Nokia N800 versus the Newton
Here is an interesting article comparing the N800 to the MP2100
http://cs.gmu.edu/~sean/stuff/n800/
For what it's worth, the N800 cannot be compared to the Newton, two different target demographics and functionalities to consider, however the author has many valid points
Classes are back!
Criminal Enterprises go mainstream
--- BEGIN QUOTE ---
Job Description
Project Assistant for Money Laundering Department
Post Date: January 23, 2007
Location: Boston
Assignment: Temporary
Pay Rate: $14.00 to $15.00 per hour
Start Date: February 5, 2007
Industry: Private Banking
Job Order Number: 210-102523
Requirements:
MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
--- END QUOTE ----
I guess no undercover cops allowed
Suprisingly enough, the website is offline this morning.
Thoughts on the iPhone vs the Newton
I came home and read more about it...I was less excited...but still my level of "Excited" was quite high.
As time goes by, more and more rumors or newslets (little news blurbs - not the whole story - a term coined here first!) come out...make the product look less appealing in terms of features, but the product still maintains its cutting edge industrial design.
I was going to write a piece about the newton in the 2010s & Apple's iPhone - but I think I will wait until the iPhone is actually released and people start reviewing its features
All ready for Spring!
xXx: State of the Union - LOL!
It was not as bad as Bloodrayne and Raptor Island - but it was bad - at least I got a good laugh!
Some quotes from IMDB that describe this film:
State of The Union takes itself far too seriously with a plot so absurd you swear it was written by a focus group of 13 year old boys after a binge at McDonalds. Action sequences are spaced every ten minutes or so as bookends to move Cube onto the next dilemma, each new sequence becoming further and further detached from reality."xXx: State of the Union" employs the same method of action filming as many other Hollywood-movies of late. You know the method: "move the camera exceptionally close and shake it like if the camera-man was a spastic".
Much funnier than "Johnny English" - too bad it's not supposed to be a comedy
Suspending disbelief is one thing, but when you have a movie that expects people to believe that tanks can be handled like motorbikes... and which works in such daft plot turns as characters having their deaths faked just so they can be around for the climax (why not just kill them there?)... and that has a finale which depends on a car and a Presidential bullet train being able to fit on the same track despite the car being a compact if speedy sports car... in this case it's just impossible.
The action is as stupid and illogical as the plot itself but it is noisy, stupid, big and bold and is enjoyable on that level; it is a shame that it lacks any actual tension or excitement but the noise will be enough for the target audience. At times it all gets a bit much and just looks plain silly but it never really stops moving that long so the next boom or bang is only ever minutes away, preventing you turning your brain on.
It has barely if nothing to do with the first XXX movie. This time around, they took the usual patriotic fight-for-your-country propaganda but mixed it up with hip hop. It's the closest thing to taking a swim into a pool of puke.
This "movie" seems to be 100 minute rap video about the glorification of bums. It's filled with the biggest clichés: the bad boys from the ghetto riding in their hummers, the corrupt government officials, the abusive and aggressive use of computer-generated graphics (which are WAY off, Star Wars was candy compared to that), the endless fight scenes every five minutes, one-dimensional women characters with large curves and a hip hop soundtrack.
Watching Ice Cube trying to behave like Vin Diesel was just so embarrassingly pathetic, it has probably dealt a fatal blow to whatever acting career he might have otherwise had. Even if he could act, his pudgy physique is just ludicrously inappropriate for an action hero.
One hour left until 24!!!
Mean what you say...
AppleTV = m'eh!
The AppleTV does have a lot of good points! Permit me to list them:
1. Support for Standard Definition and High Definition TVs
2. No need to have a dedicated PC hooked to your TV, unlike Microsoft's Media Center PCs
3. Easy Integration with iTunes (Music, Films, TV shows, audiobooks, podcasts)
It really does simplify the process!
But ultimatelly the product really sucks - why? It doesn't allow me to use my media:
1. DVDs that I own and have ripped to my external HD for convenient access
2. Video that I have captured myself, or digitized myself
3. I know there are a number of people with el gato TV sets, and thus have recorded TV shows
These are just a few examples that really handicap the AppleTV. I realize that apple is attempting to gain (more) leverage for its iTunes store, but as a consumer it makes me not want to buy this device. If iTunes had a built-in DVD ripper, in the same way it rips CDs, and if I could use that content - then I would probably reconsider my position. Perhaps we should wait for AppleTV 2.0
Smartphone Keyboards & the iPhone
While Steve does have a Reality Distortion Field*, he does have some valid points:
Keyboards are generally there when you don't need them unless they are slide out keyboards in which case they tuck away when not in use. This of course does have its pitfalls. My blue angel's keyboard has gotten lose with use (hey that rhymes!) in effect sliding out when I don't need it.
TUAW's assertion that the lack of a non-tactile keyboard slows you down. Well, true, however it's only the case because one might be used to a specific type of keyboard. I've used HTC devices, Treos, and Blackberries - all of their keyboards sucked big time! I still hunt-n-peck with all the built-in smartphone keyboards - and my thumbs end up hurting after use (crackberry thumb syndrome?!) I am not saying that the on-screen keyboard is necessarily better - but do enjoy having a bigger screen area and not having a keyboard out there when I don't need it.
Also, don't forget to see Colbert's opinion on the iPhone
*I personally think this is the mark of a great presenter - something similar to the protagonist of Thank you for smoking - but I digress
We're getting audited!
The auditors are looking for things that were purchased in 1987, like IBM 286 PCs (that are looooong gone)
The funny thing is that we might be audited by someone that I took a class with that is a state auditor
- my my! it is a
small world!
Now we are frantically taking inventory to make sure that we have everything we say we have.....aaahhhhhhhh! never a dull day!
Technogasm!!!!
iPhone, AppleTV.... aaaaahhhh
OK I was wrong, the iPhone thing, after YEARS of rumors...I just wrote it off! But now....wow!!!!
Almost makes me regret getting a nokia N80 a few months ago...but heh not really.
The iPhone is super cool, but I think I will wait for version 2.0 which will most likely include:
1. Apple TV support (access your media from anywhere in range of your other devices)
2. Front camera for video calls (iChat, Skype, UMTS)
3. UMTS capability
Now one thing I do not get: Does it support MMS?
Need to get more info
Got my license renewed!
License renewal!
Massachusetts has a system where you can renew your license online provided that:
1. The digital photo that they have on file is not more than 9 years old.
2. The photo was taken after your 21st birthday.
So I am now 26, I should be able to renew online, right?
WRONG! why? Because when I was 20 years old (and 361 days!) I did the responsible thing and renewed my license a few days before it actually expired, so I would not be driving around with an expired license. I spoke to 4 apathetic employees at the RMV and none of them would renew my license because I was 20 years and 361 days old when my last photo was taken. Wow, when I turned 21 I must have really changed - boy oh boy!
Now I must go and wait in line for a license renewal!
Maybe I will sneeze at them and make them sick with my cold germs
Stevenote tomorrow!
MacWorld Tomorrow!!!
My personal predictions are as follows:
Likely stuff:
1. Various small updates to the laptop and desktop lines
2. A medium sized update for the Xserve line
3. More information on the iTV product (maybe even a lauch)
4. Pulling off all (or most) of the wraps on Leopard
5. More studios on the iTunes store
Less Likely:
1. the iPhone launch (I just don't buy it)
2. Video iPod
3. DVD ripping in iTunes
Can't wait for 24!
Eureka!
I have pinpointed why I am feeling extreme work dissatisfaction the last few months! If you had asked me:
"why do you feel dissatisfied at work?"
I might have said responded with something like
This bureaucracy is driving me nuts! It has been 4 months since I submitted upgrade paperwork, and 6 months since we've been talking about it, but Human Resources STILL have not received my paperwork. I have been going above and beyond the call for the last 9 months and I've also been getting heat from various people, including the higher ups, who believe that I am "not doing my job." Of course people don't see is that I am attempting to do my actual job while helping projects move along (things that aren't my job). Higher ups stress that projects, that are not actually in my job duties, are strategically important and either come out and state that I should be part of them, or hint at it. There are only so many hours in the day, and one must prioritize what needs to be done first, second, third and so on. When your bosses stress certain projects - well then you focus more on those, don't you?
Of course, the above is what is happening on the surface and is obvious to everyone involved. This however is not the underlying cause of my dissatisfaction and this I realized today! The real cause is this:
I hold myself to a standard, and I hold others to certain standards too! I do this subconsciously, I don't really think about it, and I think this is why it took me so long to realize what the underlying cause of my dissatisfaction is. Since I expect certain things of myself, I expect certain behavior from others, and because that expected behavior does not meet the actual real world behavior - there is a certain amount of confusion as to why things are not as expected, and there is exploration as to how you can make the actual match your expected. When you can't make the two meet (to a reasonable approximation) you get dissatisfaction - where I am now!
Here is a concrete example of this is: I like to fix things that are either broken or not functioning well.
A year ago, when I came to my current workplace, there were things that did not function well (or were broken!) that no one did anything about. Here are three (of many) examples:
1. Flash drives were not being recognized by our PCs. Up until that time someone from Systems needed to come out of the office, go to that PC that the patron was using and input the administrator password THREE times in order to make the PC recognize the removable media. When I brought the issue up it was dismissed as nothing could be done about it. Well I researched the matter, I found the culprit and fixed the problem!
2. PC user profiles were being corrupted. Again dismissed and people said "nothing you can do about it" - again researched and fixed the problem!
3. Servers were taken over by some pretty nasty software while the network manager was on vacation (mind you we don't have backup people) - fixed the problem myself
I was able to bring the actual state pretty close to my expectation levels.
Machines you can fix, people are another thing...
Here are four examples (out of many)
1. Person contacts me and says they want the newest version of software X because they will realize gains in productivity if we get it. We buy it, I install it for her, made sure it worked, went back to my office. 10 minutes later I get a call because she does not know how to use this software! I go, show her. A week later, the same situation. This repeated many times! (person makes $79,000)
2. Person calls me because they do not know if the patron is valid or not (i.e. if their membership has expired). This person deals with patrons every day and should already know how to check this sort of stuff - tools of the trade sort of situation. I go and show them. This situation repeats other times. (person makes $80,000)
3. Person calls about Microsoft Outlook problems. Its not my job to fix this, but I am a sport, so I go and help out and show them how to fix the problem. They forget how to fix the problem, so they call again...I fix it and show them again. This repeats quite a few times (person makes $75,000)
4. Someone moved their office and with them went the computer. I asked where they wanted to the computer and set it up where they told me (nothing special, just a CPU, monitor, mouse and keyboard). 15 minutes later I get a call that they want the PC moved 3 inches to the left and they cant move it. they needed my help...what? :-/ are you kidding me?! (person makes $90,000)
So it turns out that I can solve hardware problems, once and for all, but the human factor is always recurring - like the "lessons" I give them go in one ear and out the other. The actual appears not to be making it close to my expectations. This is because, I believe, they do not wish to learn. These are people that make quite a lot of money - some over $90,000 per year, and they don't want to learn basic things!
Now I do realize that the expected and the actual in these kinds of situations never actually meet, but they can come close enough to look at one another - I would be happy with that.
I also do realize that people have different technical backgrounds, and that not everyone has an appreciation for the geeky stuff I like. I am not asking for a lot - I am not asking you to program in C++ or create AJAX applications.
I am just asking that you know the tools of your trade. Know how your things work, and how to troubleshoot things that are vital to your livelihood. Also, when I show your something 10 times, I expect something to stick! This isn't too much to ask for, is it?
In Greek they say Μια φορά το λεν του ανθρώπου και δέκα του γαϊδάρου. Quite fitting for this situation. The positive side is that there are a number of people that do learn, and don't call back with the same problem, day after day, and they already know and are learning their tools of trade. Also, most of the people that I have to troubleshoot and instruct multiple times are appreciate and they say thank you. This is what keeps me just dissatisfied - otherwise I would be "completely dissatisfied"
Splinter Cell: Essentials - done!
A few weeks before classes are about to commence (yet again) I have completed Splinter Cell: Essentials (altough I don't remember what my difficulty level was)
Nice game - really enjoyed it - now I hope that Conviction comes to the PSP - there are rumors that it is a microsoft exclusive (XBOX/360 and PC) - I hope this is not true
The last level of this game was a royal pain! No weapons, No killing. It was all stealth! I think I killed Sam quite a few times before the level ended.
Next up on my list: Untold Legends - Brotherhood of the Blade
Podcast no-nos
).
In going over various greek podcasts I found a learn greek podcast from the Hellenic American Union. OK I think... let me download and listen to a few episodes to see what their format is, supporting material and so on. I am shocked at how bad this program is! Even in episode 1 the content of this podcast is 100% Greek, no english, no explanations, nothing.
OK, I think to myself, let me head over to the website, see if there are any PDFs, any supporting documentation, something that would help a student of the Greek language learn.
I found a PDF for that podcast! yay! I open it! - instant disappointment! It's just the transcript of the podcast, all in Greek, no explanations - how useful!
From their page:
By following the instructions located further down on this page, you will be able to download the Modern Greek lessons, store them in your iPod, and choose when and where you listen to them.To make learning Greek easier, you can also view and download the full transcript of each lesson (in .pdf form); transcripts are enhanced with images to help you understand better what you hear. If you wish, you can also play the audio file.Once you have downloaded and stored the lessons, you will be able to listen to them as many times as you wish, pause at any point you want, and pick up again from the same point.
Yes...people can listen to them many, many, many times - but that does not mean that you will learn something! D'oh! Why didn't anyone over there think of this?
The podcasts are for everyone, regardless of age, whose mother language is not Greek, and who wants to improve their Greek in an original manner, whenever they like.
So obviously, these podcasts are intended for people who don't have previous experience in Greek - it wasn't just y assumption.
Finally:
Each of the 80 podcasts is a mini lesson that aims at teaching you how to communicate effectively in M. Greek. No grammar, no rules, no “do’s” and “don’ts”; just basic dialogues, short phrases, and words that you, too, will be able to use in a variety of everyday situations.
I agree that situational language learning (and a little humor) helps learners learn, retain and possibly recall information - but without english explanations of what we are hearing those 10 minutes spent listening to this podcast are wasted. Furthermore, cutting out grammar, rules, dos and don'ts is just plain stupid. A person who is learning a language (or improving it!!!) should be told what is correct form and what is not. What should corrent and what sounds awkward. Maybe this is content for later lessons, but still - this information should be included at some point.
As an outside person looking in, it seems to me that these podcasts are meant to be used in conjunction with some sort of textbook, or as part of a course curriculum - not as stand-alone podcasts as they are currently distributed. Hopefully the HUA will fix this (or I can get GreekPod up and running
)
This was the thought of the day
Happy New Year!
Πάει ο παλιός ο χρόνος, ας γιορτάσουμε παιδιά
και του χωρισμού ο πόνος ας κοιμάται στην καρδιά.
Καλή χρονιά, χρονιά πολλά, καλή χρονιά χρόνια πολλά
χαρούμενη χρυσή Πρωτοχρονιά.
Γέρε χρόνε φύγε τώρα πάει η δική σου η σειρά,
ήρθε ο νέος με τα δώρα, με τραγούδια με χαρά.
Καλή χρονιά, χρονιά πολλά, καλή χρονιά χρόνια πολλά
χαρούμενη χρυσή Πρωτοχρονιά.
Μα κι αν φεύγεις μακριά μας στην καρδιά μας πάντα ζει
κάθε λύπη και χαρά μας που περάσαμε μαζί.
Καλή χρονιά, χρονιά πολλά, καλή χρονιά χρόνια πολλά
χαρούμενη χρυσή Πρωτοχρονιά.
I know...it's all Greek to you