This article may or may not be interesting to my readers: It contains no information of any value as such from a technical point of view. It is simply intended to clear up a particular misunderstanding.

In the following post I will veer towards the very edge of the subject of technology, at a point where the fields of technology and literacy attempt to intersect.

Sometimes the terminology and phraseology that I use is misunderstood. Here is one example of such an incident: -

Recently, when commenting on another blog, I used the term “32-bit-retardedness” which was instantly taken out of context by the blog’s owner.

The owner was saying in his article that in his opinion there was absolutely no need to move to a 64-bit operating system at this point in time, as 32-bit was still the standard.

My reply was that holding back on the migration from 32 to 64-bits, (Which I paraphrased, possibly unwisely, as “32-bit-retardedness”.) would just lead to a slow development of more 64-bit drivers and applications, making the inevitable transition slow and painful. (Those weren’t the actual words used, but the same meaning was attempted to be conveyed.)

Here is what I actually did say: -

Sharron Field says:

November 8, 2009 at 2:24 pm

No, no, no, no, no: Mr ***** you are encouraging 32-bit-retardedness; and if everybody thought the same way as you do then everybody would stick to 32-bit and no 64-bit apps will ever be developed: Just as happened with XP and Vista.

It’s not about “getting a … boner” or whatever. (Not all geeks can get a boner anyway.) – It’s about progress rather than stagnation; it’s about taking that step beyond rather than standing still because it seems more convenient at the time.

- Go forth, therefore; adopt 64-bit architecture and a 64-bit operating system: Leave the 32-bitters to their RAM-restrictions, technology of the past, and look towards the bright new horizons with confidence!

As it turned out, the guy who owned the blog seems to have decided that I accused him of being retarded, and said so publicly on PC Mech Live  at 8PM EST on Wednesday 11th November 2009. In doing so he tried to stop me from presenting my case, and replied that the matter was closed, after I apologised if he read it that way and stated that I had said that he was “encouraging 32-bit-retardedness”.

- So what did this term actually mean?

The word “retardedness” has several definitions; both as an adjective and as a verb. While the word “retard” is commonly-used in slang as an insult recently, the tern “retardedness” applied to someone or something doesn’t necessarily refer to that person or thing being retarded in a mental capacitative sense, as the slang insult form of the tern would convey.

http://en.wiktionary.org defines the term in numerous senses: -

Retardedness; to be retarded

Adjective

retarded

1. Delayed in development.

   retarded growth

2. (slang) Of a person, having mental retardation.
3. (slang) By extension, of a person or thing, stupid; senseless; irrational.
4. (slang) Under the influence of alcohol.

The word “retarded” can also be an adjective or a verb. In the term “32-bit retardation” it is meant to be conveyed as a verb: -

Verb

retarded

1. Past tense of retard; slowed.
2. Past participle of retard; slowed.

Further examination of the first definition of retarded as a verb gives us the following: –

Adjective

slow (comparative slower, superlative slowest)

Positive
slow

Comparative
slower

Superlative
slowest

1. Taking a long time to move or go a short distance, or to perform an action; not quick in motion; proceeding at a low speed.
2. Not happening in a short time; spread over a comparatively long time.

   These changes in the heavens, though slow, produced Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast. –Milton

3. Of reduced intellectual capacity; not quick to comprehend.

   John is very slow; he is ten seconds behind everybody else when it comes to math.

4. Not hasty; not precipitate; lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation.

   He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding. –Prov. xiv. 29.

5. Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time.

   That clock is slow.

6. Lacking spirit; deficient in liveliness or briskness.

The term retarded’s meaning, as used in the phrase under examination, bears a comparative interpretation akin to #1 above:

“Taking a long time to move or go a short distance, or to perform an action; not quick in motion; proceeding at a low speed. “

- That is as in “Taking a long time to adapt or migrate from a 32-bit to a 64-bit environment; not being quick in doing so, proceeding at a low speed with regard to doing so”.

What it does not mean is that the person who takes a long time to adapt or migrate from a 32-bit to a 64-bit environment is [mentally] retarded. – To read it as such would be to take the meaning totally out of context, possibly deliberately reading it in such a way in order to have an excuse to give an unfavourable reaction to the phrase.

It was true that I was making the odd dig at him during the PC Mech Live show that evening because he had gone for 32-bit Windows 7 whereas I had gone for 64-bit Windows 7: But any such digs were meant in fun.

After I’d jibed that a problem he was having with a program he was running might be due to the fact that 4GB RAM wasn’t enough for the task, he launched into a rather brisk counterattack and went off on one, saying that I’d accused him of being retarded because he’d chosen a 32-bit operating system, in front of an audience of over a hundred people. He then attempted to make it as black as it could be for me, saying that I was rude and that I’d never get anywhere in business with an attitude like that (Whatever business has to do with it.)…etc.

Yes, I’ve written this post to cover my ass, and in order that I can direct any questions regarding the incident to this post as a reference, rather than launching into multiple copies explanations on a 1 to 1 basis. Also, if I ever use the term again, I can send anybody who starts getting into a mood to this blog post also.

In addition, it pre-empts the grapevine’s possible coverage of the event; in that it gives a clear explanation that It’s not rudeness on my part, but the ignorance of third-parties, that is at issue here.

- Now someone will accuse me of accusing someone of ignorance…

Comments are invited if anyone wishes to do so.

All the answers to this quiz can be found somewhere within the latest 15 posts on this blog as at time of posting, or on the Home Page.

Give it a go and see how well you do: -

• 1. What subject do I have analogue and digital qualifications in?

• 2. Signs of which syndrome include raised capillaries near to the dermal surface, sometimes causing vivid birthmarks and intermittent dermal haemorrhage, especially during periods of exercise and stress?

• 3.What American city is set to host the CES in January 2009?

• 4. In which county of England was the location of the photographic bar where Sarah Ferguson’s laptop was left?

• 5. What processor have I installed in my new-build computer?

• 6. How many becomeablogger affiliate adverts appear on the home page including the sidebar?

• 7. What percentage of disk – space does Windows XP allocate to System Restore on each disk by default?

• 8. Which company that I advertise is a FTSE-listed company that won an award from Which? magazine?

• 9. What bookmarking site is this the logo of:  ?

• 10.Which of the following two statements is true? :-

A. The higher the frequency the smaller the antenna needed to radiate that frequency.

B. The higher the frequency the larger the antenna needed to radiate that frequency.

Check your answers here.

How did you do? What is your rank? : -

1 to 4 = Fleeting glancer.

5 to 8 = Reading regular.

9 = Almost addicted.

10 = Fantastic fanatic.

Wishing all readers of this blog a Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukah, or whatever it is you’re celebrating.

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- ‘Breaking away from the technology-oriented theme for this post, a little music to delight your listening lug-holes:

I saw the URL to this posted by the Kadaitcha Man in the newsgroups. I so liked this I just had to post it: Indie duo Pomplamoose, with a great rendition of the Julie Andrews song "My Favourite Things". I do suggest you get the mp3 if you like it yourself. Browse over to http://myspace.com/pomplamoosemusic  to hear more of their music, see more of their vids, order more mp3s, and not forgetting Pomplamoose soap.

About Pomplamoose

Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn started making music together in the summer of ‘08, and decided to form a band. Pomplamoose thus represents the collaborative efforts of the two afore-mentioned musicians. It also means grapefruit in French.

I’m getting hooked actually; the more of their music I hear the more I like it. In my opinion this couple are very talented.

Today an emergency "out-of-band" Windows update was issued by Microsoft.

MS08-067: Vulnerability in Server Service Could Allow Remote Code Execution

Please go straight to Microsoft Update or click the above link to download this update. You will need to restart your computer after the update is installed.

My source for this information is here. I checked the authenticity of this alert by going to Microsoft Update myself on a fully-patched and updated computer. Microsoft Update offered me this update all the same with a critical rating. If you have doubts or you wish to check out the authenticity yourself, then please check this out yourself: You don’t have to use my links either: Go to Microsoft Update by whichever route you like.

(I’ve downloaded this update to both of my computers running Windows XP Professional and not seen any adverse side effects myself nor am I expecting any: Such effects are extremely rare in the case of Microsoft’s patches and updates.)

It is admittedly rather unusual for Microsoft to issue any updates at any time other than Patch Tuesday, so they must have a very good reason for doing so. I was slightly cynical when I first saw news of this; so I checked it out and it’s genuine, as you’ll see when you go to Microsoft Update.

If you have automatic updates switched on then this update will automatically be delivered to your computer at the time you specified to check for updates. Owing to the way in which this update was issued, however, I do advise that you check this out as a matter of priority.

If you don’t have automatic updates switched on then I suggest you visit Microsoft Update  as soon as possible to check this one out.

This alert was brought to you outside of and extra to the normal scheduled articles on kkomp.com due to the nature of the issue of the bulletin from Microsoft. The security of your computer(s) running Microsoft Windows is a priority. As such I am taking the unusual step of mailing this article to all signed-up subscribers to this blog despite not having the intention to begin a proper mailing list at the present moment.

This alert carries no advertising with it.

I was writing another post, a blog entry to post later today: This particular post was another one about electronics. I had the circuit diagram carefully drawn out and electronically processed; this time so that it looked virtually like it had been drawn straight on a white background rather than on the back of an old Kustom Komputa advertising card.

I wrote the four paragraphs I needed within the tabular framework that I’d created as a template, changed the font and justified the text, inserted the circuit diagram and stretched to size. The final check said everything appeared OK after selecting a category, and I was about to upload to WordPress when I noticed something was wrong.

I wasn’t sure exactly what at first; but there was definitely something major which I’d noticed at the last moment and which needed rectification before I proceeded any further.

I did my final checks again and found nothing wrong there; but still I was subconsciously nagged by something. I used my eyes and checked the spelling manually; every word, but none appeared wrong, yet none seemed readable; as if they were some strange type of hieroglyphics. The template was perfectly sized and shaped and fitted as usual. Whatever could it be?

Then , unexpectedly the screen went blank. I checked, first the power lead, then the back of the computer to see if it could be a loose monitor lead, and noticed that the computer wasn’t switched on, nor was it even warm. I saw that the air conditioning was still working but the room was seemingly becoming very cold and the lights weren’t working, except for one which had strangely turned blue – Which was the colour I’d soon be turning if the room got much colder; but I couldn’t seem to get out of my chair – And the tiny blue bulb was getting smaller by the second as the cold permeated my body ever more…

A gunshot echoed from the cold darkness as the tiny blue bulb faded out of existance and I felt the warmth of blood on my leg.

My eyes flickered open. I realised I’d fallen asleep and knocked my cup of coffee off my desk. The cup had broken on the floor and coffee had spilled on my leg and saturated one of my stockings. The lights were on and it had also started getting light outside. The screen saver played on the monitor and the computer whirred away silently next to me.

I’d never even started writing the post, and I must have just clicked to open Windows Live Writer immediately before I dropped off at the keyboard.

I’d had a late-at-night idea for a post; but for the life of me I couldn’t even remember what I was going to write about : So you’ll have to make do with this for now.

I’m going to see if I can get some more sleep – but in the right place this time: Even though it’s nearly time to get up; my schedule for today is light and undemanding, so I can afford to have a nap. I’ll write something else as and when.

I must get some sleep!

Today I had a tiny tweet-up with jaditelefae; who suggested that she’d make me a looney-hat so that the local weirdo riff-raff element could have something better to talk about other than how I was  making myself an outcast from their idea of society by striving to be a success and that I was a tight bitch because I refuse to “lend” them any money toward their drug and alcohol habits.

They’re not all like that round my way, but there are a number of that type; as is probably the case in many if not most neighbourhoods worldwide.

(Jaditelefae’s internet connection is currently down; which is why she’s not currently around online.)

On a different note; I thought the Olympics were to blame for two days of the worst visitor-figures for my blog ever. The figure plummeted from the norm down to a single-figure amount on Friday, only to my surprise to do even worse on Saturday. (Yesterday.):

Today, however, the trend has fully reversed: I have already seen the best visitor count ever when I last looked at 2PM, and with almost half the day still to go from thereon  I’m hoping for a landslide count at the end of the day.

Many thanks to all of you who’ve visited.

Today I was up at the crack of dawn since I never really went to bed last night, and I did an all-nighter optimising and improving this blog and my computer: So here’s to dawn; whose crack I was up at.

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So that’s all for now: Enjoy what’s left of the weekend and keep visiting kkomp.com: There is/are usually new post/s every day.

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No I haven’t been posting since 1958; although sometimes it feels like I have: This is post number 50 on this blog, and it calls for a celebration.

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So break out the bubbly; fire up the fireworks, and P-A-R-T-Y.

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A great excuse for a party; as well as a fairly good way to get a few ads in too.
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