Silliness So what are you doing RIGHT NOW? - Page 303

GeoffC · 05-06-2009, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Well, I've tried the betas and they were very good. This RC1 is even better. Runs smoothly on the machine I have it on (AMD X2 with 2gb ram). The themes are much improved -- my favourite, the Architecture one, is gorgeous. Overall I'd say it's everythign Vista should have been, and wasn't. At the moment I'm preffering it to OS X (which is saying something).

I think they have a winner with this one

I thought the download was no longer available, or do you have the link from a while ago?

tirsales · 05-06-2009, 05:28 AM

See here

edit: Apologise - the link is German.. You can download Windows 7 RC1 at the bottom of the page, there is a language selection available ..
here is an english version, so I despise Microsoft for general reasons and would glady point you towards Ubuntu or any other Linux distribution

GeoffC · 05-06-2009, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tirsales

See here

edit: Apologise - the link is German.. You can download Windows 7 RC1 at the bottom of the page, there is a language selection available ..

danke,

I'll have a look around at the english version ....

edit : ah ! the power of the cross-posting .....

GeoffC · 05-06-2009, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

danke,

I'll have a look around at the english version ....

edit : ah ! the power of the cross-posting .....

of course, no suggestion of what the price may be in 2010 when your machine starts shutting down ....

krisk · 05-06-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly

What desertgrandma says.

As a supply (substitute) early years educator, I work in a variety of different nurseries -- in school nurseries in upper middle class areas to full day nurseries in areas of deprivation. And while there are stark difference between the needs of children in these areas, what is the same, is that they do respond well to an adult who is willing to spend time chatting and playing.

One of my worries is that children do not seem to engage in as much imaginative / pretend play as they did 10 years ago. I worry too, that at home parents don't have the time to get down on the floor and play 'shops', 'house' or 'superman'. I wonder how much time children spend in front of the tv, computer or in the car going to organised activities?

you know I think about that quite often... seeing these mini-vans and mid-sized SUVs running around with the 2.5 kids and 1.3 dogs in the back with the pull down TV screens and the kids in their car seats with headphones damn near as big as their noggins... I wonder what the hell!!!??? road trips, long or short, were how my family connected quite often, both when I was a pup and when I was raising my litter. that was the time when family stories, funny songs, traditions and so on were shared. my kids were not given all the hand held devices to carry around with them for "distraction" I told them that time spent with their mouths closed and ears opened were prime learning times, and quite often this branch of education was much more valuable and important than time spent in a classroom. now I see kids quietly entertaining themselves in restaurants with either games, ipods, or notebooks. what happened to conversation? learning how to behave in polite society?

we weren't given a missive to self replicate. it is not mandated. the creation of kids should be because you want them, you can handle them, you have time for them. they should rank above the cars, the electronics, the designer dogs and so on. if it is a question at all, the gene pool would probably be better if you don't add to it.

HOLY COW!!!! where'd that soap box come from?

GeoffC · 05-06-2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

HOLY COW!!!! where'd that soap box come from?

Speakers Corner : Hyde Park ... ?

krisk · 05-06-2009, 12:13 PM

well someone lock it up! it's dangerous! causes random loquaciousness and babbling.

nekokami · 05-06-2009, 12:20 PM

I'm with you folks on the need for more imaginative play and less electronics.

(Barring that, could we at least have more imaginative electronics?) This semester I was reading a lot by Vygotsky, and I think he's hit the mark with the critical nature of play as part of the learning process.

Curly · 05-06-2009, 01:56 PM

Exactly! We used to spend hours making up plays, telling stories, and generally exploring the real world around us and the imaginary worlds we made up. We always spent long car trips and waits in dentist offices chatting and making up games.

It is a skill children will need when they grow up and move out into the real world. In many different professional jobs the imagination is used. Not just the obvious ones such as writing or art, but also the sciences, maths, and technology. I do wonder if children pick up the necessary skills through computer / video games -- perhaps they do.

nekokami · 05-06-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly

I do wonder if children pick up the necessary skills through computer / video games -- perhaps they do.

I think it depends on the computer game. Second Life and The Sims both involve much of the same kind of activity that went into "playing house" when I was young. Second Life, in particular, has no built-in structure or scoring mechanism, so it's up to the players to decide what to do with their time. There are also a lot of ways to express creativity in SL.

I suppose by the same token, World of Warcraft (and similar online battle games) could be likened to "Cowboys and Indians," though I'm not sure WoW players would appreciate the comparison. And with so many game assets provided and no way to introduce your own, I don't think it has nearly the imaginative opportunity of something like Second Life.

Patricia · 05-06-2009, 03:46 PM

Things are different now, though. When I was young, we could spend all day exploring the neighbourhood. I can remember roaming for (literally) miles with my sister. We got to explore nearby Welsh valleys and to climb up mountainsides. We fished for minnows in the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal, and got up to all sorts of adventures.

When my daughter was small, I allowed her to play unsupervised in the nearby streets.

Nowadays my neighbours won't let their children out to play in the street until they are about seven years old. and they aren't allowed into the next street.

I do fear that furure generations will be less adventurous and imaginative.

tirsales · 05-07-2009, 08:36 AM

Even if parents allow their children to go playing - many neighbors dont. I know many a street were children are not allowed to play soccer (could damage a window) or even paint with chalk (even though the street is very quiet) - it disturbs the neighborhood ... I was able to play soccer, street hockey, etc on the street - is this the last generation to do so?
Thats the thing that really annoys me about most politicians ranting about "youth not spending time outside" ... Children are not allowed to play outside ...

Moejoe · 05-07-2009, 08:44 AM

My nephews, and most of the kids in my neighorhood are out all the time, bmx'ing, playing footie, building dens and whatever they can find to entertain themselves. When they play video games it's after they've come in from playing, not instead of. Maybe it's a parent thing? Some parents are too afraid to let their kids go out playing, maybe?

yvanleterrible · 05-07-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tirsales

Even if parents allow their children to go playing - many neighbors dont. I know many a street were children are not allowed to play soccer (could damage a window) or even paint with chalk (even though the street is very quiet) - it disturbs the neighborhood ... I was able to play soccer, street hockey, etc on the street - is this the last generation to do so?
Thats the thing that really annoys me about most politicians ranting about "youth not spending time outside" ... Children are not allowed to play outside ...

In a few years no one will be allowed outdoors... without protective gear.

mjh215 · 05-07-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

In a few years no one will be allowed outdoors... anywhere without protective gear.

Here, just fixed this for ya...

-MJ

05-06-2009, 05:28 AM	#4532
tirsales MIA ... but returning som Posts: 1,600 Karma: 511342 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Germany Device: PRS-505 and Really not owning a PRS-700	See here edit: Apologise - the link is German.. You can download Windows 7 RC1 at the bottom of the page, there is a language selection available .. here is an english version, so I despise Microsoft for general reasons and would glady point you towards Ubuntu or any other Linux distribution Last edited by tirsales; 05-06-2009 at 05:31 AM.

05-06-2009, 12:13 PM	#4537
krisk Wizard Posts: 2,148 Karma: 8229 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: on the road again Device: kindle	well someone lock it up! it's dangerous! causes random loquaciousness and babbling. Last edited by krisk; 05-06-2009 at 12:22 PM.

05-06-2009, 12:20 PM	#4538
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I'm with you folks on the need for more imaginative play and less electronics. (Barring that, could we at least have more imaginative electronics?) This semester I was reading a lot by Vygotsky, and I think he's hit the mark with the critical nature of play as part of the learning process.

05-06-2009, 01:56 PM	#4539
Curly I need a holiday! Posts: 1,227 Karma: 4622 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Scotland Device: PRS-505, ipod touch	Exactly! We used to spend hours making up plays, telling stories, and generally exploring the real world around us and the imaginary worlds we made up. We always spent long car trips and waits in dentist offices chatting and making up games. It is a skill children will need when they grow up and move out into the real world. In many different professional jobs the imagination is used. Not just the obvious ones such as writing or art, but also the sciences, maths, and technology. I do wonder if children pick up the necessary skills through computer / video games -- perhaps they do.

05-06-2009, 03:46 PM	#4541
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	Things are different now, though. When I was young, we could spend all day exploring the neighbourhood. I can remember roaming for (literally) miles with my sister. We got to explore nearby Welsh valleys and to climb up mountainsides. We fished for minnows in the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal, and got up to all sorts of adventures. When my daughter was small, I allowed her to play unsupervised in the nearby streets. Nowadays my neighbours won't let their children out to play in the street until they are about seven years old. and they aren't allowed into the next street. I do fear that furure generations will be less adventurous and imaginative.

05-07-2009, 08:36 AM	#4542
tirsales MIA ... but returning som Posts: 1,600 Karma: 511342 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Germany Device: PRS-505 and Really not owning a PRS-700	Even if parents allow their children to go playing - many neighbors dont. I know many a street were children are not allowed to play soccer (could damage a window) or even paint with chalk (even though the street is very quiet) - it disturbs the neighborhood ... I was able to play soccer, street hockey, etc on the street - is this the last generation to do so? Thats the thing that really annoys me about most politicians ranting about "youth not spending time outside" ... Children are not allowed to play outside ...

05-07-2009, 08:44 AM	#4543
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	My nephews, and most of the kids in my neighorhood are out all the time, bmx'ing, playing footie, building dens and whatever they can find to entertain themselves. When they play video games it's after they've come in from playing, not instead of. Maybe it's a parent thing? Some parents are too afraid to let their kids go out playing, maybe?