Recent Posts

7826

Living Room / Re: Steve Jobs is dead.

« Last post by wraith808 on October 26, 2011, 03:13 PM »

I'm going to bow out at this point, because apparently his 'reality distortion field' goes both ways, as it seems that some can't see the negative, and some can't see the positive.  Few are completely either, and IMO, he doesn't fall into that few.

And one last point I'll add- most people can't say that they truly innovated *anything* without dependence on *any* other technologies, so take that for what its worth.

7827

Living Room / Re: Steve Jobs is dead.

« Last post by wraith808 on October 26, 2011, 02:19 PM »

True, he also robbed a lot of other people ideas and claimed they were his.

He was famous for taking all the credit.

Apple's famous designer, Jonathan Ive, was frustrated because Steve was constantly taking credit for his ideas.  It was a recurring problem, with incredibly talented executives complaining that Jobs took all the credit for Apple's game-changing innovations.  "I pay maniacal attention to where an idea comes from, and I even keep notebooks filled with my ideas," Ive said.  "So it hurts when he takes credit for one of my designs."

-http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/032411jobsa

-Eóin (October 26, 2011, 02:07 PM)

And again, this is baby/bathwater situation.  Not even taking into account that we are on the outside, and this is basically he said/she said kind of stuff (not saying if its true or not), the point is that the company under his leadership *was* responsible for the energizing of the tablet market that Microsoft had been trying to get mainstream for 10 years at the time the iPad came out, and similar things happened with the phone and the music player.  But I suppose that doesn't mean anything?

7828

Living Room / Re: Steve Jobs is dead.

« Last post by wraith808 on October 26, 2011, 01:18 PM »

Jobs was very good at what he did and revolutionized tech... marketing

-kfitting (October 26, 2011, 11:26 AM)

FTFY

-Stoic Joker (October 26, 2011, 11:57 AM)

It wasn't just marketing- people say that all the time.  But look at it objectively, and one can see that it wasn't *just* the marketing.  At least IMO.

7829

Living Room / Re: Steve Jobs is dead.

« Last post by wraith808 on October 26, 2011, 01:17 PM »

Nothing's missing from my brain, truth is I don't respect what he accomplished because I don't respect how he accomplished it.

-Eóin (October 26, 2011, 09:53 AM)

There's a difference between the accomplishment and the business behind the accomplishment.  People seem to discard the one for the other.  I don't think we'd be where we are with smartphones, tablets, nor music players if not for these accomplishments.  It's not as if he was responsible for any of the innovations- but the design behind the implementations that Apple utilized pushed the market because they were able to see financial feasibility in the concepts.  To ignore that is to throw the baby out with the bathwater IMO.

7830

Living Room / Re: Steve Jobs is dead.

« Last post by wraith808 on October 26, 2011, 09:25 AM »

From the blog post Snipers... about sums up my feelings on the subject...

Some NSFW language behind the cut

Spoiler

Any time a famous person dies, there always seems to be some sniping going on during all the news accounts of his or her passing.


There were people gave Mother Teresa shit after she died. I expect the Dalai Lama will catch some of that when he shuffles on.


Yeah, I can understand how one can get fed up with hearing the same stuff over and over. When the Challenger space shuttle blew up, I had to turn my TV off–they kept showing that explosion over and over and over until I couldn't stand it. As they did with the twin towers on 9/11. My knee-jerk reaction when I see either of those now is to change the channel, or go refill the water glass.


Like pop forty rock or cute TV commercial that are fun the first three or four times you hear see them, but that grate after the ninety-eighth time during one single day, TMI is TMI.


Steve Jobs was, by most accounts, a dick to work with. Self-centered, driven, and living in fantasyland to such an extent that it probably killed him–had he gotten the surgery to remove the cancer when it was encapsulated instead of waiting nine months and drinking herb tea? Maybe he'd still be here.


He ragged on everybody around him, apparently had the managerial skills of a blind walrus, and no concept of sparing anybody's balls in public.


But when I scan Facebook and see comments from people on my friend list that say, "Hey, Jobs wasn't so hot!" I just shake my head.


Really? How many billions of people are making phone calls, listening to music, or reading stuff like this online using a computer or touch table that your company created?


He created Apple, then came back after they fired him and pulled it out of the toilet to make it the second most valuable corporation in the country behind Exxon, and for a while, ahead of them.


Only a sales guy? Are you fucking kidding? The man could have sold matches and gasoline in Hell, and gotten premium prices for both.


Don't have to like the guy, but if you don't respect what he accomplished, you are missing a critical piece of your brain ...

7831

Living Room / Re: Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal

« Last post by wraith808 on October 26, 2011, 07:06 AM »

I think fear of ebook taking over the paperback is no different than people who fear cloud music services taking over the traditional media formats. We're seeing this type of change since 2002, when mp3.com and lycos rhapsody changed the music distribution on the web. DRM was repelled by both artists and the consumers alike and the notorious lobby of RIAA and agents failed to control the media formats with the excuse of piracy.Thanks to all those warez and hackers for keeping mp3 format alive today despite the cloud attacks from various services. I think same will happen with ebook formats and people will still prefer paperbacks for some type of books.

-mahesh2k (October 26, 2011, 06:55 AM)

^ this.

7832

Living Room / Re: Wikileaks says financial 'blockade' could put it out of business

« Last post by wraith808 on October 25, 2011, 08:34 PM »

Before releasing anything in public, they should have data-mined and cross-referenced things heavily, and worked together with global media to run some in-depth unveiling of corruption.

-f0dder (October 25, 2011, 08:25 PM)

That was if the release was *really* about unveiling something.  As it stands, it looks more like it was 'counting coup' than anything of substance.  And considering the fate of the person allegedly responsible for leaking much of the information, that seems a shame.

7833

Living Room / Re: Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal

« Last post by wraith808 on October 25, 2011, 04:43 PM »

But I guess my point from the other side is, in a lot of cases in the drive to make sure that the corporations don't get what they want, and the drive to make our voices heard, we forget that not all done is bad, other people have differing opinions even as far as our opinions are concerned, and that we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

It's fine that we might say that "If there isn't a DRM-free version, I won't buy it."  It's not fine IMO if we say, "You can't offer it unless you offer a DRM-free version."

Would I like there to be no DRM?  Sure!  I'd also like if people would pay without DRM, and companies would trust that, and the people that made the content would trust that.  But we don't live in that world, and if the choice is being able to take advantage of the convenience with DRM, or not having the content, at this point, I'd choose having the DRM.  There are things that they could do to change this, and I've run afoul DRM before.  But I'm willing to take the risk- and that should be OK.

There is a rapidly growing 'digtal only' library of books appearing.

-Carol Haynes (October 25, 2011, 03:13 PM)

The market will support what the market will support.  And if the market speaks towards a digital only segment, then that's what the market will get.  Many readers don't have e-readers.  And I don't think that portion will be so easily silenced.

7834

Living Room / Re: Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal

« Last post by wraith808 on October 25, 2011, 02:44 PM »

But if you give your kids nook or kindle before paperback book then i guess they'll pick these tablets over paperback. Coolness factor and complexity attracts more to human mind sometimes. I think we're stuck in between pre-internet and high noise internet age. That makes us feel weird about the whole ebook vs paperback stuff.

-mahesh2k (October 25, 2011, 01:35 PM)

I wonder.  Just like I wonder sometimes if she'll feel the same way I did on that day when I took her into Barnes and Noble for the first time someday.  I've always loved bookstores... the small bookstores before the big chains came out.  I remember this old used book store that I'd go in and stay for hours just looking through pulp paperback books- the 99 cent kind on the cheap paper that if you dogeared them a crack would appear in the fold.  And just sitting there, reading.  And when I'd get home, I'd have this stack of books that I'd watch dwindle as I read them.

I still read- and the upside is that if I get the desire to read a book again (I do that very often) then I have the new and the old with me all the time.  I don't have to search through books to find the one I'm looking for- I just type in the name, and there it is.  I don't have to spend hours looking through books or going to stores- I just browse to it on the internet and hit buy and then it's on my device.  And if I move again, half of my moving charge won't be because of books- I remember one of my moves where they quoted me half the price the end cost was, and the difference was because of the sheer volume of books.  I also remember a move in which I had to leave behind quite a few books because I just didn't have the space or money to keep them. 

But seeing her sense of wonder when we went to the bookstore really made me realize what I'd lost to get the advantages.

Everything is a trade off, and this is no exception.  Everything is a choice, and everyone should have the opportunity to make their own.

7835

Living Room / Re: Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal

« Last post by wraith808 on October 25, 2011, 01:29 PM »

You haven't seen the nook color  My daughter was very skeptical about this whole e-book thing.  Then I took her into Best Buy to look a the Nook color.  She fell in love with it.  And she's old enough that she doesn't use one of the great features for kids - let the book read to you.

-wraith808 (October 25, 2011, 11:27 AM)

And what happens when she has children and wants to share a childhood memory with her daughter? Does she dig out an ancient 'Nook' and expect it to work or does she have to go and buy the book again?

-Carol Haynes (October 25, 2011, 11:44 AM)

I guess we'll see.  But that's her (and my) choice.  I'm not trying to deny people theirs, or say that their choice is worse for them.  That's what I don't understand... if your choice happens to agree with the corporate direction (iphone, ipad, e-book, etc), then there seems to be an imperative to say exactly what you're missing.  That's what seems to be the major casualty of the digital age- the ability to see that people have different needs and different opinions, and all of them are valid.  I think civility followed that out the door (not to say in the case, but in many others).

She may like it so much that she wants to start getting only digital books.  She may decide that it's not for her.  Or she may use both.  And she might find out some downsides to either in the future.  But that's her path and her choice.

7836

Living Room / Re: Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal

« Last post by wraith808 on October 25, 2011, 11:27 AM »

I have not seen a single pdf picture book for kids or mobi or epub file that makes childrens book as easy and attractive to read as paperback. There is a huge difference between reading paperback version of Dr. Seussto that of scanned pdf one. VIntage illustration on paperbacks holds more memories of days than electronic format which is already complex for our memory. Ebooks are good for summary and short books, not for replacing paperbacks.

-mahesh2k (October 25, 2011, 09:42 AM)

You haven't seen the nook color   My daughter was very skeptical about this whole e-book thing.  Then I took her into Best Buy to look a the Nook color.  She fell in love with it.  And she's old enough that she doesn't use one of the great features for kids - let the book read to you.

And as far as replacing paperbacks, I'm a voracious reader.  I go to bookstores and book fairs and all sorts of things.  I was introducing my daughter to Barnes and Noble, and I envied her as I watched her sit on the floor and read.  I used to do that.  I'd have magazines and books and browse through all of them, leaving with a choice one or two, and a list of others I wanted.  In barnes and noble that day, I felt no impetus to do that, and it was like I lost something.  I took her to huge book warehouse/book fair, and we came home with a *lot* of books.  I haven't read any of mine, and she's read all of hers.  But I *still* read voraciously- more than even before.  It's just on my phone and iPad.

Maybe I'm not typical, but to say that they can't replace paperbacks is hubris.  They might not be able to replace paperbacks for *you*, but for me, they've already done that.  There's no substitution for having my complete library with me everywhere, and being able to immediately purchase, and not wait for a trip to the bookstore for me.

7837

Living Room / Re: What happens after a Cloud changes Types?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 25, 2011, 09:29 AM »

And as it stands, my visibility is very low.

-40hz (October 25, 2011, 08:35 AM)

As is mine.  I use this nick in a lot of places, and that's my online persona.  Unless you personally know me and know that I use it, your chance of tracing me from it is very low.  And I'd like to keep it that way, which is why their real name policy really ticked me off.  That's my major concern- that they'll try to associate the account with an untenable policy.  Thankfully, they seem to have backed off of that.

7838

Living Room / Re: Any PHP/CSS Editing Software?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 25, 2011, 07:37 AM »

I didn't answer the php part... I've used a personal license for PHPEdit and really like it.  It's pricey if you're looking for something for professional use, but its a really good editor.

-wraith808 (October 24, 2011, 01:55 PM)

Wow. That is pricey.

How good of an IDE is it though? I'd hope for code completion and debugging at that rate.

-Renegade (October 24, 2011, 11:25 PM)

And you'd get it   But like I said, the personal edition is free... and since I don't do any work with it, getting that wasn't a big deal.

7839

Living Room / Re: Do You Freelance?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 25, 2011, 07:37 AM »

Unfortunately, having only one client means you're not truly freelancing. You're really more an employee without medical or retirement benefits. At least according to the IRS.

-40hz (October 25, 2011, 12:16 AM)

I had multiple clients and covered myself that way.  But 90%+ was always a single client.  Having multiple clients has its own downfalls (conflicting priorities, a stretch with no work from multiple clients, then a stretch with too much work, marketing, etc.)  Like I said, too much work, and I barely liked the business part anyway.  The other <10% is the part that I still maintain.  Like I said... hobby money.

7840

Living Room / Re: Wikileaks says financial 'blockade' could put it out of business

« Last post by wraith808 on October 25, 2011, 07:34 AM »

+1 for the last two comments.

-Stoic Joker (October 25, 2011, 06:45 AM)

You only said both to cover up your interest in Tru-3D pr0n 

7841

Living Room / Re: What happens after a Cloud changes Types?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 25, 2011, 07:33 AM »

All my 'public' non-specific Gmail and Hotmail accounts were created back when you could get one for the asking without any back reference to anything with your real name on it. They've stood me in good stead.

-40hz (October 24, 2011, 11:36 PM)

As were mine.  That's not really the point- the point is that you *already* have a google account.  Even *without* that information.  You might not have a *profile* but you have any account.

7842

Living Room / Re: Do You Freelance?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 24, 2011, 07:39 PM »

I call myself a freelancer but all work comes from one guy. Not very clever if he drops dead.

-nudone (October 24, 2011, 05:19 PM)

I think the majority of freelancers are in the same boat, truthfully.  I know I was... not exactly, but close enough.  I tried to diversify, but it was too much work. 

7843

Living Room / Re: What happens after a Cloud changes Types?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 24, 2011, 07:15 PM »

^ You had that?  How?  Or did you just fool yourself into thinking you did?

-wraith808 (October 24, 2011, 12:54 PM)

I have a great deal of "that" even though it's not 100%.

-40hz (October 24, 2011, 06:40 PM)

I mean, you have a gmail account, right?  Then you already have a google account, so however much you are exposed now, G+ wouldn't make it more.  And the only reason I have exposure at all is my wife- she doesn't understand why I'm so paranoid about my identity on the web, so it was a fight I chose not to have.

7844

Living Room / Re: Any PHP/CSS Editing Software?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 24, 2011, 01:55 PM »

I didn't answer the php part... I've used a personal license for PHPEdit and really like it.  It's pricey if you're looking for something for professional use, but its a really good editor.

7845

Living Room / Re: What happens after a Cloud changes Types?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 24, 2011, 12:54 PM »

^ You had that?  How?  Or did you just fool yourself into thinking you did?

My point is, you had a google account.  When you signed up for gmail, you signed up for one.

7846

Living Room / Wikileaks says financial 'blockade' could put it out of business

« Last post by wraith808 on October 24, 2011, 11:17 AM »

Wikileaks says financial 'blockade' could put it out of business

In July, WikiLeaks filed a complaint to the Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission, saying Visa and MasterCard had breached antitrust provisions set out by the EU Treaty.

Antitrust provisions for a not for profit?  Somehow that seems contradictory...

7847

Living Room / Re: Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal

« Last post by wraith808 on October 24, 2011, 11:10 AM »

What an e-reader can't give you.

7848

Living Room / Re: What happens after a Cloud changes Types?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 24, 2011, 10:02 AM »

I don't think so... a lot of people have a lot of google accounts- especially given the fact that corporations use it.  Including my google apps accounts, I have 5 accounts, and I don't think I'm alone in that number.

What's this pawing through contacts bit?  It has my contacts in the list that I can put into circles, but that's the extent of it, and I'd not heard anything about that.

7849

Living Room / Re: What happens after a Cloud changes Types?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 24, 2011, 09:41 AM »

I think it will only be a problem if you are required to have the G+ "social" rather than just the basic gmail account in order to get any other service from Google.

-40hz (October 24, 2011, 09:32 AM)

There's not a difference, really.  Not much of one in any case- it's just activated services...

7850

Living Room / Re: Do You Freelance?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 24, 2011, 09:40 AM »

I do, but not as much now.  In fact, I don't actively seek work anymore, but just get it through word of mouth, etc.  Because all of the clients I've made have been over several years, I have a range of them including a recording artist, a real-estate data collation company, a collective for architects, an author, a game store, a community works site, a photographer, an ebay-based store, and an entrepreneur.

The services I provide range from custom software to websites to hosting to (in the case of the entrepreneur) shared server space.  It's more hobby money than anything else- I gave up on the dream of self-sufficiency a long time ago.

Should a worker be able to opt out of the social security system?

-eleman (October 24, 2011, 09:36 AM)

Ummm... I won't answer for the danger of going off onto a rant... :-X