video games in a classroom

When is this normal? They are letting 10-12 year olds play video games in their school at Annenberg School for Communication in California. That may be the only place that would be allowed. I have heard of schools using DDR or Wiis to encourage physical fitness, but this is different.
They are supposed to learn ethics by playing a video game designed by the teacher. This game is about Dr. Frankenstein's assistant, and you basically choose whether or not you want to help him out. I don't really think that is appropriate, but whatever. My kids aren't going there.

Fly pentop computers

About a month ago,I started seeing this commercial on tv about this new computer/notebook thing. Anyway, I also saw it in an ad from Target last week. Apparently, this notebook can translate things you write on this tablet. It looks pretty cool, but lets see if it falls out of function with the old talk and type systems. I have never had the opportunity to try one of those, but I have heard that they never work.

Gerbils? What?

Ok, I have heard some pretty funny stories about computer mods. Yeah, I have seen neon water pumps cycling through the boards, but there is one that is the strangest. There was a guy who converted his RUNNING computer into a gerbil cage.

Here is the site to commercial versions:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/habicase.shtml

XBOX 360 problem

My fiancee and his brother have been experiencing problems with their online play. They have not been able to link up to play a game with each other in some time. This is due to a incompatible NATs. My fiancee's settings list his at Open while his brothers are at Moderate. I had looked online as to how to fix the problem, but I did not really know what any of this meant until I read chapter 7. Not only am I taking the class, but I am schooling them on the info, too.

Oh, and here is a website to fix the problem if you, or anyone you know, has a problem....with their XBOX.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/908874

Mac or PC

Despite what this book says, I have heard that Macs and PCs are two completely different beasts. If you know one, it is impossible to learn the other. On page 297 says that it should be short work to transition from one operating system to another. The layout is a little different, but there are the same names for the icons. The Apple start menu is on the top left hand corner, while on the PC it is on the right.
I have used a Mac before, but I do have to say that I prefer a PC. There is a bigger selection of software for PCs, too. It is almost like trying to shop for pants with a longer inseam. There are certain stores that I cannot go to because nothing will fit me.

VoIP

I have heard of this before, but I never really knew what it stood for. Voice Over Internet Protocol is a voice-based internet communication that changes a regular internet connection into a place for phone calls.
I had heard that Motorola had this technology, and then Vonage stole it. This is why they suspended Vonage from allowing people to join. Now the rates for Vonage went up about $10. I guess they had to pay Motorola something...

Bytes and the Matrix

Ok, I must admit. I saw the Matrix only once. And that was like two years ago. I know, I am behind the times, but not only with movies. I didn't really know what the numbers were, and how many were considered to be a byte. Eight numbers doesn't seem like it could hold many combinations. Anyway, I also didn't know that bytes were just 1s and 0s. My computer-literate friends tried to describe this to me as we were watching the movie, but I still didn't REALLY get it. Thanks computer class! :)