The "This Might Be A Stupid Question, But...." Thread

[stitchygreyanonymouse]

Dianne AKA Traska wrote:

"Easy answer:
Control key?  PC
Command key?  Mac"

This struck me as odd, because the way I've always specified is, Apple logo on the machine, it's a Mac.  No Apple logo, It's a PC.

Virg

But now you have things like my Chromebook - though according to this rule it would be a windows machine because it has a control key. BTW I love my Chromebook.

Virg’s a little off, because now that Macs are Intel-based, you get "hackintoshes" like my SO’s where they build what is essentially a PC, but runs OSX natively. It’s just not manufactured by Apple. Although one could argue that it’s not a Mac in that case, and I guess I agree.

PC ≠ Windows, since PCs can also run Chromium OS (Google), Linux, etc. (Although said hackintoshes require specific hardware—not all PCs will work)

And Chromebooks are their own thing (thus the differentiation between Chrome OS and Chromium OS), but since the OS is based on Linux, it uses Windows-like key mapping, thus the control key instead of command.

Then you get people like me, who dual boot their Apple computers (MacBook, in my case), so that their Windows computer has a command key (which functions like the Windows-logo key on a native Windows machine). That really bothers me though… I’m forever trying the wrong keyboard shortcut combinations since 96% of my computing is done in OSX.

[Virg]

stitchygreyanonymouse wrote:

"Virg’s a little off, because now that Macs are Intel-based, you get "hackintoshes" like my SO’s where they build what is essentially a PC, but runs OSX natively. It’s just not manufactured by Apple. Although one could argue that it’s not a Mac in that case, and I guess I agree."

That's it exactly.  A computer isn't a Macintosh just because it runs OSX, because that's a brand name for Apple's line of computers.  As for Frankentoshes, I figure anyone who's savvy enough to build a PC-based machine that can run OSX will know what they're running without resorting to looking over the keyboard or case.

Also, not every PC runs Windows.  A Chromebook running Linux is based on the chipset and board architecture popularized by IBM for their "PC" brand, so even though it's not Windows it can reasonably be called a PC (although to be completely technically accurate it's a PC clone unless it's built by IBM/Lenovo).  A Macintosh these days is rather close to being a PC clone as well, but the difference in board architecture is enough that it's a stretch to call it a PC for now.

Now I agree that my rule isn't perfect, because there's no Apple logo on machines like Sun or SPARC stations that can't be called PCs, but again someone running such high-end hardware is unlikely to need a cheat to figure out what they're using so as a simple rule of thumb it works.

Virg

[Bethalize]

Here's one example of dance writing - it's the Lilac Fairy solo from The Nutcracker
http://www.dancewriting.org/acrobat/ballet/SheetDance_Lilac_Fairy.pdf

Great link, but is the Lilac Fairy from Sleeping Beauty? Web results suggest so.

[carol1412]

Sorry - yes. Sleeping Beauty not Nutcracker.

[camlan]

What was special about yesterday, in the US, that tv shows like Bones or How I met Your Mother didn't air/had an episode?
I can usualy catch them a few hours after they are broadcasted, and often there are those days where there's nothing new to watch and I have no idea why (because I'm in europe).

Feb Sweeps are over - they will be saving new episodes for May Sweeps then the season will be over for broadcast networks. Cable networks don't do the sweeps thing as much and tend to have 2 1/2 seasons. You will see some shows mentioned having season 4 and season 4.5. Cable networks tend to air new episodes in blocks during times the broadcast networks are airing repeats.


Sweeps - a time when ratings are measured to set advertising rates. There are those here in the industry that can explain this better.


Spring Break - At least were I am many of the districts and private schools are out for the week and many families are on vacation.  Spring Break season tends to run from First full week in March until Easter/end of March.  Used to go into April but now April tends to be the season of THE TEST - when states give their big high stakes test.


In Texas will give our first test the week after Easter. 4th grade writing (2 days) because that take a long time to grade, and 5th grade Reading and Math because they have to pass it to go to the 6th grade. They get three chances 2 in the school year and 1 during the summer. (I teach elementary so can't recall tests for the upper grades off the top of my head but some of them will be testing that week also).

I think it's the end of sweeps. They've all put on their best shows for the sweeps and many will now be in re-runs for awhile. Except Grimm, which just started up again after three months of no new shows. I think Bones was a re-run--the season opener episode, IIRC.

School vacation is more doubtful. Not every state has the same school vacation schedule. In New England and parts of New York, the kids get a week off in February and a week off in April, with no March break.

And honestly, in the past decade or two, tv schedules have become high erratic. When I was a kid, back in the 60s, the shows all started around the same time in September, ran their episodes and reruns were for the summer.

Now, shows start whenever, go on hiatus whenever. New shows start up randomly throughout the year. Repeats happen all the time. You never really know when there will be a new episode unless you pay close attention to related media. If you aren't constantly watching tv so as to see the ads for upcoming episodes, or on social media or fan sites, you never know when your favorite show will air an new episode.

[magicdomino]

Also there some kind of basketball thing going on for a couple a weeks -- March Madness or something like that.     Basketball games will be popping up hither and yon, and some will be on prime time, especially as the weaker teams drop out of the competition.  Rather than worry about how the games will affect ratings ("Will Wattsamatta U versus Miskatonic Tech beat out a new Criminal Minds episode?"), they just show reruns.  New episodes will appear sporatically in April -- just enough that you can't count on everything being a rerun.  Then May brings the big florish of Season Finales (and a few Series Finales for shows that will not be reappearing in the fall.)

[Carotte]

Now, shows start whenever, go on hiatus whenever. New shows start up randomly throughout the year. Repeats happen all the time. You never really know when there will be a new episode unless you pay close attention to related media. If you aren't constantly watching tv so as to see the ads for upcoming episodes, or on social media or fan sites, you never know when your favorite show will air an new episode.

That's why I use www.tvcountdown.com, you check the shows you are interested in and it shows you day by day (and in how many hours!) when the next one will be.
I catch them up on the internet but it must be usefull when you actually get the channels..

[jpcher]

stitchygreyanonymouse wrote:

"Virg’s a little off, because now that Macs are Intel-based, you get "hackintoshes" like my SO’s where they build what is essentially a PC, but runs OSX natively. It’s just not manufactured by Apple. Although one could argue that it’s not a Mac in that case, and I guess I agree."

That's it exactly.  A computer isn't a Macintosh just because it runs OSX, because that's a brand name for Apple's line of computers.  As for Frankentoshes, I figure anyone who's savvy enough to build a PC-based machine that can run OSX will know what they're running without resorting to looking over the keyboard or case.

Also, not every PC runs Windows.  A Chromebook running Linux is based on the chipset and board architecture popularized by IBM for their "PC" brand, so even though it's not Windows it can reasonably be called a PC (although to be completely technically accurate it's a PC clone unless it's built by IBM/Lenovo).  A Macintosh these days is rather close to being a PC clone as well, but the difference in board architecture is enough that it's a stretch to call it a PC for now.

Now I agree that my rule isn't perfect, because there's no Apple logo on machines like Sun or SPARC stations that can't be called PCs, but again someone running such high-end hardware is unlikely to need a cheat to figure out what they're using so as a simple rule of thumb it works.

Virg

Getting nit-picky, here because I'm really curious.

PC is an acronym for Personal Computer.

So, technically, a Mac that you have at home can rightfully be called a PC because it is your own personal computer.

It seems to me that the term PC has grown into a term akin to "Kleenex" where kleenex refers to facial tissue in general and not specifically the brand name anymore.

I'm guessing that Macintosh had some strong advertising management in order to keep their product from being lumped into the generalized home PC category. Am I completely off base here?

Sun and SPARC really can't be called PCs because they are like WOPR . . . extremely high-end computers that aren't affordable for personal use.


Virg -- you mentioned the IBM "PC" brand . . . was "PC" ever an actual named brand of computers made by IBM?




(edited to fix spacing)

[Diane AKA Traska]

Actually, only IBM compatible computers are called PCs... IBM trademarked the term.

[LazyDaisy]

Actually, only IBM compatible computers are called PCs... IBM trademarked the term.

Learn something new...I've never heard that. How did Apple get away with using it in their "I'm a Mac...I'm a PC" commercials with Justin Long? And then Microsoft hit back with their "I'm a PC" campaign.

[artk2002]

Actually, only IBM compatible computers are called PCs... IBM trademarked the term.

Learn something new...I've never heard that. How did Apple get away with using it in their "I'm a Mac...I'm a PC" commercials with Justin Long? And then Microsoft hit back with their "I'm a PC" campaign.

According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, IBM trademarked "IBM-PC" which they have since abandoned. There are lots of people who have trademarked just "PC".

[kherbert05]

I think it's the end of sweeps. They've all put on their best shows for the sweeps and many will now be in re-runs for awhile. Except Grimm, which just started up again after three months of no new shows. I think Bones was a re-run--the season opener episode, IIRC.

School vacation is more doubtful. Not every state has the same school vacation schedule. In New England and parts of New York, the kids get a week off in February and a week off in April, with no March break.

And honestly, in the past decade or two, tv schedules have become high erratic. When I was a kid, back in the 60s, the shows all started around the same time in September, ran their episodes and reruns were for the summer.

Now, shows start whenever, go on hiatus whenever. New shows start up randomly throughout the year. Repeats happen all the time. You never really know when there will be a new episode unless you pay close attention to related media. If you aren't constantly watching tv so as to see the ads for upcoming episodes, or on social media or fan sites, you never know when your favorite show will air an new episode.

I'm a cord cutter so ads don't really work for me. I use the app SideReel, plus subscribing on Hulu to let me know when new seasons start. I also get good recommendations from both Hulu and Amazon Instant.

[amandaelizabeth]

I get a daily listing of ebooks from Amazon.  One of the catergories I have noticed is "Christian/Amish"

I know who the Amish are, and consider them Christian, so I have the following questions

Is it just the style of Amazon to imply that Amish are not Christian, if it is not just their style do people in the USA consider them seperately.  Is it just a sub-listing and I have not noticed Christian/Baptist or Christian/Catholic?

The Amish are a very small percentage of the population so why are there so many  fiction books about them.  Is is curiousity or what?

[violinp]

I get a daily listing of ebooks from Amazon.  One of the catergories I have noticed is "Christian/Amish"

I know who the Amish are, and consider them Christian, so I have the following questions

Is it just the style of Amazon to imply that Amish are not Christian, if it is not just their style do people in the USA consider them seperately.  Is it just a sub-listing and I have not noticed Christian/Baptist or Christian/Catholic?

The Amish are a very small percentage of the population so why are there so many  fiction books about them.  Is is curiousity or what?

Curiosity, most likely. Not many English (the term for non - Amish) people I know, myself included, know much about the Amish other than they "dress funny," don't use modern inventions, and the men have big beards. I know more than that, but I don't pretend that I really know a lot about them.

[LazyDaisy]

I get a daily listing of ebooks from Amazon.  One of the catergories I have noticed is "Christian/Amish"

I know who the Amish are, and consider them Christian, so I have the following questions

Is it just the style of Amazon to imply that Amish are not Christian, if it is not just their style do people in the USA consider them seperately.  Is it just a sub-listing and I have not noticed Christian/Baptist or Christian/Catholic?

The Amish are a very small percentage of the population so why are there so many  fiction books about them.  Is is curiousity or what?

I don't think Amazon is implying the Amish are not Christian, just, as you suspect, a subgroup of Christianity. I imagine with all of the new reality-TV shows about the Amish that they are a popular subject right now so Amazon is pushing that category. Their categories/recommendations might be based on how many people are searching for those terms.

Edited to add that the bolded is probably why there are so many fiction books about them. They are mysterious and exotic to the general population so a lot of curiosity about them. Also, I seem to remember reading about a new young adult books trend about "Amish romance"; similar to the explosion of vampire-themed books inspired by the success of the Twilight series.