That's creative, very good imagination...or something.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shore Dude
Printable View
That's creative, very good imagination...or something.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shore Dude
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shore Dude
Now Stan is a commodity, planted and sold in the market..hmmm
To keep it fresh and hygenic, I recommend that it's wrapped in plastic bag.
Just come across this...
:- ) turns 20, Creator Yet to Earn a Dime
It was 20 years ago today that Scott Fahlman taught the Net ‘how to smile’. The IBM researcher has devoted his professional life to artificial intelligence, the practice of teaching computers how to think like humans.
Mr Fahlman is known for his work with neural networks – computer techniques designed to mimic the human brain – and helping to develop Common Lisp, a computer language that uses symbols instead of numbers, but perhaps is best known for a flash of inspiration that helped to define the Internet culture, in all of its ungrammatical glory.
On September 19, 1982 Mr Fahlman typed :-) in an online message. The “smiley face” has since become a staple of online communication, allowing 12-year-old girls and corporate lawyers alike to punctuate their messages with a quick symbol that says, “hey, I’m only joking”.
Mr Fahlman’s innovation has since inspired countless other symbols or what are known as ‘emoticons’ like ;-) to signify a wink or :-o to show surprise. “ I’ve certainly spent ten times as much time talking with people about it as I did coming up with it in the first place,” Mr Fahlman said from his Pittsburg home. “Hopefully my actual research career will add up to more in the long run.”
In the early ‘80s, computer networks were rarely found outside university science departments and secretive government facilities. But even then discussions on primitive online ‘bulletin boards’ could quickly turn nasty when touchy users misinterpreted remarks meant to be taken lightly.
After a particularly tangled joke about mercury contamination in an elevator, users of a Carnegie Mellon University bulletin board proposed a variety of markers for humorous comments, including *, %, &, (#) and ---/ Fahlman suggested :-) along with a warning to “read it sideways”. Before long, other bulletin board users were placing the smiley face in their messages. The practice spread as Internet users found the symbol useful as a rough approximation of a twinkle in the eye.
Predictably the smiley face encountered a few frowns as the online population exploded. “Humans have managed to communicate with the written word for thousands of years without strewing crudely fashioned ideograms across their parchments. It is as if the written word were a cutting edge technology without useful precedents,” groused Neal Stephenson in the New Republic 1993.
Mr Fahlman stands by his creation. “If Shakespeare were tossing off a quick note complaining about the lack of employee parking near the Globe Theatre he might have employed the same kind of sloppy prose that the rest of us do,” Mr Fahlman writes on his website.
Yahoo!, Microsoft, and America Online all incorporate emoticons into their instant messaging systems, while telecom firms, jewelry makers, and online retailers have filed trademark applications for products and slogans that incorporate Mr Fahlman’s smiley face.
But Mr Fahlman has never seen a dime from his creation.
*cough* *cough* an interesting idea, so people would harvest the stan plant, except health food gurus...who would only eat the stan sprout?Quote:
Originally Posted by subterranean
You guys are extremly odd when your imagination gets running :D
btw, cool article Scheherazade
Well maybe Mr. Fahlman was not "smarter" enough to register his invention as a pantented product before he told everyone about it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
And Stan, you gave us the idea. So the problem is on you ;).
There are some short video clips on this site of the tsunami.
http://www.asiantsunamivideos.com/videos/
:(
Yes Den, it's horrible.. My country is one of the countries with the biggest casualties.
And I watched everyday on tv. Damn the press and media, they play the same stuffs over and over. Wish they'd present something more "constructive" to viewers rather than mountains of corpse :(
I´m so sorry Sub. I thought about you and was so glad and relieved to see you online.
In sweden they show these pictures from tourist cameras, or videos all the time, with horrible tasteless headlines, and pictures of crying children. I wish they could leave them alone.
Thank you Isagel :).
I didn't realize you lived in that area, wow, that is really scary. I hope you and your family are not affected by these disasters!
And I do wish the media would let this rest, it is important that aid be arranged, but it is a great diservice to these wounded and deceased peoples to constantly advertise them. It is very disrespectfull, and tastless, that media is using this disaster to spread propoganda, and make a bundle of mullah.
Though our hurricanes weren't nearly as devestating, I was getting really sick about hearing of all the destruction. But it was even worse when some of the local polititians used it in their political ads later. My heart goes out to all those hit by the tsunami.
That's to true, and I agree. :nod:Quote:
Originally Posted by Stanislaw
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stanislaw
Thank you Stan. I don't live in the Sumatra Island (where the quake took place), but I have some families there and so glad they're ok. Me my self reside in Java. What worries me the most is the future of many children who lost their parents/families and left alone in this world with no one . My country is not that rich to be able to support these kids so their future are at risk :(.
sub, I didn't realise you lived so close to that area, glad you're ok!
Canada is opening the doors to fast-tracking adoption procedures for orphaned children. Not the ideal situation for them, too bad their parents aren't there for them still. :(
I just hope all the *millions* of dollars that have been collected actually gets put to good use and directly goes to those most in need, not to pay for all the politricks and bureaucracy involved in administrating it.
Thanks Den, the adoption thing is a good way to save the children's futures, but you're right that there's nothing better than living with your own family.Quote:
Originally Posted by den
The corruption issue is one of the hottest issues which arise regarding the distribution and the use of funds which are collected locally and internationally. I just hope that the involved parties would always have the sanity and heart in managing those funds.
No I'd have to disagree on the Sub, but that's because my story is a little different. My genetic mom had me when she was young, so I understand that the parents can't take care of their children a all, but being put up to save yourself sucks ***.Quote:
Originally Posted by subterranean
Sorry to hear that Bong.
12 steps from here to my bed.
I prefer it because if she didn't want me, I don't want her.Quote:
Originally Posted by subterranean
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that Bong! :(
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bongitybongbong
Why be sorry when I came out a lot better than I eould anywhere else?
Well, it seems to be a bad situation, but if in the end, it worked out the best for you, I hope you are in a good situation.
So many children get stuck in bad situations in alberta, its not fair at all.
You're asking me if I'm in a good situation...the best that could have happened for me. :) I wish I could do something about the children in Alberta, but...... I can't.:bawling: I truly wish I could do something for them.
I know it is a real shame, there is an epidemic, which is really sad for a so cald first world nation.
Wow....that's horrible.It really is.
The cloud outside is so dark, and then rain is pouring lightly.
At the same thime I feel so sleepy. Can someone get me a cup of tea?
I don't want to, but I will *goes and gets tea for his highness*.
Well thank you Bong, now I feel kinda special.
The 2000th. post of yours...wow, and you are Special.
Well thanks again :blush: and yea my 2000th post :bawling: Oh, I need a life..
No you don't...I don't need one all the time.
Oh you're so right..Here's another 100 bucks.
That's 200 bucks wasted.
Well a richy little me got nothing to worry ;)
Okay that's good.
Don't you need to sleep?
Who me, sleep is overrated. I'll be the owl if it's all good.
I sleep on average of 6 hours per day!
Mine's 5-6 hours.
Me 4-5..hah, so shut up you 2 :D