the Nerd talk thread

[diesel]

it seems that we've had a couple of threads recently with subjects about computers and stuff of the technical nature. so since some of us are a little more involved in this field or at least interested, i thought what the hell, lets start a quasi official thread about it.

[diesel]

so, heres one to start it off

"FBI tries to fight zombie hordes":

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6752853.stm

[tyler]

i hate Second Life. what a waste of time that is.

[putty]

I have noticed a great many nerds 'round here

[tyler]

oh yeah i'm doing this thing for my college in which me and a team of other students need to use some new digital media to come up with a new way to deliver news to a given community (can be geographic or interest, like a community of people who all like, say, The Slip). any suggestions?

[Phrazz]

I hate computers. Zombie Nets suck more than Next Life. I'm not saying Next Life sucks at all, either...but Zombie Nets do, for sure. Unless of course your into harvesting personal information like credit card numbers (shudders, shrugs, checks latest statement).

About the Zombie being fought by the FBI -- I'm not sure they are technically qualified. Didn't they build a hundred-plus million dollar crime network that was a dismal failure? Actually, maybe the Fed isn't the appropriate (most efficient, economical, effective, lasting) way to fight computer crime at all. Bureaucracy moves too slowly to be of practical use. Remember Sneakers?

New way to deliver news: how about intravenous nanobots??? Anyone read The Diamond Age? Now there's a concept waiting to happen!

Ok, so I'll change the subject. Check this out:



Without cheating, who knows what that is? Or its implications?

[hoby]

Without cheating, who knows what that is? Or its implications?

Wait, wait, I know this one!!

It's the giant neural net computer that's secretly running the world. It keeps us all under strict control except for once a year during "The Festival" when we can all go bonkers and party like bionic John Belushis. But then Captain Kirk saves us all by asking the computer a question it can't answer, which makes a whole bunch of lights flash on and off and the computer's voice gets higer-pitched and then smoke comes pouring out of it and it stops working.

And a guy with big ears says, "Fascinating."

[harrymcq]

I thought it was what I saw at High Sierra last year when I closed my eyes one night - projected somehow into some weird metal swimming pool.

Diamond Age is a great book. I've read all of his books, love Cryptonomicon and the trilogy is mind-blowing though it takes quite a bit of time to read.

I don't hate computers except when I hate them.

[Guest]

Come on, people . . . isn't it obvious?

It's the inspiration for My Morning Jacket's most recent studio album!

Yeah!

[diesel]

i was just thinking what their next album would sound like. techno-tronic all the way! ha!

[tyler]

nah their next one will be all reggae. "Off the Record" was just the beginning.

oh and maybe a little Al Green soul in there as well...

[nigel]

Is that part of that new 17 mile long particle collider up ther'n Geneva that's gonna create a black hole and swallow half of our galaxy once they turn it on?? Either that r they will be able to make a billy-goat by sticking a clothespin in an artichoke. middle east role call??? -Z