I agree. I don't think I can even count the number of Excel and PowerPoint classes I've been forced to attend to "learn" the programs. Anyone with minimal talent and some experience can work them if they get a little instruction.
Given a few weeks, I'm sure I could teach the 2-year-old daughter of some family friends how to use email, Word, and Excel, and she doesn't even really understand how to play Mickey Mouse Yahtzee.:-)
A LARGE percentage of my time online is spent convincing friends that life is really worth living, that their adult lives won't have to be like this, and that if they can only survive a few more years, they will never have to come back again.
I'm willing to help anyone who needs me, (yes, this does include random/.ers, in case you feel the need to deprive me of even more of my "spare" time) but I don't think something advertized to guidance counselors is really the right answer. People can't be pushed into accepting something like this, which is what may happen if we give schools what they will see as an easy way of "curing" every kid who dresses oddly and plays Quake.
*wondering how much it would cost to put ads in the back of Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine* In any case, I'm all for this as long as it'll be done correctly. Now, if they don't need me at the teen suicide hotline right now...
I LOVE Veggietales! Ohh WHERE is my hairbrush Ohh where is my hairbrush...
They're hilarious. Although my opinion may be influenced by the fact that I first saw them at about 4 AM after several hours of playing AD&D. Anything is funny then...
I mean, I despise those slugs that actually seek out entertainment when they could actually be contriubting to the GDP. Such innefficiency is intolerable and drags down everyone.
*grin* Suddenly, all of my 10th grade history teacher's ranting lectures about the Protestant ethic and its tremendous influence on American and European culture are starting to make sense. I feel a strange compulsion to rake leaves, despite the fact that it's 10:15 PM here in Wisconsin and my backyard is a FOREST.
But, as my Unitarian ethic suggests that I resist mindlessly conforming to the majority and choose my own path, I'm off to watch Monty Python videos and see if the Chee-tos have gone stale yet.
Despite the long load time, this page is really informative. Some of these skull deformities are just as severe as what could have caused the "alien" skull, but are most definitely human.
>If all the Chinese are oppressed peasants, who's pirating millions and millions of copies of American software?
I didn't say they were ALL oppressed peasants. But China is highly dependent on the output of its farming workers. (ie, peasants) And there are a lot of them. And they are oppressed. However, just because that's true doesn't mean that there aren't enough educated people to pirate software.
>A better question would be how communist is _china_?
Ahh, but that's not the question. The question is how dedicated are chinese officials to maintaining an outward appearance of communism... which I think is their reason for making Linux their national OS. While they may not really be communist, they'd like to think they are.
...that Linux could seem VERY communist if you were in the right mindset. (IE, if you were a chinese official) After all, Linux was made through the cooperation of many, many individuals who were not out to profit hugely, it's available at about 1/10 the price of Win98, and it works really well. However, I don't think that having an official OS for a country made up largely of oppressed peasants makes very much sense. They should stick to national animals.
I have a great reason for being home...I'm installing Linux for the first time! Yah!
You know, my first thought when I saw that was, "Hey! That's a good reason!" I'm going to get Linux installed in a couple months... Ok, so one of my friends is going to install it for me at my New Year's party - is that so pathetic?? Yes. It is.
Another comment so this doesn't get TOO offtopic - looking for a SO online doesn't guarantee that they won't be weirded out by your computer obsession when they find out, but at least it doesn't decrease your options quite as much when they tell all their friends.
But I did meet one boyfriend at a summer academic camp for gifted high schoolers. Despite meeting in person, it turned into a long-distance relationship immediately - 3&1/2 hours by car is much, much more difficult to overcome if you have to ask your parents to drive you.
In general, I'd say that online relationships are most definitely worth it if you don't restrict yourself to them. If you're leading a fairly normal (by non-nerd standards) life and happen to fall in love online, I doubt there'd be a problem with it. But if your life consists of staying in the basement and hitting on anyone of your preferred gender in the AOL chat rooms, I doubt anything's going to work out. (And if you're the type of person who sits in the house and hits on people in AOL chat, I hope you don't reproduce.)
I agree... well, at least about there being way too many Blair Witch takeoffs. (I didn't think this one was that amusing.) There are only so many ways to rehash the plot, especially when it's a fairly simple one like this. Eventually they degenerate into puns...:-
However, I like the survey they have: "Is Windows 95/98 a buggy operating system?" I think this would be a perfect way to use the/. effect...
Time Magazine did a story on it just a little while ago. The general consensus seemed to be that most of the time it's absolutely wonderful, while the rest of the time it really, really screws your eyes up.
*laughing* I should have KNOWN not to put up a URL to a site that has my picture. You all realize, of course, that by pursuing a geek chick you're violating the first rule... Marissa
That I never, ever, ever end up in a relationship with a guy who's been nice to me "in spite of" my looks, my personality, or my intelligence just on the off chance that I'd turn out to be really hot someday. Or one who doesn't want to date geek chicks because they won't be "there for him" when he needs them.
Incidentally, how does this apply to geek guys? If one is not supposed to date programming chicks who post on/. because they'll be too busy coding in times of emotional need, wouldn't geek guys be the same?
Marissa, one of the many defenders of geek womanhood
You've got to be kidding me....
on
New Photos of Io
·
· Score: 1
Err, wait. You're probably not. If you can show me something that could plausibly be a face in that picture, I'll mirror it.
http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov/images/io/iocolor.html Some of these are in true color, and some of them aren't, but they're all a little more fun to look at than the black-and-white ones, no matter what the resolution.
...or I'd be out a boyfriend, probably. He fits their geek profile almost perfectly, with some additions they would have put in there if they'd thought of them. He has glasses and bad hair. He is completely incapable of shopping for his own clothing, and once bought pants that DID come halfway up to his knees when he sat down. He has at least 5 Magic:The Gathering t-shirts, which he wears often. Anytime we're in a mall, he has to spend at least a quarter of his money in the arcade, regardless of why else we're there.
*melodramatic sigh, attempting to keep a straight face* But I suppose it's partially my own fault... when I met him while playing AD&D, I did not present my chest for full inspection. Instead, I leaned on the table and ate pixy sticks and starbursts. As it was my first time playing, I admitted that I did not have the slightest idea of what was going on instead of looking dumb later on. I spent at least part of most of our sessions giggling uncontrollably.
And, most importantly, I didn't consider him a worthless loser and actually paid attention to him. Now I have a boyfriend who _doesn't_ love me for my chest or for faking my understanding of something. Instead, he appreciates the fact that I'm intelligent enough to not read WWN unless an article is mentioned on/.
And also, something I've been wondering... do these WWN people not know how to tell a guy to get lost? I find this method much more effective than sticking my chest out.
Slashdot Mirror
Umm, this is from the UK government. Not the US government.
Marissa
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Marissa
I agree. I don't think I can even count the number of Excel and PowerPoint classes I've been forced to attend to "learn" the programs. Anyone with minimal talent and some experience can work them if they get a little instruction.
:-)
Given a few weeks, I'm sure I could teach the 2-year-old daughter of some family friends how to use email, Word, and Excel, and she doesn't even really understand how to play Mickey Mouse Yahtzee.
Marissa
A LARGE percentage of my time online is spent convincing friends that life is really worth living, that their adult lives won't have to be like this, and that if they can only survive a few more years, they will never have to come back again.
/.ers, in case you feel the need to deprive me of even more of my "spare" time) but I don't think something advertized to guidance counselors is really the right answer. People can't be pushed into accepting something like this, which is what may happen if we give schools what they will see as an easy way of "curing" every kid who dresses oddly and plays Quake.
I'm willing to help anyone who needs me, (yes, this does include random
*wondering how much it would cost to put ads in the back of Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine* In any case, I'm all for this as long as it'll be done correctly. Now, if they don't need me at the teen suicide hotline right now...
Marissa
I LOVE Veggietales!
Ohh WHERE is my hairbrush
Ohh where is my hairbrush...
They're hilarious. Although my opinion may be influenced by the fact that I first saw them at about 4 AM after several hours of playing AD&D. Anything is funny then...
*grin*
Suddenly, all of my 10th grade history teacher's ranting lectures about the Protestant ethic and its tremendous influence on American and European culture are starting to make sense. I feel a strange compulsion to rake leaves, despite the fact that it's 10:15 PM here in Wisconsin and my backyard is a FOREST.
But, as my Unitarian ethic suggests that I resist mindlessly conforming to the majority and choose my own path, I'm off to watch Monty Python videos and see if the Chee-tos have gone stale yet.
Marissa
*kicks her crappy modem*
Despite the long load time, this page is really informative. Some of these skull deformities are just as severe as what could have caused the "alien" skull, but are most definitely human.
>If all the Chinese are oppressed peasants, who's pirating millions and millions of copies of American software?
I didn't say they were ALL oppressed peasants. But China is highly dependent on the output of its farming workers. (ie, peasants) And there are a lot of them. And they are oppressed. However, just because that's true doesn't mean that there aren't enough educated people to pirate software.
>A better question would be how communist is _china_?
Ahh, but that's not the question. The question is how dedicated are chinese officials to maintaining an outward appearance of communism... which I think is their reason for making Linux their national OS. While they may not really be communist, they'd like to think they are.
...that Linux could seem VERY communist if you were in the right mindset. (IE, if you were a chinese official) After all, Linux was made through the cooperation of many, many individuals who were not out to profit hugely, it's available at about 1/10 the price of Win98, and it works really well. However, I don't think that having an official OS for a country made up largely of oppressed peasants makes very much sense. They should stick to national animals.
Marissa
I have a great reason for being home...I'm installing Linux for the first time! Yah!
You know, my first thought when I saw that was, "Hey! That's a good reason!" I'm going to get Linux installed in a couple months... Ok, so one of my friends is going to install it for me at my New Year's party - is that so pathetic??
Yes. It is.
Another comment so this doesn't get TOO offtopic - looking for a SO online doesn't guarantee that they won't be weirded out by your computer obsession when they find out, but at least it doesn't decrease your options quite as much when they tell all their friends.
Marissa
Nah...couldn't be. After all, I'm sure a whole lot of dateless geeks are out playing Magic: The Gathering or AD&D tonight. :-)
/.! Really!
*looks around furtively*
But, uh, I have a good reason to be home and checking
Marissa
But I did meet one boyfriend at a summer academic camp for gifted high schoolers. Despite meeting in person, it turned into a long-distance relationship immediately - 3&1/2 hours by car is much, much more difficult to overcome if you have to ask your parents to drive you.
In general, I'd say that online relationships are most definitely worth it if you don't restrict yourself to them. If you're leading a fairly normal (by non-nerd standards) life and happen to fall in love online, I doubt there'd be a problem with it. But if your life consists of staying in the basement and hitting on anyone of your preferred gender in the AOL chat rooms, I doubt anything's going to work out. (And if you're the type of person who sits in the house and hits on people in AOL chat, I hope you don't reproduce.)
Marissa
I agree... well, at least about there being way too many Blair Witch takeoffs. (I didn't think this one was that amusing.) There are only so many ways to rehash the plot, especially when it's a fairly simple one like this. Eventually they degenerate into puns... :-
/. effect...
However, I like the survey they have: "Is Windows 95/98 a buggy operating system?" I think this would be a perfect way to use the
Marissa
Time Magazine did a story on it just a little while ago. The general consensus seemed to be that most of the time it's absolutely wonderful, while the rest of the time it really, really screws your eyes up.
Marissa
Zut?
Exut?
Iksut?
With one of those bushmen-type clicks?
I can just see NASA guys going on nation television and making fools of themselves trying to pronounce "Xut".
*thinks for a moment*
All right, that does it. I'm voting for Xut.
Marissa
Let's see...
How about Renta?
Edo?
All right, I admit it, my ideas AREN'T that twisted. But it's not even 6:00 yet, and I've been off of caffeine for too long.
Marissa
And when the hell can we get a cure for the common cold?
Well, if all of the various strains of cold virus somehow become similar enough that we wouldn't need new drugs for each one, I'll let you know.
Marissa
*laughing* I should have KNOWN not to put up a URL to a site that has my picture. You all realize, of course, that by pursuing a geek chick you're violating the first rule... Marissa
That I never, ever, ever end up in a relationship with a guy who's been nice to me "in spite of" my looks, my personality, or my intelligence just on the off chance that I'd turn out to be really hot someday. Or one who doesn't want to date geek chicks because they won't be "there for him" when he needs them.
/. because they'll be too busy coding in times of emotional need, wouldn't geek guys be the same?
Incidentally, how does this apply to geek guys? If one is not supposed to date programming chicks who post on
Marissa, one of the many defenders of geek womanhood
Err, wait. You're probably not. If you can show me something that could plausibly be a face in that picture, I'll mirror it.
http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov/images/io/iocolor.html Some of these are in true color, and some of them aren't, but they're all a little more fun to look at than the black-and-white ones, no matter what the resolution.
...or I'd be out a boyfriend, probably. He fits their geek profile almost perfectly, with some additions they would have put in there if they'd thought of them. He has glasses and bad hair. He is completely incapable of shopping for his own clothing, and once bought pants that DID come halfway up to his knees when he sat down. He has at least 5 Magic:The Gathering t-shirts, which he wears often. Anytime we're in a mall, he has to spend at least a quarter of his money in the arcade, regardless of why else we're there.
/.
*melodramatic sigh, attempting to keep a straight face*
But I suppose it's partially my own fault... when I met him while playing AD&D, I did not present my chest for full inspection. Instead, I leaned on the table and ate pixy sticks and starbursts. As it was my first time playing, I admitted that I did not have the slightest idea of what was going on instead of looking dumb later on. I spent at least part of most of our sessions giggling uncontrollably.
And, most importantly, I didn't consider him a worthless loser and actually paid attention to him. Now I have a boyfriend who _doesn't_ love me for my chest or for faking my understanding of something. Instead, he appreciates the fact that I'm intelligent enough to not read WWN unless an article is mentioned on
And also, something I've been wondering... do these WWN people not know how to tell a guy to get lost? I find this method much more effective than sticking my chest out.