Comment Re:In a movie (Score 1) 465
Also won't work if the patient has Raynaud's.
Comment Switch to Health Care!! (Score 1) 447
Ha ha! I used to be a Java programmer. Now I am a 2nd year med student. The systems! The problems! The differentials! I used to think that programming was the best kind of work because I love problem solving. But that got boring for a lot of reasons and I found out I'm not really a great programmer. It just isn't that important. I was a lowly bit pusher! I had to have a story! I had to have excitement! I needed to be challenged! So I got my pre-meds, took the MCAT and applied (twice) and now I'm learning tons. Being challenged everyday. Working towards making it better for all sorts of people from all sorts of backgrounds. It is awesome. If you are in a rut, go volunteer at your local emergency room for a few hours a week for a year. When I did that, for about 18 months at a county safety-net hospital (no insurance, court ordered and prisoners, as well as those with insurance, all were welcome) in the emergency department. It was a different and invaluable kind of education and it really opened my eyes to how little I really knew about the human condition, at least for the poor and destitute from my city. I still know very little, but at least I know about my ignorance. And the crazy stories! Ha! I loved it. I miss volunteering there, but now I don't have time, and this time next year, I will be doing my rotations and clerkships, so I'll be back in the clinics, ERs and surgery rooms, learning by doing and helping people get better. Making a difference.
Comment Putting the Real in RTS... (Score 1) 452
My favorite was always live-fire military games, personally. Nothing says RTS like leading a squad of Marines out on a combat recon patrol, loaded for bear and looking for to make mayhem.
"Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share." - Ned Dolan
"Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share." - Ned Dolan
Comment Find a new career. Or don't... (Score 2, Interesting) 474
I started out as a phone rep on the floor of a credit collection department. Because I liked to build computers and was interested in programming, I began building a relationship with the LAN team/help desk. I got a certification, then applied for an open position. I enjoyed it but it left me wanting more than unjamming stuff and rebooting computers for clueless users. Even though I didn't mind the work (I don't stress out very easily) I knew I could go further. I began taking programming classes and began proactively taking on scripting tasks and small programming assignments to make my job and the jobs of those around me a lot easier. I jumped at every chance to learn something new, even if it wasn't fun or interesting. I was always eager to learn. When the opportunity opened up to become an intern programmer, I applied and was accepted. Meanwhile, I got an associates in software engineering and began taking classes to complete a B.S. in comp sci. At this point, I realized I would never move up as fast as I wanted to with that company so I bailed and took a similar (lateral move) position with G.E. as a web developer. I began taking classes in web development, earned 2 of the 4 Java certs that were available at the time and finished my degree. Then they laid me off! Eight days before Christmas when we were expecting our 3rd child only a month later! Turns out, it was the best thing to happen. Forty-five days later I was offered a job in another state with a generous move bonus and a slight raise. Thirteen months later I moved yet again to another company. It was then that I realized I didn't really like computers so I took some pre-med classes, volunteered at a local emergency room (on Friday nights until midnight and sometimes later, the stories I could tell!!) and took the MCAT (3 times). Now I am between my 1st and 2nd year in med school and I love it. I would never have thought I would be a physician, especially not at nearly 40 years old with 4 kids and a big mortgage, but everything is working out. Here are the points of my rather long story:
1) work hard and learn continually
2) always look for a better situation and be prepared to get out of your comfort zone to obtain it
3) be receptive to new experiences in different areas that might later bear fruit
4) work hard and learn continually.
1) work hard and learn continually
2) always look for a better situation and be prepared to get out of your comfort zone to obtain it
3) be receptive to new experiences in different areas that might later bear fruit
4) work hard and learn continually.
Comment Re:No more! (Score 1) 501
I know! When you are as old as I am, you really want to find new stuff to fight the boredom. These days, hardly anything works, plus I seem to be making more typos than I used to. The price of getting really old, I guess...
Comment No more! (Score 0, Troll) 501
That's it! I quit! I will never play D & D again! Oh wait, I haven't played since I was 1986. yawns and moves on
Comment Better take off... (Score 1) 1032
...and nuke the place from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
Submission + - The Day ATI Killed Vista
Tim Lahey writes: "It had to happen eventually. BSODs are part of every Windows users' experience. This is why everyone should use Linux or MacOS.
Watch ATI butcher Vista with a single driver . Best of all, one of the cause was Microsoft's own Visual C++ package.
This is a quote from the article "Recently, we wrote about how the ATI Radeon X1950 GT graphics card had managed to obtain Vista certification without a working driver. Well, the first working driver for the Radeon X1950 GT finally appeared on March 28, 2007. Time to pop the champagne, eh? Well, not quite. Let us take you on an amazing journey with ATI's new Catalyst 7.3 driver set. Then tell us whether you think ATI software engineers should be given a raise for their superb efforts or shot like rabid dogs.""
Watch ATI butcher Vista with a single driver . Best of all, one of the cause was Microsoft's own Visual C++ package.
This is a quote from the article "Recently, we wrote about how the ATI Radeon X1950 GT graphics card had managed to obtain Vista certification without a working driver. Well, the first working driver for the Radeon X1950 GT finally appeared on March 28, 2007. Time to pop the champagne, eh? Well, not quite. Let us take you on an amazing journey with ATI's new Catalyst 7.3 driver set. Then tell us whether you think ATI software engineers should be given a raise for their superb efforts or shot like rabid dogs.""
Morfik Patents AJAX Compiler 181
MikeyTheK writes "It appears that under the radar, the USPTO granted Morfik a patent for the "System and method for synthesizing object-oriented high-level code into browser-side javascript". Reading further, it appears that they have patented the compiling of high-level languages into AJAX apps. The high-level languages include "Ada, C, C++, C#, COBOL, ColdFusion, Common Lisp, Delphi, Fortran, Java, Object Pascal, SmallTalk, Visual Basic, and Visual Basic.NET". It would appear that the application date is September, 2005."
RIAA Can't Have Defendant's Son's Desktop 283
NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "The RIAA's attempt to get Ms. Lindor's son's desktop computer in UMG v. Lindor has been rejected by the Magistrate Judge. The judge said that the RIAA 'offered little more than speculation to support their request for an inspection of Mr. Raymond's desktop computer, based on ... his family relationship to the defendant, the proximity of his house to the defendant's house, and his determined defense of his mother in this case. That is not enough. On the record before me, plaintiffs have provided scant basis to authorize an inspection of Mr. Raymond's desktop computer.' Decision by Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy. (pdf)"
Submission + - Australia to ban P2P
Karl_R writes: The guys at whirlpool.net.au have posted a story about a U-tern by the Australian Federal government.
"The federal government has shocked industry by rushing a bill through parliament that will compel ISPs to block all P2P traffic. It is a back-flip on a promise made just weeks ago that the government would move ahead with its filtering plans using PC-based parental controls, which, at the time, it argued would provide flexibility for internet users. (source whirlpool.net.au)"
"The federal government has shocked industry by rushing a bill through parliament that will compel ISPs to block all P2P traffic. It is a back-flip on a promise made just weeks ago that the government would move ahead with its filtering plans using PC-based parental controls, which, at the time, it argued would provide flexibility for internet users. (source whirlpool.net.au)"
Submission + - EMI set to announce DRM free music tomorrow
govardha writes: "According to the WSJ(link enclosed below), EMI is to sell much of its catalogue DRM free. There is an announcment scheduled with Steve Jobs tomorrow morning to this effect.
http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB117547255583 356319.html (Subscription only)"
Submission + - Microsoft Unlevels the Playing Field
morlock_man writes: "I'm a former content provider for Shared Media Licensing Inc. I have since cut my ties with this agency. Since the rollout of the Zune distribution model and the release of Vista, it has become obvious to a number of us (ICPs) that Microsoft is attempting to close down the Weedshare network in favor of it's own network. It was recently announced that Shared Media would be disabling its licensing system as of April 9th, 2007. This closure will mean the end of a fair and equal distribution system. Under this system independent artists need no longer deal directly with record labels to profit from their work and consumers were given the ability to trade media at a profit for themselves. This closure represents the end of the world's first digital media marketplace where everyone existed on a level playing field. Disabling this format is an attempt by Microsoft to gain a monopoly over the patent that allows this form of distribution to take place. An online petition is available for signers, and a more detailed information regarding what is taking place is available at the Digital Dark Age blog."
Submission + - RIAA Files for Bankruptcy; CEO Commits Suicide
mrs clear plastic writes: "Late Friday afternoon, the Recording Industry Association of America filed for bankrupcy protection at the U.S. Bankruptcy
court in Manhattan. The numerous pending lawsuits by some defendants of the RIAA's previous campaign to bring litigation
against file sharers were just one factor behind Friday's filing, RIAA's attorney, Mitch Wickenden, told reporters outside the bankruptcy courtroom. He did say, however, that a major contribution was the significent
decline in sales of music CDROMs.
Sales have been declining for the past several years. The RIAA had claimed that it was due to the unauthorized copying of music on line. Arthur Rosenburg, president of the Independant Music File Sharing Collective, said that the RIAA was not keeping up with the times and had not adapted to the changing, peer based market for music.
On a personal note, during church services today, we were all asked to pray for the family of Mitch Bainwol, RIAA's prsident. His son, Jaims Bainwol, is a member of the choir in my church. Mitch was found dead Saturday morning, apparently of carbon monoxide poisoning. He was discovered by his son in his car, with the engine running, in the garage with the door closed.
Former president Hilary Rosen, quickly appointed by the board to be interim president, expressed condolences to Bainwol's family on Saturday afternoon."
Sales have been declining for the past several years. The RIAA had claimed that it was due to the unauthorized copying of music on line. Arthur Rosenburg, president of the Independant Music File Sharing Collective, said that the RIAA was not keeping up with the times and had not adapted to the changing, peer based market for music.
On a personal note, during church services today, we were all asked to pray for the family of Mitch Bainwol, RIAA's prsident. His son, Jaims Bainwol, is a member of the choir in my church. Mitch was found dead Saturday morning, apparently of carbon monoxide poisoning. He was discovered by his son in his car, with the engine running, in the garage with the door closed.
Former president Hilary Rosen, quickly appointed by the board to be interim president, expressed condolences to Bainwol's family on Saturday afternoon."
Submission + - RIAA to be disbanded
newtley writes: "The members of the Big 4 Organized Music cartel have announced the cessation of the sue 'em all marketing campaign under which they've been trying to persuade consumers to buy corporate download product. "We have issued instructions to the RIAA and our other enforcement organizations around the world to immediately withdraw all lawsuits and to refund court costs and other expenses incurred by people sued," says Phil McBoot, chairman of the Big 4 Working Group, in a statement. "We were acting on the advice of Mitch Bainwol, Carry Sherman, Jonathan Lamy and Jenny Engebretsen, which we now realise was wrong. We humbly and sincerely apologise to anyone who may have inadvertently been harmed by the actions of the RIAA, BPI, IFPI and similar bodies actions.""
