Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Brown bigots etc.

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  • Kyle Matthews,

    If cars were able to get me home a million times faster than they could in the 70s, could store 100 millions times as much stuff, and could fit in my pocket, could do basically everything, I think I'd probably not be too bitter on them.

    Yeah. Standard response, from a hundred places on the web (don't think it's real, but haven't checked):

    At a recent computer exposition, Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated: "If General Motors had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."

    In response to Bill's comments, GM issued a press release stating: "If General Motors had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:

    1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.
    2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.
    3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull over to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason, you would simply accept this.
    4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.
    5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive -- but would run on only five percent of the roads.
    6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "General Protection Fault" warning light.
    7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.
    8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.
    9. Every time GM introduced a new car, car buyers would have to learn to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
    10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

    My point was, that it'd be nice if users could have a system that was easy enough to understand and use that they didn't need all the support.

    The computer industry has put a vast amount of work into smaller, faster, better, graphics, games, features. Yet we're still stuck with keyboards and mice and screen interfaces that are very unnatural, and software where you have to do all sorts of strange things to get out what you want.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Write (& perhaps perform) NZ's new national anthem?

    A while ago I blogged this:

    I remember one of the TV arts programmes of the past commissioned some NZ musos to do better. Turns out it's quite tricky. Gareth Farr produced something more song than anthem, and quite a complicated song at that. This clearly failed the programme's "can be sung by a rugby crowd" test. Chris Knox, another contestant and noted anarchist type, went to the heart of what he considered the purpose of a national anthem. It went: "New Zea-land is a veryveryveryveryveryveryvery nice country". Possibly Colin Powell is a fan.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    But if you happen to believe there is no god then the whole anthem becomes a bit much - and the Maori version of it even more so.

    According to wikipedia the word "Atua" was used for pre-colonial Polynesian gods as well as our colonialist repressive sort.

    Perhaps someone who actually speaks Maori could comment.

    I get a little annoyed when someone feels the need to patronise folks at 'multicultral' gatherings by hideously mispronouncing a simple greeting in a dozen different languages without pausing for breath

    I agree - there is often an assumption that only some kinds of furriners don't speak English. So you will get a translation in "ethnic" languages but not French or German (which quite a few NZ residents will have as a first language). Like on the http://www.elections.org.nz/ site - several Asian and Polynesian languages, only one European one.

    Which is a tiny bit racist if it's based on an assumption that Tongans (for instance) can't manage to learn English but French people can.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    "I get a little annoyed when someone feels the need to patronise folks at 'multicultral' gatherings by hideously mispronouncing a simple greeting in a dozen different languages without pausing for breath"

    Heh - for some reason this reminds me of a Jeremy Wells sketch from Eating Media Lunch

    I always enjoy hearing the stirring bi-lingual rendition of the national anthem at my kids school assembly - brings a lump to the throat. Its a good thing - earnest patriotism is one of the things kiwis don't do as well as our trans-tasman siblings.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • Ian MacKay,

    Actually the reason for Bishop Brian's push is to cause the Destiny ranks to close tighter against the "enemy." Choose a topic like a Christian country, or Civil Unions, or smacking or Helen Clark. Shout loudly, rally the troops and develop the sense that we, the righteous have defined the target. Result? We are winning and increasing our market share. Watch for the next topic. Moslems? Immigrants? The Devil?

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    i'm not wanting to read the whole thread... so let's say i agree with ian.

    the bish is all about railing against all the things the bible doesn't like. "christian country" is a dogwhistle for straight men calling the shots.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Fitzgerald,

    BTs real victims are his followers paying his way to heaven on earth in an unholy pyramid scheme. Debt collectors for god are just wrong.

    Yes there are collections at other churches but not the Bay Corp contracts.

    Can I still claim to have religious tolerance?

    Since May 2007 • 631 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Heh, Kyle, ask a standard question, get a standard response.

    As a programmer myself, I'm inclined to think that the state of software these days is much more market driven than because of bad engineering.

    I'm under constant pressure from sales and marketing to release stuff that just isn't ready. And sales and marketing are under pressure from customers. I'm lucky recently that I've basically been able to say to management "It'll be ready when it's ready", but most engineers simply can't, and are pressured right through the food chain to whack stuff out that's immature because customers want the features now. They're rather have something that partially works now than something that works perfectly later. This attitude has made Microsoft rich.

    In other forms of engineering, eg automobile manufacturing, the whole dynamic is different. There are only a few dozen companies that make cars, and each car is the product of thousands of people's labour. My software is produced by a team of 4 programmers, 3 testers, a layer of management who wish they could manage us, and hundreds of salespeople pumping us the money and feature requests. It's not as complicated as a car, but it's a hell of a lot more original, comes out in a 20th of the time for problems people are having right now. If they endure the pain of it crashing, they also get the benefit of it working now, rather than in 5 years.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • hamishm,

    Yes there are collections at other churches but not the Bay Corp contracts.

    I am asking because I am gobsmacked if this means that the tithing is kind of fierce in Dustiny.
    Can you explain this a bit more Michael?

    Soppy of me I know but I would vote for "Welcome Home" as a national anthem.
    Or for cynical days "There is no depression in New Zealand".

    Since Nov 2006 • 357 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I guess I'm saying, much though I hate to, that the problem of crap Microsoft products is more the fault of customers of Microsoft than themselves. If people hadn't poured billions their way as reward for shonky practices then we'd probably have stronger (and less feature rich) software today.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Fitzgerald,

    My firm understanding is Disintry tithing is done by a contracted payment enforceable in law, including those on benefits. This is of course 'freely' given by the faithful.

    Since May 2007 • 631 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    And right on cue, 3 News does a laughable beat-up on Wicked Feminazi Heathens Abolishing Parliament Prayer! (OK, not an exact quote, but pretty damn close).

    It turns out it's not a policy, or a media release, or a statement, or a suggestion, or ... anything except an utterly innocuous, standard letter from the Speaker to MPs asking for feedback about the place, and/or wording, of the prayer in Parliament.

    When even asking a question is hyped into an Assault On Our Values (complete with obligatory Destiny soundbite), there really is no hope for rational debate.

    Shame on you, 3 News.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood,

    Lyndon Hood wrote:

    Bokononism for state religion!

    No, the obvious choice is Church of God with Signs Following. I admit the absence of snakes would seem an impediment, but possibly whitebait could serve in a indigenous, transubstantiationesque fashion.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • AndrewD,

    Forget religion and institutional computing. This country can't even get a handle on how to fly a flag on a bridge.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 54 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Ben, I think there would be a market for a car that hadn't been developed properly but looked cool and went really fast.

    (Actually, the TVR pretty much was that car).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Simon g:

    Oh shit... I rather liked Dame Barbara Goodman's attitude to the whole prayer thing, when she was an Auckland City Councilor - which, if my memory serves, was that she didn't really think it was that big a deal, but as a Jew she wasn't going to participate either. Which sounds like an entirely sensible one, and dare I say it 'liberal' and 'tolerant' in the best sense.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Bokononism for state religion!

    Nah... if you're going for Vonnegut I'm more enchanted by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sirens_of_Titan[|The Church of God The Utterly Indifferent]].

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Rich, that's the thinking behind being a boy racer. Wanting a lot of car for not much money and not really caring how safe it is. Clearly a Ferrari is better, but I don't want to wait until I've got that kind of money.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    <quote>I guess I'm saying, much though I hate to, that the problem of crap Microsoft products is more the fault of customers of Microsoft than themselves. If people hadn't poured billions their way as reward for shonky practices then we'd probably have stronger (and less feature rich) software today.<quote>

    Hmmm, sounds a bit like elitist rubbish to me.

    The best computer on the market today, taking into account...

    1. Price
    2. Simplicity, ease of use
    3. Breadth of applications
    4. Differing uses
    5. Out of the box functionality
    6. User base, support
    7. Reliability

    ...would be a Windows XP SP2 PC.

    Sure, for niche requirements, brand loyalty or specific uses you can probably do better but nothing else will get close to it as a machine for the everyman or woman.

    And that's why Bill Gates is a billionaire, not because MS customers are crazy phules.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Dorothy,

    So you want a woman, a God-botherer and and IT geek to respond :) I can cover the first two for you and some of my fellow-teachers might even say the third as well. It intrigues me that the flurry of interest in the MS non-deal for Mac schools extends to this forum. What are you thinking should be happening in Primary schools? Do you really want young children in the 21st Century spending their time typing documents and working on spreadsheets ... or pursuing PowerPointlessness (Jamie McKenzie). I prefer our children to be using the creativity of the iLife/iWork/Kid Pix solutions being offered to them and .... be just like you and use Web 2.0 tools like blogs, wikis, forums and podcasts to communicate text-based ideas.
    How many of us really expect that it will take our children as long to learn to use MS Word and Excel as it took us? Anyone else take a year - long course in the 90s to learn that sort or thing? - and our kids can now pick it up in no time..

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Regards the car thing. My tires keep leaking air. Every few weeks I have to check them and pump them up. My grandfather reported this bug over 60 years ago and it has still not been fixed. Who should I call?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Peter, the discussion is about why MS products aren't as reliable as cars or other household appliances. That's a fact, not elitist rubbish.

    It's also not elitist rubbish to call Windows an operating system rather than a computer. If you like Windows, cool, keep it. I do myself. It's horses for courses. I don't and wouldn't use it for any kind of server, nor would I want Windows as the OS for a control system in any aircraft I was in.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Do you really want young children in the 21st Century spending their time typing documents and working on spreadsheets ... or pursuing PowerPointlessness . . .

    Hell no - but I have a funny feeling that Steve Ballmer does.

    http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4779/excelyd2.jpg

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Sorry about that Ben. Something about...

    ...the problem of crap Microsoft products is more the fault of customers of Microsoft than themselves. If people hadn't poured billions their way as reward for shonky practices...

    ...led me to believe the discussion was about how foolish MS customers are.

    It's not about me liking MS products, there's plenty I don't like about them. It's about horses for courses just as you say and I find a lot of the arguments around OSS very dull and unproductive. But loads of people happily use Windows and good luck to them I say.

    We use a truckload of Windows Server at work as well. Alongside Red Hat of course.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    Better late than never I suppose:

    I feel that using Mac or Win for education places an IT tax on the nation now. Kids should not be educated to expect a proprietary system to be available in the workplace or HE in order for them to be able to word process, do basic calcs and of course do the internet. “Modern” open source is up to these jobs. Sometimes we vastly overestimate the demands of the general population with respect to IT; some of the guys I teach still can’t use any spreadsheets, far less perform difficult calculations for lines (they want to use the calculators on their mobiles…arrrrgh……head explodes again!).

    Perhaps this debate will soon be irrelevant when we are on the cusp of web based apps. I am waiting for the day that a student sends me a piece of word processing in google web app format (what would be the extension .dog .goc .god!).

    <disclaimer – this is not a dig at educators>

    I find it perplexing that as an educator I work in a culture where so many of my colleagues seem unwilling or indeed unable to adapt to change and learn new things: Which is exactly what we ask those we educate to do. As a point of reference it used to be the case that those who taught teachers how to teach, had to do a bit themselves from time to time. There seems to be no capacity for such an undertaking in many areas of education today. i.e. teachers undertaking new challenging learning tasks and yet IT would seem to be an ideal target. I guess governments fail to see this as a good investment.

    Personally I would rather learn perl than have another go at mainland Chinese.

    I would feel a lot more comfortable with the God that collects her own debts and figures out how to spend them himself, rather than letting Brian the Bish do this for political ends.

    And finally…… when I phoned her earlier today to find out what she wanted me to cook for her dinner, she was filing her nails so I guess far to busy to be i) blogging/discussing ii) finishing her PhD which I am paying for. She was only too keen to tell me what I should write though ;o)

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

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