Yes, but the problem is that as more and more bybrid and pure alternative fuel cars use the roads, less and less tax money will be available for road upkeep.
Imagine in 20 years if _every_ car were 100% electric (won't happen, I know). That would be a _huge_ drop in taxes earned through gasoline sales.
Basically this is an early change over to a system that will work regardless of fuel source.
You're not solving anything by "teaching" people how to switch operating systems and not actually fixing their bad habits and lack of awareness.
Switching operating systems is treating the symptom of the problem. Security and PC health awareness along with browsing habits and other "common sense" preventative measures are what will solve the problem, not OS jumping.
And lets, for the sake of argument state that yes, that does solve the problem.. for now. Then when the most prolific OS is linux based? I'll guarantee you we'll see more attacks against linux. Right now Windows gets the brunt of the attacks _mainly_ for the reason that it is so widespread and heavily used. If that stops being true, then the new "top dog" will be attacked. There will simply be more reward for the malware/virus writers.
Then what? Tell the troubled user to go to the next OS? Or do you teach them how to secure themselves now and actually _solve_ the problem?
Having to wear special glasses, especially ones that need batteries or cords is just a deal breaker for me.
It's a novelty item and maybe an impressive one at that. But if you're going to sit down and watch a few tv shows or a movie or two, do you really want to have to find your 3D glasses and some batteries first?
I'm thinking not having to deal with the hassle will trump the initial "fun" factor of having "3D" television.
I totally understand what you're saying, but isn't this just masking the real issue?
I'm no vegan and I think PETA is a bunch of retards, but with that said, I do abhor curelty to animals.
Whether they feel no pain or tons of pain doesn't change the fact that they are treated entirely unethically. I understand that killing them is necessary for consumption of meat and I'm totally ok with that, but forcing them to live for x years in a tiny pen is just beyond cruel.
My point here is, dulling their pain really only dulls ours as well, at least when they feel pain more of _us_ do as well. I'm not saying we need to convince people to be PETA loving vegans, but if we all get fed up with their treatment in the long term, then maybe the farmers will be forced to treat their animals with the respect they rightfully deserve.
While I agree and any help in the fight against "oh my god video games with blood, think of the children!" would be welcome. I'm just thinking the whole "violence in games is ok since it helps us sell our wares" isn't going to further the cause too far =P
And if they reversed their expenses and spent that huge gob of marketing money on the actual game development, they could have games that are awesome and would potentially sell themselves.
Seems to me, the best products don't need advertising. The ones that don't sell themselves need others to run around selling them instead.
Are these schools trying to drop their enrollment numbers? Are they trying to stop Americans from enrolling?
If colleges are actually trying to tell potential employers to _not_ hire American graduates, what incentive is there for Americans to go to their school?
Furthermore, what reason is there to keep the school in this country if they don't want to benefit American students?
I can't tell how much you're joking versus actually being serious, but I'll bite.
The Pirate Party isn't going out to _win_ elections. They aren't going out to be a major force and overthrow anyone or anything. The whole point of the Party is to show the other candidates another set of opinions and viewpoints. They are going out to show them that Copyright reform is something worth talking about. That all the laws that have been enacted to thwart copyright infringement matter to the people.
So what is in the name? To me, Pirate Party does almost sound self defeating. But what does the general population know and understand? If they were the "Copyright Reform Party" would the average citizen really know what that means? Heck, I know people that still think copyrights are only the things that stop you from photocopying books and using slogans from major corporations ads. When they think of how it applies to music/movies/games/digital anything they think of the word Pirate, not Copyright. You also have to figure that when the Pirate Party makes news of some sort, the name alone will make people ask questions. It is intriguing at the very least and may cause people to read up on it and find out what it is about.
Also, with Pirate having a negative connotation associated with it, if enough votes go _to_ the "Pirates" the powers that be (or are trying to be) will realize that hell, maybe there really are enough people out there that don't agree with the laws and maybe I should do something about that.
So in short, the Pirate Party isn't trying to win the election, they are just trying to mold the people who will win into something more rational (at least in their view). Part of making big enough waves to make a difference is to have a provocative name that makes people ask questions and learn something new. Otherwise, if they didn't cause people to at least ask questions, what could they ever hope to accomplish?
So you are saying that dumping water from one ocean to another would potentially lead to the development of new technologies? Or further the development of ideas already on the table? Or potentially create a profitable business ferrying people and/or objects into orbit/space?
What happens, if the off chance happens, and humans develop a super cheap and efficient means to getting into space due to this program? What happens if it becomes just as cheap to get into space as it does to fly a cargo jet around the country? Or, more realistically, it just becomes a fraction of the cost it does today?
But I guess you were just trying to be witty with your analogy, but it just doesn't hold water. Sorry.
And the absolutely crazy insane part of this is that you listed two offenses (directly and indirectly). Copyright infringement and speeding (moving violation).
One of those two puts peoples lives in danger and the other _potentially_ can put a _fraction_ of a businesses profits in danger.
Which one of the two has an _immensely_ steeper fine?
"So which is more important, the safety of the area or your rights to be left alone with a potentially dangerous ( to others ) illness still brewing."
This is where I lose people. How does a list protect you, in _any_ way?
Do you routinely allow your children to walk into the homes of strangers? I suppose this list would tell you what strangers houses should be off limits.
Do you routinely follow _every_ "criminal" on the list in your given area and make certain to call your child on their cell phone to give them directions to "avoid" said "criminal? If so, I suppose this list could help.
Fact of the matter is, list or no list, predators will hunt. They will hunt their prey. Children, cute women, men that look scared, etc, etc, etc. A list will do _nothing_ to stop a predator. Unless you really believe that a sick individual with intentions to harm "your" child really will second guess their decision and decide, "you know what, I'm on a list and should probably stay in and watch a movie instead of picking up and molesting that little boy down the street. I know my loins tingle at the thought but you know, that list calms me right down and makes me not want to do it now!". Ya, the list saved another!
So again, how would a list like this _ever_ make you safer than before you had that list?
Was their debt to society ever paid? What was the point of their prison sentence?
How many more years until realtors no longer sell houses in certain areas to sex offenders? Or even more scary, how long until we only let them live in certain areas? Maybe even put up a fence around the area? Post guards at the gates?
Ya, getting a little dramatic, but this BS where any soccer mom can pick up her iPhone and gawk with her friends at all the "criminals" in their neighborhood.. It's getting sickening..
If these people are still dangerous, keep them locked up. If they are no longer dangerous, don't make public lists that they have to register on.
Either you're guilty and you pay your debt, or you're paid your debt and are no longer guilty.
Personally, if I had a daughter, I'd teach her to be aware of her surroundings and be wary of strangers, just like I was taught. List or no list, if a predator is out there, he's going to hunt. Some list that further punishes those that have paid their debt won't save my child, or yours.
I for one am pleased that another company is attempting to take a slice of the OS market. Competition will bring innovation and invention. Maybe we'll actually start to see something NEW emerge and not just recycled ideas.
With any luck, Google and MS will battle it out for a long time in the OS department.
"Trouble hosting honest elections" isn't an accident and it isn't due to incompetence, it is due to the desire and ability to rig the system to win.
If they can do that, what makes you think they can't set up TOR nodes? (potential infrastructure limitations aside).
But don't think for a moment that a government that is out to win at any cost won't do whatever it takes to quash those that attempt to stand up to them. Also don't believe for a moment that they can't fund/hire or already have the technology and know how to setup simple nodes. It isn't too far of a stretch to believe they already have talented IT folk on their payroll.
Long story short, they aren't in power because they are dumb.
Not everyone pays for a game to sit there for hours on little overly difficult segments of the game.
Yes, there is something to be said for overcoming a challenge, but not everyone buys games to be challenged. Some people buy them to merely have fun with friends and/or family!
In my opinion there is more than enough room for both camps.
The only things you can buy with real money are:
Clothes
XP Boost Widget
VP Point Boost Widget
That's it. Clothes don't help you tactically in any way, VP points you get anyways and XP, while it will unlock abilities for you faster, doesn't give you anything playing will already give you over time.
So again, FALSE. There is nothing you can spend real money on to make you more formidable. Well, maybe a faster computer, but I digress.
Figured I'd post a little info about the game as I've been a beta tester for quite a while now.
First, this is a FREE to play "web based" game. Web based is a bit misleading as while it is launched from a browser (ad supported), it is fully installed and runs fullscreen.
Second, the game is a "cartoon shooter" based around 3 classes. The heavy Gunner, the light knife/sniper rifle toting Commando and the middle ground SMG using Soldier.
You're able to level up much like in an MMO and every 2 levels you get another point to spend on new abilities. Burning Bullets, Stealth, Blasting Strike (an ability that knocks everyone back, including vehicles), etc. Currently the highest attainable level is 30 and it takes quite a while to get there.
The game takes a lot from past Battlefield games. Controllable territory via flags placed around the maps. Airplanes, Tanks and Jeeps are all fully controllable.
The only thing you can pay money for is "Battlefunds" (Roughly $5 for 700 Battlefunds). These can be used to buy outfits for your charater and give NO advantage to you. So someone that spends $100 on battlefunds will have zero tactical advantage over someone who never spends a penny. (For reference, a permanent Battlefund purchased item generally costs 560 Battlefunds but you can "rent" them for a month for 140 Battlefunds).
There are also free points that you earn slowly during play called Valor Points. These can also be spent on "free" clothing in the in game store. There are also healing "widgets"/spells that you can pick up to heal you (and another type to heal your vehicle).
Right now there are only 4 maps (2 infantry only and 2 with a moderate to heavy emphasis on vehicles). All of them feel very polished and fun to play over and over again. DICE has mentioned that they have new maps on the horizon.
Now, my personal opinion. The game is about FUN. This isn't a hardcore shooter such as Counter-Strike and doesn't claim to be. This game is one of those that you can easily pick up and just have some fun! If you're looking for realism and a serious tournament game, look elsewhere. But if you just want some fun comedic gameplay (not all that much unlike Team Fortress 2) this game might be for you.
Overall, coming from an old school Duke Nukem/Quake1/2/3/Counter-Strike/Battlefield player, this is a fun game. Give it a try if you want to see what it is about, again, it is FREE!
Slashdot Mirror
Yes, but the problem is that as more and more bybrid and pure alternative fuel cars use the roads, less and less tax money will be available for road upkeep.
Imagine in 20 years if _every_ car were 100% electric (won't happen, I know). That would be a _huge_ drop in taxes earned through gasoline sales.
Basically this is an early change over to a system that will work regardless of fuel source.
It just feels... "meh". Believe me, as a bored COH player I was waiting for CO like the fundies await the second cumming of Christ.
The mental image of this is just ohh so utterly wrong.
Switching operating systems is treating the symptom of the problem. Security and PC health awareness along with browsing habits and other "common sense" preventative measures are what will solve the problem, not OS jumping.
And lets, for the sake of argument state that yes, that does solve the problem.. for now. Then when the most prolific OS is linux based? I'll guarantee you we'll see more attacks against linux. Right now Windows gets the brunt of the attacks _mainly_ for the reason that it is so widespread and heavily used. If that stops being true, then the new "top dog" will be attacked. There will simply be more reward for the malware/virus writers.
Then what? Tell the troubled user to go to the next OS? Or do you teach them how to secure themselves now and actually _solve_ the problem?
It's a novelty item and maybe an impressive one at that. But if you're going to sit down and watch a few tv shows or a movie or two, do you really want to have to find your 3D glasses and some batteries first?
I'm thinking not having to deal with the hassle will trump the initial "fun" factor of having "3D" television.
I'm no vegan and I think PETA is a bunch of retards, but with that said, I do abhor curelty to animals.
Whether they feel no pain or tons of pain doesn't change the fact that they are treated entirely unethically. I understand that killing them is necessary for consumption of meat and I'm totally ok with that, but forcing them to live for x years in a tiny pen is just beyond cruel.
My point here is, dulling their pain really only dulls ours as well, at least when they feel pain more of _us_ do as well. I'm not saying we need to convince people to be PETA loving vegans, but if we all get fed up with their treatment in the long term, then maybe the farmers will be forced to treat their animals with the respect they rightfully deserve.
While I agree and any help in the fight against "oh my god video games with blood, think of the children!" would be welcome. I'm just thinking the whole "violence in games is ok since it helps us sell our wares" isn't going to further the cause too far =P
Seems to me, the best products don't need advertising. The ones that don't sell themselves need others to run around selling them instead.
If colleges are actually trying to tell potential employers to _not_ hire American graduates, what incentive is there for Americans to go to their school?
Furthermore, what reason is there to keep the school in this country if they don't want to benefit American students?
The Pirate Party isn't going out to _win_ elections. They aren't going out to be a major force and overthrow anyone or anything. The whole point of the Party is to show the other candidates another set of opinions and viewpoints. They are going out to show them that Copyright reform is something worth talking about. That all the laws that have been enacted to thwart copyright infringement matter to the people.
So what is in the name? To me, Pirate Party does almost sound self defeating. But what does the general population know and understand? If they were the "Copyright Reform Party" would the average citizen really know what that means? Heck, I know people that still think copyrights are only the things that stop you from photocopying books and using slogans from major corporations ads. When they think of how it applies to music/movies/games/digital anything they think of the word Pirate, not Copyright. You also have to figure that when the Pirate Party makes news of some sort, the name alone will make people ask questions. It is intriguing at the very least and may cause people to read up on it and find out what it is about.
Also, with Pirate having a negative connotation associated with it, if enough votes go _to_ the "Pirates" the powers that be (or are trying to be) will realize that hell, maybe there really are enough people out there that don't agree with the laws and maybe I should do something about that.
So in short, the Pirate Party isn't trying to win the election, they are just trying to mold the people who will win into something more rational (at least in their view). Part of making big enough waves to make a difference is to have a provocative name that makes people ask questions and learn something new. Otherwise, if they didn't cause people to at least ask questions, what could they ever hope to accomplish?
What happens, if the off chance happens, and humans develop a super cheap and efficient means to getting into space due to this program? What happens if it becomes just as cheap to get into space as it does to fly a cargo jet around the country? Or, more realistically, it just becomes a fraction of the cost it does today?
But I guess you were just trying to be witty with your analogy, but it just doesn't hold water. Sorry.
One of those two puts peoples lives in danger and the other _potentially_ can put a _fraction_ of a businesses profits in danger.
Which one of the two has an _immensely_ steeper fine?
Absolute absurdity.
This is where I lose people. How does a list protect you, in _any_ way?
Do you routinely allow your children to walk into the homes of strangers? I suppose this list would tell you what strangers houses should be off limits.
Do you routinely follow _every_ "criminal" on the list in your given area and make certain to call your child on their cell phone to give them directions to "avoid" said "criminal? If so, I suppose this list could help.
Fact of the matter is, list or no list, predators will hunt. They will hunt their prey. Children, cute women, men that look scared, etc, etc, etc. A list will do _nothing_ to stop a predator. Unless you really believe that a sick individual with intentions to harm "your" child really will second guess their decision and decide, "you know what, I'm on a list and should probably stay in and watch a movie instead of picking up and molesting that little boy down the street. I know my loins tingle at the thought but you know, that list calms me right down and makes me not want to do it now!". Ya, the list saved another!
So again, how would a list like this _ever_ make you safer than before you had that list?
How many more years until realtors no longer sell houses in certain areas to sex offenders? Or even more scary, how long until we only let them live in certain areas? Maybe even put up a fence around the area? Post guards at the gates?
Ya, getting a little dramatic, but this BS where any soccer mom can pick up her iPhone and gawk with her friends at all the "criminals" in their neighborhood.. It's getting sickening..
If these people are still dangerous, keep them locked up. If they are no longer dangerous, don't make public lists that they have to register on.
Either you're guilty and you pay your debt, or you're paid your debt and are no longer guilty.
Personally, if I had a daughter, I'd teach her to be aware of her surroundings and be wary of strangers, just like I was taught. List or no list, if a predator is out there, he's going to hunt. Some list that further punishes those that have paid their debt won't save my child, or yours.
It's pedantic.. Sorry to pick nits, this just bugs me =)
With any luck, Google and MS will battle it out for a long time in the OS department.
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This request could not be forwarded to the origin server or to any parent caches. The most likely cause for this error is that:
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Your cache administrator is webmaster.
Generated Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:32:25 GMT by nullsleep.csclub.uwaterloo.ca (squid/2.7.STABLE3)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage
Or, since the antenna would need to be somewhat exposed, just make a "sleeve" that blocks RF?
Just as a show of good faith, leave it off for trips to work and pop it on during long trips? Or just leave it on and claim you're a hermit?
Ya, I live in the USA.
"Trouble hosting honest elections" isn't an accident and it isn't due to incompetence, it is due to the desire and ability to rig the system to win.
If they can do that, what makes you think they can't set up TOR nodes? (potential infrastructure limitations aside).
But don't think for a moment that a government that is out to win at any cost won't do whatever it takes to quash those that attempt to stand up to them. Also don't believe for a moment that they can't fund/hire or already have the technology and know how to setup simple nodes. It isn't too far of a stretch to believe they already have talented IT folk on their payroll.
Long story short, they aren't in power because they are dumb.
Sorry for the rant, I just simply come here for a little higher caliber discussion.
Been beta testing for quite a while and your insight from your first impression is spot on.
Yes, there is something to be said for overcoming a challenge, but not everyone buys games to be challenged. Some people buy them to merely have fun with friends and/or family!
In my opinion there is more than enough room for both camps.
The only things you can buy with real money are:
Clothes
XP Boost Widget
VP Point Boost Widget
That's it. Clothes don't help you tactically in any way, VP points you get anyways and XP, while it will unlock abilities for you faster, doesn't give you anything playing will already give you over time.
So again, FALSE. There is nothing you can spend real money on to make you more formidable. Well, maybe a faster computer, but I digress.
First, this is a FREE to play "web based" game. Web based is a bit misleading as while it is launched from a browser (ad supported), it is fully installed and runs fullscreen.
Second, the game is a "cartoon shooter" based around 3 classes. The heavy Gunner, the light knife/sniper rifle toting Commando and the middle ground SMG using Soldier.
You're able to level up much like in an MMO and every 2 levels you get another point to spend on new abilities. Burning Bullets, Stealth, Blasting Strike (an ability that knocks everyone back, including vehicles), etc. Currently the highest attainable level is 30 and it takes quite a while to get there.
The game takes a lot from past Battlefield games. Controllable territory via flags placed around the maps. Airplanes, Tanks and Jeeps are all fully controllable.
The only thing you can pay money for is "Battlefunds" (Roughly $5 for 700 Battlefunds). These can be used to buy outfits for your charater and give NO advantage to you. So someone that spends $100 on battlefunds will have zero tactical advantage over someone who never spends a penny. (For reference, a permanent Battlefund purchased item generally costs 560 Battlefunds but you can "rent" them for a month for 140 Battlefunds). There are also free points that you earn slowly during play called Valor Points. These can also be spent on "free" clothing in the in game store. There are also healing "widgets"/spells that you can pick up to heal you (and another type to heal your vehicle).
Right now there are only 4 maps (2 infantry only and 2 with a moderate to heavy emphasis on vehicles). All of them feel very polished and fun to play over and over again. DICE has mentioned that they have new maps on the horizon.
Now, my personal opinion. The game is about FUN. This isn't a hardcore shooter such as Counter-Strike and doesn't claim to be. This game is one of those that you can easily pick up and just have some fun! If you're looking for realism and a serious tournament game, look elsewhere. But if you just want some fun comedic gameplay (not all that much unlike Team Fortress 2) this game might be for you.
Overall, coming from an old school Duke Nukem/Quake1/2/3/Counter-Strike/Battlefield player, this is a fun game. Give it a try if you want to see what it is about, again, it is FREE!
It's not so bad, think of all the virii and malware you won't have to contend with!