Slashdot Mirror

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1623#comic

If anyone needs graphical evidence.

They offer HDMI over the same microUSB connector via slimport or MHL. That requires multiplexing.

I think you are overestimating how difficult and expensive it would have been for the USB people to make a standard that was not orientation-sensitive. It seems far more likely to me that the same people who never noticed how annoying orientation was with the circa-1996 USB A connector didn't bother to take the time to attack the problem with the 3rd revision of the connector.

http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2388

http://www.smbc-comics.com/comics/20130929.png

As usual either Zach Weinersmith or Randall Munroe, the two greatest minds of our era have already forsaw this news...

In this case it's Zach!
http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3054

2+2=4. Damnit, the correct answer is 5. Let me try again: 2+2=4. Hrm.

http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2697

Obligatory SMBC.

So, it has come to this.

Wheels are turning, China; wheels are turning.

What the actual fuck. How could such a stupid mistake be made?

Engineer: "The reading is at least 100mSv, as that's the limit of the instrument I have available. A more accurate reading will be available when the new equipment arrives"

Managers, then PR department, then press release, then conference with head honchos, then translation, then re-reporting

Media "The reading is 100msv"

2.) Explain how using less carbonaceous fuel here will prevent it from being burned there.

Congratulations, you've discovered the Prisoner's Dilemma (Illustrated).

You're more worried about getting the short-end of the stick than the actual results.

Obligatory SMBC.

Here is an SMBC comic about intelligence agencies.

In other words, Lightning exists in our own spacetime.

According to your very own definition of a quack ("someone who doesn't use the right process, who avoids peer review, who insists they can't be wrong"), Pauling *was* a quack.

Yes, he had two nobel prizes in a completely unrelated field. Just because he was an expert in that field does not mean that he is an expert in all fields, nor does it mean that he even felt he should use the scientific method in other fields. (Obligatory SMBC.)

There had already been studies showing Vitamin C didn't cure colds before Pauling made his claim. His (completely anecdotal) claim made other people do *more* studies which also showed no link between Vit. C and curing anything. From the article: "Although study after study showed that he was wrong, Pauling refused to believe it, continuing to promote vitamin C in speeches, popular articles, and books."

Yes, he was a smart guy and brilliant in some ways. But in medicine, he was a quack, by your own definition.

Obligatory SMBC? http://smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2072#comic

Obligatory... SMBC? http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2314

obxk, errr, obsmbc
just last week, in fact.

Hitler clone

SMBC

Distribute free game consoles to the male of the species.

I couldn't locate the SMBC comic that illustrates this proposal, but I did find another one that's on-topic.

Perhaps such is the intention of our true overlords!

While I agree completely, it's more about the exchange rate than anything else...

Or similarly:
http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=3005#comic :D

I may have posted this already but it's still relevant.

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2961#comic.

Obligatory SMBC: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?db=comics&id=2508#comic

Another somewhat relevant SMBC comic.

What? Nooo..

In fact I came across this very issue today: the internal struggle between, "this is technically possible and optimal, so it should be done," and, "users are at the peak of Mount Stupid and will screw everything up if you do that." Sometimes, limitations are a feature because the user's perception when something gets screwed up is that it's a "bug". In a way, in maybe kinda sorta is a "user experience" bug, but definitely not in the technical sense.

Your summary is deliberately vague, but I assume you're talking about software development. Your job is to find the ideal balance between "feature" and "stupid", ie.: in my custom-developed CMS, I allow certain HTML via a rich text editor, but parse it fairly heavily so that clients who know nothing about website development don't bugger up their website's design. Which direction and by how far you you tip that scale depends whether your project is destined for mass deployment or if it's a custom software package for a limited subset of users (and how technically sophisticated those users are).

I don't think your car analogy is very adept; there are already cars on the road today that already have built-in artificial limitations. The MazdaSpeed 3, for example, artificially restricts the power output in 1st and 2nd gears because most drivers don't know how to manage the torque steer that would be caused by the amount of power output at full throttle. You could argue that it is bad engineering decision to put almost 300hp and lb/ft torque in a front-wheel-drive drive car, and you'd basically be right, except that customers in that segment don't want an expensive and complicated all-wheel-drive system that would be far more suited to that amount of power. Hence, the power is restricted so that dumb drivers don't end up cliff-diving off Mount Stupid without a parachute.

No, he works for a company which makes sex simulator videogames. He has a responsibility to make sure the human race keeps breeding.

Relevant saturday morning breakfast cereal.

Lots of people will say they have Aspberger's to write off their eccentricities as well.

As diagnosed by Zach Weiner in his Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal:
http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2832

Obligatory SMBC comic. The people demand security.

Because, at least in America, we believe that everyone has "certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness". You cannot extend life by removing liberty and the pursuit of happiness, it's up to the individual to choose (a common medical ethics issue). Eating the food that we enjoy is essential to both our culture and happiness. As for cost, it's even cheaper to just euthanize people when they start experiencing medical problems, so the government could do that instead if they're willing to alienate us from our basic human rights.

Relevant comic

That image is from an SMBC comic. Come on, credit where it's due!

The cycle continues.

I've seen this before... Took a sec to find. SMBC

The consequences will be the same as they are now, i.e. http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2247

You're just one step closer to the dystopian future of the all-despising baby skull: http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2490

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2961

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2881

I wouldn't say "shun controversy"—more typically people avoid the topics because there's no point in discussing them. It's not like a Slashdot argument is going to change anyone's beliefs. It's just an excuse to spew vitriol for an hour or two. Think of it as the final step in this.

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2932#comic

And here's a relevant SMBC:

http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2556

I think the problem of uninformed physicists has been addressed by proper scientific research before:

http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2556

He just needs to throw chairs faster and harder.

Hm, catch the chairs with buckets hooked to a generator, and that could work.

Obligatory xkcd (Although something seems to have gone wrong, it's an SMBC)

- disclosure (if you need it), from my point of view gold is the real money, not US dollars, not Bitcoins, not Euros, not any fiat.

Bitcoins do have intrinsic value, which is tied to the value of the Internet or generally networking and being able to pass information around computer networks.

What is the value of Bitcoins? Ability to transfer purchasing power almost instantaneously from one part of the world to any other without suffering any government and banking regulations, delays, banking uncertainty in general.

How's the weather there on Mt. Stupid?

Thinking gold is a viable currency is an indication that you don't understand economics. You should avoid commenting on economic matters until you at least understand why I would say that.

Intrinsic value means value other than as a trade good. Your claim that Bitcoin's value as a "unregulated currency" even if accurate does not mean it has intrinsic value. That you would use the jargon this incorrectly further indicates that you probably don't understand what you're talking about. This is in addition to your unstated assumption that governments can't regulate bit coin which is completely unsubstantiated (especially since bitcoin relies on their existing a digital paper trail for the history of every bitcoin from it's creation through it's current owner.)

In short, STFU before someone less informed thinks you know what you're talking about and forms an assenting opinion thereby propagating you idiocy.

Turtles all the way down.

http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2867

It isn't. An apples to apples comparison would be all of the North American continent to all of the European continent. What tuppe666 stated is similar in spirit to 'American exceptionalism'. It relies more on skewing numbers and framing the debate than any type of reason. In this case, comparing an entire trade bloc that has repeatedly chosen to exclude subpar states to a single country that is all inclusive within its borders. Even then, to make the point stand takes some ignoring of inconvenient facts such as GDP measuring standards (somewhat relevant)and population numbers.