale deaths seem more popular.
The school shootings and such here in the US may indeed be a strictly American phenomenon, but that doesn't make the US an inherently Bad Place. In fact, it doesn't really say anything about the US except that we have a problem with our kids and parents and schools.
Every country has its problems. In some places they kill you in huge groups because of your ethnicity. In others, they control what you can watch on TV. In the US, we don't take care of our kids well enough.
We've got a problem, but it's solvable, if only we can get people to focus on what the problem is. And, to bring this back on topic, gory video games are not the problem.
"What ends up happening is that the grandparents end up raising the children, and the parents go out to party or "socialize." I've seen several older people who's lifespan I am certain has been shortened because of this."
With a lot of too-young parents, this happens -- the grandparents end up raising the grandkids because the parents are too immature and financially unprepared for the job. In this case, I don't doubt it shortens the grandparents' lifespans. At the very least, it robs them of their well-deserved "golden years" wherein they should be able to at least work for their own interests, and at best retire in luxury.
The other scenario, however, is when you have responsible parents, but the grandparents are involved, assisting the parents and adding to the education and experiences of the grandchildren. In this situation, not only is it extremely beneficial for the grandkids, it's good for the grandparents as well. The get the revitalization that comes with interacting with youth, without having to give up their own lives.
I have seen both situations personally, and the former is definitely cause for sadness. The latter, however, is cause for great joy.
My niece spends a lot of time with my father and has learned to be tolerant of and helpful to people with disabilities, has come to appreciate classical music, and has found a friend who is always willing to play a game or read a story.
My father, on the other hand, has found a friend who plays games he can understand, doesn't mind that he doesn't walk so fast, can always make him laugh. He enjoys sharing what he knows and enjoys with a new generation.
So yes, getting grandparents (and others) involved in the raising of children is an excellent idea and benefits everyone, but it does not and should not in any way reduce the responsibility of the parents from raising their children.
"So if people shouldn't have kids unless they can spend lots of time with them and/or hire other people to spend time with them, we'll have two segments of the population having kids: The very rich and the very poor."
Not necessarily. We might have some upper middle classers become lower middle class folks for one generation, but better raised, better educated kids will do better in the long run. Think how far some of these kids would have gotten if they had encouragement and support from their parents!
"flawed in that we think that raising kids is the parents' (and only the parents') job."
It may not be solely the parent's job, but it is certainly the parent's responsibility. The parents chose to have the child; they must accept the responsibility that goes with it, even if that means not working 12 hour days to get a partnership, not going golfing on weekends, and not getting together with your buddies for beer.
This is the first time I've seen any stats (though unattributed) indicating that school shootings have indeed gone down.
"school killings have actually declined since Doom's debut (from 52 in 1993-94 to 42 last year)."
Just as there are a lot of gun owners who don't rob liquor stores, similarly most game players don't kill people in real life.
The problems that caused the Littleton and other shootings are the same as they've been for ages -- intolerance, parental incompetence, lack of emphasis on the importance of education.
Our society needs to realize that our children's education is like your rent payment -- it's not something you get around to if you have some extra money after buying fancy clothes; it's your number one priority -- and that being a parent is a full-time responsibility, more important than your hobbies, your friends, even your career. If you're not willing to give up all that, don't have kids. Besides, condoms are a heck of a lot cheaper.
Re:Computers on Expiditions
on
Rugged Laptops
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· Score: 1
Sure, Sattelite phones will get you on-line as on a friend's recent trip, or you can use a ricochet modem like I do, and this guy does, if you're in range.
The AST PenExec was made by GRiD -- it was the GRiD 2260 "Convertible" with AST's name on it. I put the link to the AST Page because I don't have one ready yet for the GRiD version.
While not truly ruggedized, like some of the other models, the Convertible is fairly robust, and its design makes it ideal for the dual purposes for which I plan to use it. In slate mode, I will have it mounted near the dashboard to display maps and directions; in notebook mode, I'll use it in bed, under a tree, or whereever convenient for recording the days events.
In general, however, I agree -- I have not been impressed with AST laptops (or Compaq, for that matter, who knows nothing of their computers more than a year or two old, so don't lose those driver disks!)
Slashdot Mirror
Well, had you bothered to take a few seconds to look at my personal web page, you would have seen this picture of my wife, and possibly even found this page, all of which would have shown the falsity of your statement.
Members of the gay community are not especially known for their grammatical expertise -- some may be very skilled, linguistically, others less so. Sexual orientation has little to do with knowledge of the English language.
As for taking on a personal crusade to stand up for those less skilled than others, I am well known for loudly voicing my opinions, and I do love to write.
You, on the other hand, seem barely able to communicate, despite being, apparently from the UK where the language was popularized, and are too cowardly to post other than as an AC.
When you decide to come out of the closet, let me know and we can discuss this further.
Hacker does not necessarily imply a high level of skill; there can be (and are) inept hackers.
Instead, Hacker refers to what we do -- explore, experiment, stretch the limits of our knowledge and experience.
Hackers are the people who take apart the kitchen radio to see what's inside. Hackers dis-assemble software to see how something was done. They build web pages just to use a new HTML tag. They write code to see if they can get the computer to do something. They put marshmallows in the microwave and try to build time machines. They buy padlocks and try to pick them with a paper clip. They know exactly what it feels like to put a 9v battery to your tongue.
The defining characteristics of a Hacker are that they are:
Sometimes these traits lead a person to trample the rights of others -- dismantling your parent's radio, sticking a 9v to your little sister's tongue, breaking into a bank's computer -- most often harmlessly, but occasionally doing real damage. These are rogue hackers: crackers.
Just as the general public has a rough time distinguishing rogue cops from cops in general, bad teachers from teachers in general, and so on, so do they have a problem separating crackers from hackers.
I'm not sure what a good replacement would be, but I think it should be something that brings to mind -- for Hackers and the general public alike -- the important qualities of the average hacker.
The best, I'm afraid, that I can come up with is Exploratech, but I'm not worried. I'm sure someone will come up with a suitable term.
You are correct; the proper word in this context would have been their.
However, for some reason, it seems especially easy to confuse these homonyms (and others, like to, too, and two) in the world of electronic communications. Even I, who would never make such a mistake in (traditional) writing or speaking, have caught myself misusing such words. I am not sure why this is the case, but it does seem to be common.
Furthermore, in the world of the internet, it is incorrect to assume that everyone you meet is a native english speaker. Having attempted to discuss classic computers in french (after 3 years of high school french, 2 years of college, and occasional use at home and socially) I am continually amazed at how well non-native english speakers actually do. How good is your French, German, Tagalog, mandarin, cantonese, etc.?
And lastly, a lack of emphasis on good grammar does not necessarily indicate lower intelligence. I know plenty of geniuses who are barely coherent, grammatically speaking. Personally, I'm one of the few people I know who knows the proper use of a semicolon, yet I am still patting myself on the back for finally comprehending the function of a capacitor. Eloquence of communication does not equal general intelligence.
So, you scoff at the mistakes of others, yet is that any different from any other type of discrimination? It is simply the labelling of some attribute of another as a weakness so that one can feel better about one's own inadequacies.
In general, what demon has done would be a bad policy because as soon as you start censoring your content, you are no longer a common carrier and are responsible for all the content you carry.
In this instance, however, it sounds like an individual response to a specific case rather than a general policy.
Still, I hope when it is all said and done, they put back the messages and be done with it. Mind you, ianal.
I wish I could have said it as well.
Certainly, handholding for linux users will require training and so on, but my point was that a lack of skill on Bell South's part should not prevent a skilled client from using DSL with Linux without such handholding.
There are a lot of people who would never know that there weren't any tech support people sitting by the phone, as long as the service keeps working. And Linux people are that kind of people.
(Okay, so I'm not being overly eloquent tonight. But you get what I mean. Or not.)
Okay, so maybe they're not set up to do the handholding that they do for windows lusers, but do they need to?
They could, like PacBell does, say "we can't help you set up linux, but we don't care if you use it."
Doesn't take any effort on their part. Doesn't take any changes on their part.
The guy responded by saying that yes, he had been reading about BellSouth DSL and Linux on slashdot earlier.
Basically, PacBell techs generally don't know about Linux (they bring a windows laptop to make sure the line is up) but they have no problem with people using Linux with their DSL. They don't even have a problem with people hanging a network off their connection (as I have done.)
And lastly, my guy actually knew something about Linux (had me do an IFCONFIG) and didn't talk to me as if I used my CD tray as a cupholder.
I definitely recommend PacBell DSL.
I was getting married, and figured that the higher cost would be offset by eliminating my and my girlfri^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hwife's dial-up accounts. (Okay, so that was just an excuse.8^)
Well, I did have a bit of a rough start -- they didn't show up for the first install appointment and when I called, the gal on the phone made another appointment, but didn't tell anyone about it. But the third time was a charm. A guy from Southern California (up here specifically for DSL installs) showed up, knew what he was doing, hooked things up, and voila.
I've got a splitter on the wall in the garage (along with all the other phone line stuff) which runs upstairs to my office/mess where it plugs into an Alcatel modem. The DSL modem is connected to a Kingston PCMCIA ethernet card in an old laptop with a broken screen. This runs Linux and serves as the gateway to my new home network via a Linksys PCMCIA ethernet card.
The PacBell guy was able to get a connection right away and start downloading stuff; it took me a little longer as this was my first time using Linux seriously. (Don't stick your toe in, just jump on in! 8^) But, I did figure it out, and now have another Linux box, my DOS/Win3.11 laptop, a Win3.11 box by the bed, a Mac, and a Win95 box hooked up, with my wife's big mac and my dad's pc coming on-line soon.
It works great -- I've had only two problems: one, PacBell was having a problem and was up again in an hour (like any ISP might have) and once the modem had to be reset. So, yes, I'm quite happy. PacBell provides the DSL Modem, the NIC for whatever type of computer you have (PC or Mac, ISA, PCI, NuBus, or PCMCIA) and sets it all up for you. The guy that did it for me handled everything except setting the card up under Linux -- he was a windows guy (nice nonetheless). I already had wiring in place, but he would have run it if I didn't from the garage to the attic.
The best part is the cost. The setup (includes the modem and NIC) is $199, but the monthly fee for 384K download/128K upload is $50 ($39/mo for the DSL and $10 for the ISP stuff) and includes a static IP. However, that's a minimum guaranteed download speed -- I've regularly gotten over 1.5mbps download speeds.
So, I have to say I am most happy with my PacBell DSL service and can recommend it highly, if you're in the San Francisco Bay Area.
But surely, I can't be the only one who remembers visiting Disneyland and soaring around China in a 360 degree movie theatre?
Then, of course, I've got a swivel chair that creates the same effect; maybe they should sue Herman Miller as well?
And heck, who came up with the idea for dividing a circle into 360 equal portions? Gotta sue them (or their heirs) too!
For that matter, the whole universe seems to be infringing on IPIX's 360 degree panoramic view concept. Can't really sue the big bang. Maybe Steven Hawking? (Or God, for those that think he exists?)
Where do I send my $$$ for the FSFDF?
- The problems with our society that lead to excessive violence, too-easy access to weaponry, etc. These include parental incompetence, a lack of emphasis on education (inadequate funding, supplies, etc.), and so on.
- The systematic persecution and abuse of high school students because of differences (whatever they may be), sometimes with the acceptance, or even approval, of the school administration.
- The excessive distrust and trampling of student rights in the wake of littleton due to the fear that anyone who shared certain arbitrary attributes with the shooters might, at any time, do the same.
Katz's stories, and the tales he related were partially about the second issue, and heavily about the third. The village voice ignored the third issue and decided that the second issue was unimportant.In reality, the first issue is what needs to be dealt with by mainstream society. The second by school administrators and the students themselves and the last will eventually die down, but hopefully will leave us a little wiser (not bloody likely!) and kinder.
Mind you, I'm not trying to make light of any of this. I'm just trying to point out that it's not a single, simple issue, but actually the combination of several. Each must be dealt with individually and appropriately.
32K was the maximum amount of RAM they could access at any one time. It used the 8-bit 8085 as its CPU, so the max it could access is 64K, of which half was used for the ROM.
All of them had the built-in 300bps modem, although iirc the euro models had it disabled.
Check out Club 100 for software, accessories, and more.
- How to build a working digital computer
- The Tinkertoy Computer and Other Machinations
The latter is available from Amazon and other booksellers; the former is out of print and harder to find. Try Abe or Powell's books.by Edward Alcosser
ISBN: 0810407485
by A. K. Dewdney
ISBN: 071672491X
I have also seen computers built from plastic or wood (the Digi-Comp 1) and Lego (not just the case, but actual computation units.)
I sure hope they don't win, though; If the DEC boxen were replaced by windoze machines, there is no way the trains would run exactly on time, like they do now. ("Attention passengers, there is a 15 minute delay on the Pittsburg-Baypoint line while we reboot the system. Again.")
And don't forget the Vintage Computer Festival.
Then, of course, there's always my collection. 8^)
In the last day or so, I've received inquiries from someone using a Canon Cat (Early work processor) and from someone still using an Epson HC-40 (early portable CP/M machine.)
They contacted me because of my classic computer collection.
There are, however, still plenty of people out there using Altairs and Model 100's and GRiD's and all the other well-known and not-so-well-known personal computers, probably going all the way back to the very first.
Not everyone has succombed to the idea that if it isn't the latest and greatest computer hardware and software, it doesn't work. I drive a 1959 Land Rover; it still gets me where I want to go. Likewise, a lot of people still use computers that do what they need to do without the cost, complexity, and learning curve that newer machines represent.
Unfortunately, Dell is ignoring the fact that the IBM PC and its successors more than anything else to destroy the innovation, creativity, and variety that had existed previously in the computer industry. Very few desktop "PC's" are collectible; virtually none would be of interest to a museum of any quality or reputation.
If you really want to see older computers, come to the Vintage Computer Festival this fall.
I'm not sure I dislike them, but they are not entirely clear. I too vote for the "+1", "-1", etc. to be included.
Almost all pistols sold these days are semi-automatics. The only exceptions are revolvers and a few high-priced target pistols.
Semi-automatic simply means that after firing, the next cartridge is loaded into the chamber for you. You then have to release the trigger and pull back on it to fire again. Fully-automatic means that as long as you hold the trigger back, it will continue to fire. Pump spray bottles are semi-automatic; a garden hose is fully automatic.
It's not a big deal, except that the media loves to say "semi-automatic weapons" to get everyone's panties in a bunch, when really, it's no big deal. Full-auto is notable; semi-auto isn't.
Okay, compare the US to, say, Yugoslavia and the rest of that area. Or Northern Ireland. Or Rwanda. Or Israel/Palestine/Etc. Or...
Sure, there are countries where there are less murders than the US. (I hear Singapore is very clean, too.) And there are countries where there are a lot more.
I think in the US, we like our killing on a retail level; elsewhere wholesale deaths seem more popular.
The school shootings and such here in the US may indeed be a strictly American phenomenon, but that doesn't make the US an inherently Bad Place. In fact, it doesn't really say anything about the US except that we have a problem with our kids and parents and schools.
Every country has its problems. In some places they kill you in huge groups because of your ethnicity. In others, they control what you can watch on TV. In the US, we don't take care of our kids well enough.
We've got a problem, but it's solvable, if only we can get people to focus on what the problem is. And, to bring this back on topic, gory video games are not the problem.
With a lot of too-young parents, this happens -- the grandparents end up raising the grandkids because the parents are too immature and financially unprepared for the job. In this case, I don't doubt it shortens the grandparents' lifespans. At the very least, it robs them of their well-deserved "golden years" wherein they should be able to at least work for their own interests, and at best retire in luxury.
The other scenario, however, is when you have responsible parents, but the grandparents are involved, assisting the parents and adding to the education and experiences of the grandchildren. In this situation, not only is it extremely beneficial for the grandkids, it's good for the grandparents as well. The get the revitalization that comes with interacting with youth, without having to give up their own lives.
I have seen both situations personally, and the former is definitely cause for sadness. The latter, however, is cause for great joy.
My niece spends a lot of time with my father and has learned to be tolerant of and helpful to people with disabilities, has come to appreciate classical music, and has found a friend who is always willing to play a game or read a story.
My father, on the other hand, has found a friend who plays games he can understand, doesn't mind that he doesn't walk so fast, can always make him laugh. He enjoys sharing what he knows and enjoys with a new generation.
So yes, getting grandparents (and others) involved in the raising of children is an excellent idea and benefits everyone, but it does not and should not in any way reduce the responsibility of the parents from raising their children.
Not necessarily. We might have some upper middle classers become lower middle class folks for one generation, but better raised, better educated kids will do better in the long run. Think how far some of these kids would have gotten if they had encouragement and support from their parents!
It may not be solely the parent's job, but it is certainly the parent's responsibility. The parents chose to have the child; they must accept the responsibility that goes with it, even if that means not working 12 hour days to get a partnership, not going golfing on weekends, and not getting together with your buddies for beer.
Just as there are a lot of gun owners who don't rob liquor stores, similarly most game players don't kill people in real life.
The problems that caused the Littleton and other shootings are the same as they've been for ages -- intolerance, parental incompetence, lack of emphasis on the importance of education.
Our society needs to realize that our children's education is like your rent payment -- it's not something you get around to if you have some extra money after buying fancy clothes; it's your number one priority -- and that being a parent is a full-time responsibility, more important than your hobbies, your friends, even your career. If you're not willing to give up all that, don't have kids. Besides, condoms are a heck of a lot cheaper.
While not truly ruggedized, like some of the other models, the Convertible is fairly robust, and its design makes it ideal for the dual purposes for which I plan to use it. In slate mode, I will have it mounted near the dashboard to display maps and directions; in notebook mode, I'll use it in bed, under a tree, or whereever convenient for recording the days events.
In general, however, I agree -- I have not been impressed with AST laptops (or Compaq, for that matter, who knows nothing of their computers more than a year or two old, so don't lose those driver disks!)