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NASA Sending Probe to Saturn
Plissken writes "Nasa along with the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency have launched a towards Saturn in hopes of obtaining vital data to help understand the mysterious, vast region. The Cassini-Huygens mission is composed of two elements: The Cassini orbiter that will orbit Saturn and it's moons for four years, and the Huygens probe will dive into the depths of Titan and land on it's surface. If all goes well, more than 200 scientists worldwide will study the data collected."
FP!!
send a probe to uranus?
I guess we'll see!
Uhh.. Didn't they launch Cassini a *ling* while ago?
What's the news value of this?
How long has this mission been running for .. is slashdot really stuck in a timewarp?
Is sending a 'probe' to Uranus.
How can any of you "Anonymous Cowards" claim a FP? Seems like kind of an empty victory to me.
One more crippling bombshell hit the already beleaguered *BSD community when IDC confirmed that *BSD market share has dropped yet again, now down to less than a fraction of 1 percent of all servers. Coming on the heels of a recent Netcraft survey which plainly states that *BSD has lost more market share, this news serves to reinforce what we've known all along. *BSD is collapsing in complete disarray, as fittingly exemplified by failing dead last in the recent Sys Admin comprehensive networking test.
You don't need to be a Kreskin to predict *BSD's future. The hand writing is on the wall: *BSD faces a bleak future. In fact there won't be any future at all for *BSD because *BSD is dying. Things are looking very bad for *BSD. As many of us are already aware, *BSD continues to lose market share. Red ink flows like a river of blood.
FreeBSD is the most endangered of them all, having lost 93% of its core developers. The sudden and unpleasant departures of long time FreeBSD developers Jordan Hubbard and Mike Smith only serve to underscore the point more clearly. There can no longer be any doubt: FreeBSD is dying.
Let's keep to the facts and look at the numbers.
OpenBSD leader Theo states that there are 7000 users of OpenBSD. How many users of NetBSD are there? Let's see. The number of OpenBSD versus NetBSD posts on Usenet is roughly in ratio of 5 to 1. Therefore there are about 7000/5 = 1400 NetBSD users. BSD/OS posts on Usenet are about half of the volume of NetBSD posts. Therefore there are about 700 users of BSD/OS. A recent article put FreeBSD at about 80 percent of the *BSD market. Therefore there are (7000+1400+700)*4 = 36400 FreeBSD users. This is consistent with the number of FreeBSD Usenet posts.
Due to the troubles of Walnut Creek, abysmal sales and so on, FreeBSD went out of business and was taken over by BSDI who sell another troubled OS. Now BSDI is also dead, its corpse turned over to yet another charnel house.
All major surveys show that *BSD has steadily declined in market share. *BSD is very sick and its long term survival prospects are very dim. If *BSD is to survive at all it will be among OS dilettante dabblers. *BSD continues to decay. Nothing short of a miracle could save it at this point in time. For all practical purposes, *BSD is dead.
Fact: *BSD is dying
[ed. note: in the following text, former FreeBSD developer Mike Smith gives his reasons for abandoning FreeBSD]
When I stood for election to the FreeBSD core team nearly two years ago, many of you will recall that it was after a long series of debates during which I maintained that too much organisation, too many rules and too much formality would be a bad thing for the project.
Today, as I read the latest discussions on the future of the FreeBSD project, I see the same problem; a few new faces and many of the old going over the same tired arguments and suggesting variations on the same worthless schemes. Frankly I'm sick of it.
FreeBSD used to be fun. It used to be about doing things the right way. It used to be something that you could sink your teeth into when the mundane chores of programming for a living got you down. It was something cool and exciting; a way to spend your spare time on an endeavour you loved that was at the same time wholesome and worthwhile.
It's not anymore. It's about bylaws and committees and reports and milestones, telling others what to do and doing what you're told. It's about who can rant the longest or shout the loudest or mislead the most people into a bloc in order to legitimise doing what they think is best. Individuals notwithstanding, the project as a whole has lost track of where it's going, and has instead become obsessed with process and mechanics.
So I'm leaving core. I don't want to feel like I should be "doing something" about a project that has lost interest in having something done for it. I don't have the energy to fight what has clearly become a losing battle; I have a life to live and a job to keep, and I won't achieve any of the goals I personally consider worthwhile if I remain obligated to care for the project.
Discussion
I'm sure that I've offended some people already; I'm sure that by the time I'm done here, I'll have offended more. If you feel a need to play to the crowd in your replies rather than make a sincere effort to address the problems I'm discussing here, please do us the courtesy of playing your politics openly.
From a technical perspective, the project faces a set of challenges that significantly outstrips our ability to deliver. Some of the resources that we need to address these challenges are tied up in the fruitless metadiscussions that have raged since we made the mistake of electing officers. Others have left in disgust, or been driven out by the culture of abuse and distraction that has grown up since then. More may well remain available to recruitment, but while the project is busy infighting our chances for successful outreach are sorely diminished.
There's no simple solution to this. For the project to move forward, one or the other of the warring philosophies must win out; either the project returns to its laid-back roots and gets on with the work, or it transforms into a super-organised engineering project and executes a brilliant plan to deliver what, ultimately, we all know we want.
Whatever path is chosen, whatever balance is struck, the choosing and the striking are the important parts. The current indecision and endless conflict are incompatible with any sort of progress.
Trying to dissect the above is far beyond the scope of any parting shot, no matter how distended. All I can really ask of you all is to let go of the minutiae for a moment and take a look at the big picture. What is the ultimate goal here? How can we get there with as little overhead as possible? How would you like to be treated by your fellow travellers?
Shouts
To the Slashdot "BSD is dying" crowd - big deal. Death is part of the cycle; take a look at your soft, pallid bodies and consider that right this very moment, parts of you are dying. See? It's not so bad.
To the bulk of the FreeBSD committerbase and the developer community at large - keep your eyes on the real goals. It'
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- They were flirting with danger, tempting fate. How, Wild players wondered, were they going to pull themselves out of another mess when history said it couldn't be done?
Turns out, they were simply setting the stage for the crowning achievement in a season that began with modest expectations and morphed into a charmed life of unexpected rewards.
Given a chance to make history, hockey's Houdini made another improbable escape, overcoming a two-goal deficit to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 in Game 7 at GM Place and advance to the Western Conference finals.
Richfield native Darby Hendrickson scored the game-winner on a slapshot with five minutes, 12 seconds remaining in regulation to etch the Wild's name in the record book.
The Wild became the first team to overcome two 3-1 series deficits in the same postseason. Game 1 against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks will be Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.
Can you believe it?
I saw a turtle.
I love you.
Please stand on my penis.
I'm waiting for NASA to probe my anus, or atleast Uranus
--fetch daddy's blue fright wig, i must be handsome when i release my rage
* Rob Malda celebrates the launch by standing on his head, burps Chips&Dips, while thinking "Build http:///.com and I will create a new effect".
* Netscape notices Microsft stealing da biz.
* Linux is broken
* Windows markets a patch fix for Windows 95....It's called Windows 97.
* It's called a US Robotics Palm Pilot.....Fingers are extra.
* The USB research team gets disappeared by the RS-232 research team.
* I had money in my pocket.
* The internet was kEWl, not WORK.
I'm ging to file a patent on this with the US Patent Office - don't see why they wouldn't accept this one on their past record!
Don't go to a brothel if you want to buy broth
I have a honeycombe weaves just over me, what can I do ! I am afraaaaaaaaaaaaaaid !
Oh shut up.
18 wheel trucks are not only used for interstate transport of goods, but are also the home of a race of alien life forms. These aliens procreate with human beings and produce 100% humans, not alien-human hybrids. I'm not sure what they gain from this, but their occupation is essential for the continuation of our species. Appearantly, we would have long since died out if it weren't for their contributions. They are immune to disease, and are extremely fertile. In addition, the females are really hot. In my dream I had a sexual liaison with an alien named Jill. We had mad passionate sex (the best dream sex I've ever had). After we finished she began to get dressed. I implored her to stay with me. I told her I was in love with her, and I wanted nothing less than to spend the rest of my life with her. She explained the whole alien-procreation scenario to me, and regretfully informed me that she could not stay. She "had work to do" and her whole purpose for existance was to have sex with as many men as possible. Sounds like a sorority girl to me. Hmm... She did bring me with her to show me her home, a big rig truck. They're actually pretty nice inside. Expensive furniture, entertainment system, etc. And the metal sides we see are in fact windows, offering a great view of... us? That was my dream. Thanks for reading. So the next time you see a truck driver, just think "that's an alien procreation machine chauffer.":)
The written word is the lifeblood of the Internet and nowhere is this blood thicker than on the many erotic slash fiction sites. However, these websites are so numerous that the average erotic fan fiction author's readership is limited to himself and one other guy who keeps sending him creepy e-mails about wearing a Knuckles costume with a genital sheath. Don't get lost in the shuffle! You slave over your 25 chapter epic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Beverly Hills 90210 crossover and it deserves to be read by thousands of people almost as scary as you are. We here at Something Awful support the efforts of these highly creative people who are in no way degenerate obsessive freaks worthy of derision at best and mandatory execution at worst. To lend them a helping hand we have put our knowledge of how computers, technology, and the ancient Sumerian language can get the most mileage for your Pikachu Bukkake story.
Carefully Plan Your Story - A world of creativity and intellectual discourse awaits you!
If you read a lot of "Due South" gay fan fiction, like I tend to, then you know that most fan fiction writers are prone to poorly planning out their masterpieces ahead of time. They'll ramble on describing characters that we've all seen on TV a hundred times, spending paragraphs on the oil greasing up their chiseled abs, that by the time it gets to the hardcore rape sequence most people have already closed their browser window. The worst is when this sort of thing goes on and on for twenty or thirty chapters of buildup and coyness.
PRO TIP: No matter how good of a writer you think you are, you are not a better writer than the original script writers for "The Gummi Bears" cartoon. People are reading your story because they want to jerk off to Spock having sex with Captain Janeway, not because they wondered where they would go on their first date.
So you're sitting down with your Word window open and you've got your taped episodes of the Zelda cartoon playing while you stare wistfully at your poster of Megaman. There is the inspiration you need right there. Inspiration can be found all around you, especially when you surround yourself with the stupid cartoons and TV shows you obsess over. So the main characters are Link, Megaman, and Zelda, now you need to structure your story ahead of time. Some of the greatest novels were written stream of consciousness, but describing Link fucking Megaman in a bathroom of the top of your head is not advisable. You want this story to run like a Swiss clock, so begin outlining your plot. Let's go ahead and do that with what I just described.
Great, that's a framework we can hang a nice meaty story on! I mentioned being concise is important but you don't want to be too concise, you need to draw out the action that's the most vital to your story. The action that is the most important is of course the hot sex between fictional characters, which should span anywhere from ten pages per scene to an entire chapter per scene.
The Do's and Don'ts of Fan Fiction Sex - (Case study) "Cookin' in the Boy's Room".
The most important rule of writing your hot crossover fanfic is that no adjectives should be spared. Heap them on, dip into the well of unusual adjectives, extend your feelers out into verbs and nouns that make the loins of perverts around the world churn with delight.
Let's take a look at this sample from a Paul Prudhomme/
Can I have Natalie Portman sit on my penis? I sure would love to have some HOT GRITS poured into my pants.
RiffRaff: It's astounding;
Time is fleeting;
Madness takes its toll.
But listen closely...
Magenta: Not for very much longer.
RiffRaff: I've got to keep control.
I remember doing the time-warp
Drinking those moments when
The Blackness would hit me
RiffRaff: And the void would be calling...
Transylvanians:
Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.
Narrator: It's just a jump to the left.
All: And then a step to the right.
Narrator: With your hands on your hips.
All: You bring your knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane.
Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.
Magenta: It's so dreamy, oh fantasy free me.
So you can't see me, no, not at all.
In another dimension, with voyeuristic intention,
Well secluded, I see all.
RiffRaff: With a bit of a mind flip
Magenta: You're into the time slip.
RiffRaff: And nothing can ever be the same.
Magenta: You're spaced out on sensation.
RiffRaff: Like you're under sedation.
All: Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.
Columbia: Well I was walking down the street just a-having a think When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink. He shook-a me up, he took me by surprise. He had a pickup truck, and the devil's eyes. He stared at me and I felt a change.
Time meant nothing, never would again.
All: Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.
Narrator: It's just a jump to the left.
All: And then a step to the right.
Narrator: With your hands on your hips.
All: You bring your knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane.
Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.
LOADING, PLEASE WAIT... You have entered Denny's. You say, 'Hail Denny's hostess' Denny's hostess says 'Hello, Tyranadin. Welcome to Denny's. [Smoking] or [non-smoking]?' You say, 'non-smoking' You say, 'I would like non-smoking please' You say, 'what about non-smoking' Denny's hostess says 'Right this way, please.' You are out of food and drink. Erlen shouts, 'has anyone seen the waiter?' Daegarmo shouts, 'no and ive been camping him for a half hour' You are out of food and drink. Ester shouts, 'I see him' Erlen shouts, 'dont kill him, i still have to do the order quest' You are hungry. You are thirsty. You are out of food and drink. You say, 'Hail Denny's waiter' Denny's waiter says 'Hello, Tyranadin. You look like you could use some [coffee]' You say, 'Yes I'll have some coffee' You say, 'what about coffee' Denny's waiter says 'Ah, excellent! We have [regular] and [decaf].' You say, 'I will have some decaf' You say, 'what about decaf' You say, 'what about decaffeinated coffee' Denny's waiter says 'I expected nothing less of you. Here, take this.' You gain experience! Your faction standing with Juan Valdez got better You drink your coffee. You were hit by non-melee for 39 dmg YOU are burning! You shout, 'Ow hehe this coffee's hot' Kyrani shouts, 'Haha u sux0r' You are hungry. You are out of food. Annoying kid says 'Pikachuuuuuu' Annoying kid tries to hit YOU, but misses! Annoying kid tries to hit YOU, but misses! Annoying kid hits YOU for 3 points of damage. Auto-attack on. You hit Annoying kid for 17 points of damage. You hit Annoying kid for 22 points of damage. You have slain Annoying kid! Your faction standing with Disciplineless Mothers got worse Your faction standing with Denny's Customers got better Your faction standing with The World at Large got better Annoying kid's corpse0 says 'My mother will avenge my death!' You receive 3 copper as your split. You are hungry. You are out of food. Disciplineless mother says 'Your actions and history are a personal affront to all I stand for.' Disciplineless mother begins casting a spell. Disciplineless mother pet is enveloped in flames. Off-duty police officer says 'Hey! No pets in the building!' Disciplineless mother pet hits YOU for 18 points of damage. Off-duty police officer hits Disciplineless mother for 287 points of damage. Off-duty police officer hits Disciplineless mother for 234 points of damage. Off-duty police officer kicks Disciplineless mother for 27 points of damage. Disciplineless mother is slain by Off-duty police officer! Disciplineless mother pet hits YOU for 12 points of damage. Off-duty police officer hits Disciplineless mother pet for 262 points of damage. Off-duty police officer was burned. Disciplineless mother pet is slain by Off-duty police officer! Off-duty police officer says 'Let this be a lesson, that none can withstand the wrath of the San Diego Department of Public Safety.' You are hungry. You are out of food. You say, 'Hail Denny's waiter' Denny's waiter says 'Can I get you some more [coffee]?' You say, 'No, I want to place my order' You say, 'Can I place my order?' You say, 'Let me place my order dammit!' Denny's waiter says 'Ah, would you like to try our [Grand Slam Breakfast]?' You say, 'I will have the grand slam breakfast' Denny's waiter says 'How would you like your [eggs]?' You say, 'scrambled' You say, 'I would like them scrambled' You say, 'what about eggs' Denny's waiter says 'You can have [scrambled eggs] or [fried eggs].' You say, 'I will have scrambled eggs' Denny's waiter says 'Excellent, would you like anything to drink? Some [orange juice], perhaps?' You say, 'I will have orange juice' You say, 'what about orange juice' Denny's waiter says 'Our orange juice is fresh squeezed from concentrate.' You say, 'give me orange juice' Denny's waiter says 'Okay, I'll be right back with your orange juice.' You gain experience! You are hungry. You are out of food. Gordon shouts, 'Attention, your bacon is now raw, because fully-cooked bacon lacks the inherent risks associated with our Vision of Bacon.' Valshire shouts, 'Wait a minute
Nasa has planned a probe to Uranus next month. The probe is going to confirm many suspicions about this planet. The strange fact that it seems to expel gas at random intervals, and the even stranger fact that you can hear/feel it. Even here on Earth! The probe will be equipped with the latest sniffing technology. It will be capable of determining the exact chemical composition of these expulsions of gas.
It will even come equipped with a fibrous discharge weapon to remove any blockages that may from as it travels through Uranus. Keep a close watch at NASA.com for the latest photos of Uranus and it's satellites. Expect great detail of the inner workings of Uranus, as the probe will be going deep to the core.
find ~your -name '*base* | xargs chown