Disqus - Latest Comments for brian j. parker

Re: Threads and threads

brian j. parker — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 08:33:43 -0000

Testing; one, two, testing...

Re: Minutiae 1: My First Computer(s)

brian j. parker — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 12:02:19 -0000

I got my parents to get me a Commodore 64 while I was in grade school because I wanted to play Zork. I ended up learning BASIC and writing my own "Interactive Fiction" games (in my own terrible, limited way)... I wasn't as bright as Corey!

My first "real" computer was a used PS/2. By this point I'd decided I wanted to work with computers, so I installed Windows 3.1 on it... maaaannnnn was it slow! It was only when I had access to college computer labs that the world opened up for me...

After that was a Gateway (because that was Pitt, my employer's standard) and my first time putzing with hardware... an HP Pavilion from the Las Vegas Best Buy... an HP laptop... now this Alienware. For an I.T. professional, I end up keeping my home compuetrs a long time, and have never really gotten a high-powered desktop. But I'm really surprised I can remember these all...

Re: UN-Natural Selection

brian j. parker — Wed, 09 May 2007 09:59:15 -0000

Idiocracy deals with this theme, but I don't think it's really how evolution works. A few minor changes might evolve gradually (like, we're getting taller, since tall people get more chances to breed) but for the most part, evolution happens in spurts. Some dramatic mutation happens (like webbed feet, or a different skin color) and that mutation enables the creature who got it, and its descendants, to breed more.

Now unfortunately we're not breeding out the bad mutations (like peanut allergies, or asthma) but there were always medical problems that came too late in life, after the breeding cycle, to get weeded out (cancer, weak heart). But we should ostensibly be getting taller, and stronger, and better-looking.

But a true evolution-- a drastic mutation-- you expect that to only appear every few thousand years anyway.

Re: UN-Natural Selection

brian j. parker — Thu, 10 May 2007 10:49:30 -0000

I think so, Julie. Jen could tell it better.