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That game was sweet. We pretty much spotted them 7 points and ripped their balls off. Awesome.
That game was sweet. We pretty much spotted them 7 points and ripped their balls off. Awesome.
Ok, bold statement of the day:
Deleting your /tmp directory in Linux is a bad idea.
Yeah. It’s important to remember to type
rm -r /tmp/*
instead of
rm -r /tmp
At least I didn’t do a
rm -rf /
Which in dos-speak is
format c:
with no warnings. Luckily, a mkdir and chmod saved the day. I love Linux. I’d be reinstalling right now with Windows.
How to sound stupid when speaking to a web designer:
“Umm…I don’t know how hard this is, or if it’s even possible, but, uh, you know, would it be…uh, possible to put a link to the College of Engineering’s website on the, uh… webpage?”
WinFS Axed from Longhorn Client, Server
Let me preface this by saying that I am now a Linux enthusiast, not a Linux advocate. I do not believe that Linux should replace Windows on “The Desktop” as of now (I capitalize because this term is important in Linux/Windows Holy War circles).
This story seems to highlight the biggest problem with Microsoft’s model for innovation. The corporate model is great: acquire and develop technologies that seem profitable and marketable, port them to a ubiquitous and arguably quite good user interface model, and then package or sell the technology to a market saturated with demand for a “friendly” version of the product.
However, I believe the problem with Microsoft’s capacity to innovate lies in a two-forked market situation, the two inhibitors being the average semi-incompetant business/home computer user and the reactionary OEM.
I’m reading Linux advocates writing with the classic I-don’t-see-why-this-is-taking-Microsoft-so-long-because-my-operating-system-had-this-several-years-ago argument. In light of this legitimate question, I have a hypothetical (very fictional) headline:
New WinFS File System in Longhorn Renders All COBOL Applications Obsolete
What would a Linux user say if this was a Linux-related headline (beyond that COBOL sucks and that no applications should be written in it anyway)? They would probably start porting all their COBOL applications to C++ or perhaps python or java. This would be an easy task because there is a strong chance that most of these applications are open source. Perhaps an interpreter/VM could be written, or a binary patch to fix each program individually.
There is an interesting issue for Windows, though (not to dwell on COBOL, but to prove a point):
COBOL accounts for approximately 34% of all applications although only 16% of all professional programmers work with it.
Uh oh. Sounds like legacy applications. Does the (closed) source code still exist? Does the programmer still exist?
I wrote a VB.NET application for a company and (quite smartly, I would say) did not give them the source code for the application. What if the CLR (Common Language Runtime) becomes unsupported?
The fact is, Windows has become so successful that it must play into the hands of its higher-order customers (businesses and OEMs) as much as they play into Microsoft’s hands. And, as the lagging trouble with innovation, people who believe that one needs computer “training” to word process and change their desktop background run the risk of not understanding the innovation. And if a General Manager isn’t allowed to make the VP look stupid, how is Windows Next Version going to get away with it?
Linux advocates need to see and respect that it is this kind of relationship between OEM, customer, and OS-provider that makes Microsoft such a powerful option for massive deployment and ease of use. Microsoft needs to consider that perhaps it is time for COBOL to die, so to speak. At what point should innovation take the wheel?
Perhaps Microsoft needs to “fork” its development model. Could we imagine a WindowsHP (High Performance) with the Avalon presentation system (a la Longhorn, nee DirectX) and perhaps WinFS, and WindowsEP (Enhanced Productivity) for the corporate and HP/Compaq/Dell low-end desktop? Wouldn’t WindowsEP be a much lighter weight system with a more limited (by the day’s standards) API that would run (gasp!) well on a Celeron?
I actually propose that WindowsEP should run on a live CD that uses a hard drive partition for third-party program files and swap space, then another partition for data. It would be virtually virus proof (just try to corrupt DLLs on a CD). A new live CD would be mailed to you on a subscription basis monthly with all security patches built in (Microsoft: think MSN subscription upgrade option).
Anyway, that’s it for the rant. Off to lunch.
I’m going to risk sounding Jingoist here, but considering that both the Olympics and hints of a small victory in Najaf are occurring simultaneously right now, I feel justified.
I just wanted to put it out there that Carly Patterson winning the women’s individual all-round competition says something important about how things work in this world. Last night I saw the Russian Svetlana Khorkina strut, gloat, and scowl her way through the competition (and after it) with a sort of condescending air that I certainly did not detect in the United States’ contenders.
To say the least, there is a difference between a smile and a sneer, no matter how many facial muscles they must have in common.
I saw in adjoining camera shots tears of joy in the celebration between Carly and her coach, and subsequently Khorkina raising the Russian flag, alone, in a vaulted “celebration” of what all must agree was her perceived defeat of her own expectations. Her last Olympic performance? Yes. The most honorable way to leave the Olympic stage? I do not believe so.
I notice a pattern in these sorts of displays of strength and ability. Jerks rarely win. And when they do succeed, it always seems like the level of competition from everyone else increases. Could anyone really imagine the face of Svetlana Khorkina on a box of Wheaties? It is not about aesthetic appearance; it is all about attitude. Khorkina’s attitude said to me, “I’m better. Don’t bother.” Patterson’s said, “I’m good. I’ll try.”
I’m proud that I see so many Americans like this in the Games.
I wish McCain would rise up and get rid of these “independent” political groups like Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and MoveOn.org. How can you be independent in a presidential race? Pick one or the other, that’s the only choice you have. Is there any way to not be partisan in this race?
SBVfT is funded with Republican dollars, and MoveOn.org is funded with Democrat dollars. Duh.
The amazing thing: I watch 24 hour news and don’t look up unless they’re airing a political ad for analysis. Get that? I’m watching the news so I will become better informed by the ads.
Something wrong here, American political system? Turn your head and cough.
The May/Walsh US Olympics beach volleyball team is just freaking amazing. I love watching them, and not just for the obvious reasons. The ruthlessness with which they kick ass is just admirable. And they do it in bikinis. Who invented beach volleyball? Has s/he been properly revered and worshipped?
I’m so close to installing LiteStep for my laptop… But I just can’t risk open source software on my schoolwork baby. Obvious notion: install it on the Linux box. Oh, wait, LiteStep makes Windows look like Linux. Damn it.
Nerd Quote of the Day:
“Microsoft is not the Borg collective. The Borg collective has got proper networking.”
Poor Man’s USB WiFi
That’s just freaking hot. I’m going to try it out sometime with the USB Wireless fob I have.
Well, I’m currently reading the official GNU bash (Bourne-again shell) manual, which is equivalent to trying to learn Magic: The Gathering from the official rulebook.
In short, I’m having the time of my life.