Archives for January 2013
neither side is absolutely correct for everyone
27 January 2013 | Apple, Culturology, Google, Microsoft | No Comments
Марко Армент написал хорошее эссе о природе ненависти к продукции Apple:
Where Apple says “You can’t do that because we think that would suck,” Microsoft and Android usually say, “You can do whatever you want, even if it sucks.” They give users more control with endless possibilities to create problems, and it’s up to the users to tolerate or fix any resulting problems themselves. Google and Microsoft are platform libertarians: you’re generally free to do much more, but you’re on your own when it breaks.
Our technology choices reflect our values. People willing to yield some control to Apple for their needs are more likely to enjoy the benefits that Apple’s products bring by exerting that control. But people who don’t like being told what to do — people who believe they know what’s best for them, want full control over everything, and are willing to accept the resulting responsibilities — will be more comfortable with the alternatives.
все так, да. но задумайтесь так же вот о чем: если неодушевленные предметы вызывают настолько сильные отрицательные эмоции, то может дело, в первую очередь, не только в этих вещах?
ненависть в любом виде бессмысленна и непродуктивна. она ослепляет и ограничивает. и, по-моему, уже этого достаточно, чтобы всеми силами защищать себя от подобных чувств.
происхождение
27 January 2013 | Biology, History, Science | No Comments
Alfred Russel Wallace discovered natural selection independently of Charles Darwin. Through his letters, available online for the first time, he tells us of his research, expeditions and enduring fascination for nature’s mysteries.
по обе стороны
26 January 2013 | History, Religion | 1 Comment
а вот, пожалуйста, история христианства, инфографика.
we weren’t criminals, we were only citizens
25 January 2013 | Censorship, Copyright, Culturology, Jurisprudence, Politics | No Comments
Карл Маламуд — о каждом из вас:
Aaron was part of an army of citizens that believes democracy only works when the citizenry are informed, when we know about our rights—and our obligations. An army that believes we must make justice and knowledge available to all—not just the well born or those that have grabbed the reigns of power—so that we may govern ourselves more wisely.
He was part of an army of citizens that rejects kings and generals and believes in rough consensus and running code.
прочтите эту речь.
жанровые рамки
25 January 2013 | Literature | 1 Comment
вообще, полагаю, детективы в том или ином виде столь интересны читателю уже лишь потому, что в доходчивой форме беспрерывно рассказывают о главном, что нами движет — о поиске. о неизменной цепочке вопрос-ответ, будь то в жизни, искусстве, науке, you name it:
But there was always a shortfall, wasn’t there? Between the match that the Holy One, blessed be He, envisioned and the reality of the situation under the chuppah. Between commandment and observance, heaven and earth, husband and wife, Zion and Jew. They called that shortfall ‘the world.’ Only when Messiah came would the breach be closed, all separations, distinctions, and distances collapsed. Until then, thanks be unto His Name, sparks, bright sparks, might leap across the gap, as between electric poles. And we must be grateful for their momentary light.
и мы постоянно ищем их, эти вспышки.
Птоломеи
25 January 2013 | Literature | No Comments
звучит чудесно:
The Book of Thomas: Volume One: Heaven by Robert Boyczuk is set in a medieval world ruled by the Catholic Church from Rome, but that world is not ours: it’s a built world of concentric spheres, with heaven the outermost sphere and hell the innermost, and Rome is in the sphere just below Lower Heaven, where the angels live. Its inhabitants accept this state of things as much as medieval scholars in our world accepted the pre-Copernican view of the universe.
это вам не очки
24 January 2013 | Amazon, Apple, Economics, Google, Technology, The Great Game | 1 Comment
Amazon today announced that it is acquiring Ivona Software, a Polish-based specialist in voice technologies that competes with Nuance and is already used in the Kindle Fire for services covering text-to-speech, voice commands and “Explore by Touch.” The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
т.е., занимаются разработкой новых интерфейсов — например, голосовых. а там и очередной виток битвы за нашу гостинную комнату начнется — ведь не клавиатуру же, право слово, к телевизору подключать[1]?
-
к слову:
Tim Cook: In terms of the product that we sell today, Apple TV, we sold more last quarter than we’ve ever sold before, eclipsing 2 million during the quarter. It was up almost 60 percent year-on-year, and so there’s actually very good growth in that product. What was a small niche at one time of people that loved it is a much larger number that love it.
crowdsourcing
24 January 2013 | Copyright, Jurisprudence | No Comments
это и есть государство сограждан:
Internet activists in Finland, upset with the country’s strict copyright laws, are ready to take advantage of the country’s promise to vote on any citizen-proposed bill that reaches 50,000 signatures.
The group Common Sense in Copyright, which is organizing a campaign for the bill, says its aim “is simple and reasonable: We want a fair and just copyright law in Finland.”
вот, пожалуйста.
colour beginning
24 January 2013 | Art | No Comments
Джозеф Мэллорд Уильям Тернер все-таки совершенно охренителен, не могу оторваться.
эволюция
23 January 2013 | Apple, Hardware | No Comments
о будущем:
The iPad will likely be the mobile computer that people use in a not too far off future, because every aspect of the iPad is better designed then, say, a MacBook Air. The hardware is better, battery life better, tactile response is better, software is better, and so on…
все так.