I don't think it was the paradoxes that were causing the health problems. My impression was that it was a side effect of their method of time travel. The farther back they go (like when trying to fix problems, which also happens to be when they would be most likely to introduce paradoxes) the higher the level of degradation.
- Rooster
"I often wonder why Slashdot posts links to a version of the article formatted for printing rather than the main article."
Because any time they link to the main article, everyone complains that they should link to the print version to avoid ads and multi-page crappiness.
- Rooster
When I bought a WRT54G I had the same problem... mine is v6. Apparently after v4 Linksys(or more accurately Cisco, who owns them) lowered the internal memory to lessen the effectiveness of third party flashing. Unfortunately in doing so, they made their routers horrible. There isn't enough memory to hold larger IP tables, so bittorrent traffic and the like bogs it down until it needs a restart.
DDWRT helps a little, in that you can schedule restarts to go every hour or so, but the sporatic connection is less than ideal. My solution was similar to the above. I just used my older model wired Linksys router to handle all the IP routing and set the WRT54G(with DDWRT) as a pass-through device.
It's unfortunate that they felt like crippling a perfectly useful router just because free firmware made it competitive with their high end products.
I was just discussing this possibility with friends the other day. We decided that the mullet would have to stay, but in one of the first scenes he'd have to cut the back(the "party" end, if you will) and weave a rope from it to escape.
Arg. My slight glimmer of comfort, torn away! I really wish they'd just let us add our own external e-mail address for official contact. Oh well, guess I'll go back to logging into a horrible web interface to see if my classes have been cancelled each morning.
- Angry Rooster
I'm a student at the University of Idaho, and we just got this notice a few days ago.
Signup by April 15th to be entered into a drawing for one of these prizes:
Microsoft X-Box 360 (one available)
Microsoft Zune MP3 Player (one of two)
Office 2007 Standard Edition (one of four)
Sweet, I could win a copy of Office 2007!
The University of Idaho has partnered with Microsoft to provide enhanced e-mail services for students through the Microsoft Live Mail program. This new VandalMail system provides 2 gigabytes of e-mail storage, full calendaring service, task management, note management, scheduled e-mail reminders and enhanced addressbook control.
How do I setup my new VandalMail account?
Login to the website http://support.uidaho.edu/ with your existing account username and password.
Click on the 'Activate VandalMail Live' menu item.
Follow the instructions to setup your new account.
You will need to migrate your account prior to May 15th to select a personalized e-mail address.
Will anyone be available to assist me with this migration?
Yes, please stop by the ITS Help Desk in Administration room 133 or the Sub and Library computer labs and talk with a Technical Service Representative, they are ready to assist you. You can also reach us by phone at 208-885-HELP (4357).
Will I have a new e-mail address? What happens to my old e-mail address?
You will have a new @vandals.uidaho.edu e-mail address which you can personalize. Your existing @uidaho.edu address will be setup to automatically forward e-mail to @vandals.uidaho.edu until 2008.
Oh, and even though this e-mail would seem to indicate optional participation, the support page clears that up:
Will I be required to use VandalMail Live?
All students are required to move to the new system. This transfer process is mandatory, but if you have problems, ITS will be here to assist you. Please remember that you must create an account by May 15th or your existing @uidaho.edu account will be upgraded.
What really upsets me is that Gmail finally allows outside POP retrieval, so I finally thought I'd be free of their stupid web interface.(Honestly, when you look at a message, pressing the back button logs you out) Now I find out we're being "upgraded" to a Microsoft web system which apparently will have problems loading on low end computers.
What can I do if my computer has difficulty loading Windows Live E-mail?
There is a light (classic) version available. This can be changed by logging into VandalMail Live and accessing the options page. By switching to the light (classic) version, users can turn off some of the features of Live, but still retains all essential e-mail functions. You can also install Windows Live Mail Desktop on your computer. Note: If the light (classic) version is being used, neither the color themes nor the different reading panes will be available.
Ugh. At least I know the faculty is just as inconvenienced as we are. None of my professors are going to enjoy the lack of POP3.
Actually, the potential here is far greater than the GC/GBA link was. The DS is Wifi enabled, meaning the Wii will likely function as an access point for the DS. Also, the DS was designed to be able to handle downloaded demo content. And with big N putting out quotes like this:
http://ds.ign.com/articles/711/711267p1.html
"Let's say your Wii is connected to the Internet in a mode that allows activation on a 24-hour basis," he said. "This would allow Nintendo to send monthly promotional demos for the DS, during the night, to the Wii consoles in each household. Users would wake up each morning, find the LED lamp on their Wii flashing, and know that Nintendo has sent them something."
Of course, Nintendo hopes to offer more than just demos. Iwata also implied that in addition to offering a library of classic titles, the Wii will also let users download original casual games similar to what is offered by Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade, opening up an industry which may be too focused on full-budget titles. "
The possibility for the DS/Wii combo becomes much more than wondering how many Wii games will utilize the DS. We have the potential for a DS SDK someday. Hell, the DS homebrew scene is already amazing and we don't even have the nod from Nintendo yet... imagine what will happen when we can use their own console as a delivery vehicle. Plus, the developers of the linked-system games can increase their userbase by allowing the DS or the GBA as a linkup device, since the Wii will still have the GC ports used by GBA link cables. Also, the six games for the GC that use it will carry over to the Wii directly since they are backwards compatible... pacman versus is super fun.
You do have a point as far as game potential with this linkup. One of the issues becomes "What games can you play on the Wii that you can't do with just 4 DS's?" They've already go the double screens(which is why Crystal Chronicles is already announced for the DS) they don't really need the TV as a "general display." Most of the games I can think of would be party type games where one person uses the DS as the "clue card" and the TV for things like pictionary using the DS as input. I'm sure Nintendo has some plans in store though. The last generation the GBA link wound up as kind of a novelty idea... this generation with all the other innovation going on, we might see more developers take advantage of the option to make some interesting uses in games. (We've all seen the PSP-as-rear-view-mirrior demo by now;)
Anyway, if Nintendo allows the DS to grab the classic titles from your home Wii library, the linking capabilities will be justified at launch. The DS has 32 megabits of RAM for downloaded content, that's enough for most classic titles. So you just DS-download the game you want to play from your Wii, put your DS into sleep mode, and pop it open to play some classic goodness anytime you want... when you get home, transfer the game back to the Wii and all your progress is saved into your home version of the game.
The reason Blockbuster has a high employee turnover rate is that they treat their employees horribly. On high traffic days they designate an "Active Seller" (the name has since changed to something less obvious, like "Entertainment Specialist") the sole job of this person is to meet the sales goals on whatever crappy promotion they have out now... "Did you know you can get a 20oz soda and bag of cheap microwave popcorn for only $2.50 more with that $4.99 rental?"
They are the most horrible corporation I've ever had to work for, they spend insane amounts of money to figure out how they can shave 5 more minutes off of the closing time, yet they are steeped in inefficiency at every level. They have horrible promotions and blame the store employees when nobody wants to preorder the third Matrix movie(for $24.99) and get an aluminium CD case (holds 6 discs, for only $4.99 more!).
At Blockbuster you are given a checklist of duties to be done each day, all of these need to be done in addition to whatever special projects you have to set up, and regardless of how many customers you have. Also, you are required to be out of the building 15 minutes after close. That's right. 15 minutes to kick any last minute customers out, wait 10 minutes for the timed safe, count all the money and get out. So they actually encourage their employees to avoid customers when it is busy, because you have this checklist of jobs that need to be done without fail.
They are the corporate mindset at it's worse, "Hey we're paying these people for an 8 hour day... now, we have them put movies away at three specific intervals, and those take maybe 30 minutes each, so that leaves 6.5 hours left where they're probably not doing anything! Let's lay out the entire week with projects like vacuuming and washing the windows, then we don't have to pay anyone else to do those jobs!. We're being efficient!" then "Hmm, there are a lot of customers complaining about being ignored, let's send out a memo, if they don't help the customers, they get written up."
Slashdot Mirror
I don't think it was the paradoxes that were causing the health problems. My impression was that it was a side effect of their method of time travel. The farther back they go (like when trying to fix problems, which also happens to be when they would be most likely to introduce paradoxes) the higher the level of degradation. - Rooster
"I often wonder why Slashdot posts links to a version of the article formatted for printing rather than the main article." Because any time they link to the main article, everyone complains that they should link to the print version to avoid ads and multi-page crappiness. - Rooster
When I bought a WRT54G I had the same problem... mine is v6. Apparently after v4 Linksys(or more accurately Cisco, who owns them) lowered the internal memory to lessen the effectiveness of third party flashing. Unfortunately in doing so, they made their routers horrible. There isn't enough memory to hold larger IP tables, so bittorrent traffic and the like bogs it down until it needs a restart. DDWRT helps a little, in that you can schedule restarts to go every hour or so, but the sporatic connection is less than ideal. My solution was similar to the above. I just used my older model wired Linksys router to handle all the IP routing and set the WRT54G(with DDWRT) as a pass-through device. It's unfortunate that they felt like crippling a perfectly useful router just because free firmware made it competitive with their high end products.
I was just discussing this possibility with friends the other day. We decided that the mullet would have to stay, but in one of the first scenes he'd have to cut the back(the "party" end, if you will) and weave a rope from it to escape.
- Rooster
Arg. My slight glimmer of comfort, torn away! I really wish they'd just let us add our own external e-mail address for official contact. Oh well, guess I'll go back to logging into a horrible web interface to see if my classes have been cancelled each morning. - Angry Rooster
Signup by April 15th to be entered into a drawing for one of these prizes:
Microsoft X-Box 360 (one available)
Microsoft Zune MP3 Player (one of two)
Office 2007 Standard Edition (one of four)
Sweet, I could win a copy of Office 2007!
The University of Idaho has partnered with Microsoft to provide enhanced e-mail services for students through the Microsoft Live Mail program. This new VandalMail system provides 2 gigabytes of e-mail storage, full calendaring service, task management, note management, scheduled e-mail reminders and enhanced addressbook control.
How do I setup my new VandalMail account?
Login to the website http://support.uidaho.edu/ with your existing account username and password.
Click on the 'Activate VandalMail Live' menu item.
Follow the instructions to setup your new account.
You will need to migrate your account prior to May 15th to select a personalized e-mail address.
Will anyone be available to assist me with this migration?
Yes, please stop by the ITS Help Desk in Administration room 133 or the Sub and Library computer labs and talk with a Technical Service Representative, they are ready to assist you. You can also reach us by phone at 208-885-HELP (4357).
Will I have a new e-mail address? What happens to my old e-mail address?
You will have a new @vandals.uidaho.edu e-mail address which you can personalize. Your existing @uidaho.edu address will be setup to automatically forward e-mail to @vandals.uidaho.edu until 2008.
Where can I read more about this new service and how to migrate?
Please visit the web page http://support.uidaho.edu/live/.
Oh, and even though this e-mail would seem to indicate optional participation, the support page clears that up:
Will I be required to use VandalMail Live?
All students are required to move to the new system. This transfer process is mandatory, but if you have problems, ITS will be here to assist you. Please remember that you must create an account by May 15th or your existing @uidaho.edu account will be upgraded.
What really upsets me is that Gmail finally allows outside POP retrieval, so I finally thought I'd be free of their stupid web interface.(Honestly, when you look at a message, pressing the back button logs you out) Now I find out we're being "upgraded" to a Microsoft web system which apparently will have problems loading on low end computers.
What can I do if my computer has difficulty loading Windows Live E-mail?
There is a light (classic) version available. This can be changed by logging into VandalMail Live and accessing the options page. By switching to the light (classic) version, users can turn off some of the features of Live, but still retains all essential e-mail functions. You can also install Windows Live Mail Desktop on your computer. Note: If the light (classic) version is being used, neither the color themes nor the different reading panes will be available.
Ugh. At least I know the faculty is just as inconvenienced as we are. None of my professors are going to enjoy the lack of POP3.
- Angry Rooster
You do have a point as far as game potential with this linkup. One of the issues becomes "What games can you play on the Wii that you can't do with just 4 DS's?" They've already go the double screens(which is why Crystal Chronicles is already announced for the DS) they don't really need the TV as a "general display." Most of the games I can think of would be party type games where one person uses the DS as the "clue card" and the TV for things like pictionary using the DS as input. I'm sure Nintendo has some plans in store though. The last generation the GBA link wound up as kind of a novelty idea... this generation with all the other innovation going on, we might see more developers take advantage of the option to make some interesting uses in games. (We've all seen the PSP-as-rear-view-mirrior demo by now
Anyway, if Nintendo allows the DS to grab the classic titles from your home Wii library, the linking capabilities will be justified at launch. The DS has 32 megabits of RAM for downloaded content, that's enough for most classic titles. So you just DS-download the game you want to play from your Wii, put your DS into sleep mode, and pop it open to play some classic goodness anytime you want... when you get home, transfer the game back to the Wii and all your progress is saved into your home version of the game.
- Rooster
I used to work at the big BB...
The reason Blockbuster has a high employee turnover rate is that they treat their employees horribly. On high traffic days they designate an "Active Seller" (the name has since changed to something less obvious, like "Entertainment Specialist") the sole job of this person is to meet the sales goals on whatever crappy promotion they have out now... "Did you know you can get a 20oz soda and bag of cheap microwave popcorn for only $2.50 more with that $4.99 rental?"
They are the most horrible corporation I've ever had to work for, they spend insane amounts of money to figure out how they can shave 5 more minutes off of the closing time, yet they are steeped in inefficiency at every level. They have horrible promotions and blame the store employees when nobody wants to preorder the third Matrix movie(for $24.99) and get an aluminium CD case (holds 6 discs, for only $4.99 more!).
At Blockbuster you are given a checklist of duties to be done each day, all of these need to be done in addition to whatever special projects you have to set up, and regardless of how many customers you have. Also, you are required to be out of the building 15 minutes after close. That's right. 15 minutes to kick any last minute customers out, wait 10 minutes for the timed safe, count all the money and get out. So they actually encourage their employees to avoid customers when it is busy, because you have this checklist of jobs that need to be done without fail.
They are the corporate mindset at it's worse, "Hey we're paying these people for an 8 hour day... now, we have them put movies away at three specific intervals, and those take maybe 30 minutes each, so that leaves 6.5 hours left where they're probably not doing anything! Let's lay out the entire week with projects like vacuuming and washing the windows, then we don't have to pay anyone else to do those jobs!. We're being efficient!" then "Hmm, there are a lot of customers complaining about being ignored, let's send out a memo, if they don't help the customers, they get written up."