Archive for August, 2004

Speakeasy Update

Wednesday, August 25th, 2004

After emailing Jim Hardwick, Carroll’s Vice President for Student Life, he sent me this nice reply:

Quote from Jim Hardwick:
Paul:

Thanks for your email. As you have probably noticed, the Carroll website is going through a major upgrade. With the upgrade, the college is going to be able to offer more features and capabilities than we have in the past. The challenge is that there is going to be a transition time before everything can be operational.

As far as the Speakeasy, we are going to be able to consider different ways to operate that part of the Boards. However, we need to involve the campus in discussion as to what features we want to see with the Speakeasy. For example, one of the choices we now have with this upgrade is whether the Speakeasy should be limited to users with a Carroll log-in. Or whether or not the Speakeasy should allow anonymous postings. The capabilities we now have with the upgrade means we need to revisit how the Speakeasy functions and that is best going to happen with a campus-wide dialogue.

It is my understanding that the upgrade is also going to take time to install all of the features and options–as well as update all of the new pages in the system–and that part of the delay with the Speakeasy was that the infrastructure for the whole system and individual projects needed to get done before the Speakeasy will be reinstalled. IT Services is doing a tremendous job in upgrading all of our web capabilities. It is important to note that there is an incredible amount of work to do and yet to be done.

I know the question was asked at a meeting earlier this week as to what alternative can be offered to students between now and the completion of the discussion of the Speakeasy. I do not know if that question has been answered yet.

I hope you find this information to further explain what is going on with the Speakeasy. I will check the message on the website to see if more clarity can be added there.

Enjoy your week!

Jim

Well… A nice reply. Better than what is on the website. I guess he doesn’t know that I might be the person who ends up implmenting those ‘new’ features. Oh Well. I still don’t understand why they had to be taken down now instead of waiting for the new system to be completed. They have been up for 4 years, why shut them down now for a semester?

Where are the Doom 3 Linux Binaries?

Tuesday, August 24th, 2004
Quote from TriKster-Abacus- on #icculus.org:
idSoftware had what 4 years to work on this.. I dont understand why not the first week after release
they couldnt have a dedicated server and a Linux binary

Gosh. I don’t think Mr. TriKster has any clue on what is involved in releasing a game. Not that I have a ton of experience, but now days I do understand that making a release any game is not just something you do in a weekend. Hell, for many games it could take a couple days just for a build to fully pass QA and begin distribution.


The fact is, any game released for Linux is done out of the goodness of the developer’s hearts. Its not done for a profit. We all know how well Loki did with that profit thing.

The 999 out of 1000 Rule

Tuesday, August 24th, 2004

Carroll’s ‘Speakeasy’ board was closed today, and all I got was a letter from the “Carroll Senior Staff”:

Quote from http://www.carroll.edu/students/boards.cc:
Message to Speakeasy Users,

During the fall 2004 semester, the Speakeasy will be offline. During the next four months, conversations will take place across campus about the best way to encourage and support an open dialogue on important (and fun) topics. In the past, individuals posting comments on the Speakeasy remained anonymous. So one question being posed is “how do we promote discussion, take responsibility for our comments, and encourage involvement of everyone in the Carroll community”? Also, what new developments are occurring that would improve access and security of the Speakeasy?

Please get involved in the discussions. Notices will be posted around campus and on the web of meeting dates, times and places.

Signed,

Carroll Senior Staff




Sigh. Yet again, in a place where 999 out of a 1000 people respect the enviroment, a single person (or post!) can destroy the entire experience for others. In an MMO, they call em a ‘griefer’. I don’t know what you can call them in real life.

The Speakeasy was a great place to bring in different opinions and discuss them in a mostly civil manner. I am truely disappointed that the Carroll Administration has ordered the shutdown of these boards. Isn’t experiencing other viewpoints a big part of what colllege is about?

Not only that, I was planning on posting a complete HOWTO for using Linux on the ResNet to the Speakeasy Tech Board tonight. The new PPPoE system they added this year to the ResNet is sort of a pain, but it helps with locating Windows machines infected with the newest crappyness.

That Uru thing..

Tuesday, August 10th, 2004

Last Friday, Cyan released Unt�l Uru.
It felt pretty good to get somthing out that is almost all my work. I couldn’t of done it without Grey Dragon’s help, but I did all the technical work.


The reaction in the community has been pretty cool to watch. I know how many people felt after Live was killed. I am just happy I have been able to give some of Live back to them.

Apple Rocks

Tuesday, August 10th, 2004

So, I just got my new 12 inch PowerBook this week. Man. It is so sweet. I am very glad I didn’t buy a Dell or IBM and load Linux on it.