I think bandwidth (as in transfer rates) will hit diminishing returns rather soon. Once your phone can stream live HD video and audio...what's the incentive to improve? Sure, file downloads could be faster, but most people would rather just stream their content, and unless your mobile devices have terabyte hard drives in them you won't be downloading a huge amount anyway.
I'd say once mobile devices can consistently transfer at ~10Mbps, the focus should really switch to increasing coverage and caps. All the speed in the world doesn't help if you can't get reliable service or you use up your monthly allotment in five minutes.
Your calculations are off. I pointed out that (assuming a high efficiency transport mechanism) lifting every human to space would require ~1% of *proven* oil reserves. If we need 1000kg of equipment for every 1kg of human, that would only be 10 times current proven reserves. Considering oil shale alone accounts for roughly three times our proven reserves, plus the other unproven reserves, plus all the unexplored deep sea fields, and then all the coal, methane, propane, and other "fuel" sources, plus all the fuel we can generate synthetically, it's quite likely that we could find "enough fuel on earth" to bring up all the equipment as well.
And the ISS actually makes a rather inefficient form of housing. If we were looking to build an orbiting residence for seven billion people, we wouldn't make a bunch of long metal tubes—we'd probably make a spherical structure with water and radiation-resistant gear on the outside and paper-thin walls on the inside, which would cut the mass-per-occupant dramatically.
Since we haven't yet built a truly self-contained ecosystem here on earth, it's impossible to estimate the actual mass necessary to support human life indefinitely. And by the time we're ready to start work on such a project, we could very well end up pulling much of the resources from asteroids or the Moon. But I still think that the GGP's statement:
I very much doubt that there is enough fuel on Earth to lift the entire population into a near-Earth orbit, not to mention the massive amounts of infrastructure required to keep them there, (and breathing).
is quite wrong, assuming we can build an even moderately efficient transport system.
Without doing the calculations, I very much doubt that there is enough fuel on Earth to lift the entire population into a near-Earth orbit
Well, let's do some (back of the envelope) calculations!
First, let's assume we build a space elevator or something like it so we aren't wasting energy on rockets. And we'll assume that we can efficiently get power to said elevator.
Ignoring air drag (since we're presumably using an elevator), it would take about 30MJ/kg to put 1kg into low earth orbit or 50MJ/kg to lift the same weight to geosynchronous orbit. Coincidentally, this is close to the same energy contained in 1kg of oil (~42MJ/kg), though capturing that energy will not be 100% efficient. And the energy required to lift the elevator itself should be considered, though it could recover most of that energy during the trip down. Ultimately, the average ~75kg human would probably take around 2 barrels (~280kg) of crude oil to lift to geosynchronous orbit, or 1.5 barrels to put in LEO. (side note: a long flight in a 747 burns nearly 3 barrels of oil per passenger.)
7 billion people x 2 barrels = 14 billion barrels. That's less than 1% of the current proven oil reserves.
Of course, we'd probably want to give people a place to live once they reach orbit, but I can't really estimate the total mass of all the equipment needed to sustain the world's population. It seems feasible that between our proven oil reserves, whatever unproven reserves may exist, and the trillions of barrels tied up in shale, there's actually enough oil on the planet to see everyone off to their new life in space.
Yup, sounds about right. One year we had this really strong wind from the north. Then we had no wind at all. Then we had a really strong wind from the south. And, of course, each time the liberals blamed it on the same hurricane.
I have noticed a marked tendency for doomed businesses to attempt mergers with other equally doomed businesses. And when it happens I always think of cartoon characters who have run off a cliff grabbing hold of other cartoon characters who have run off the same cliff.
Bless you! Oh, bless you, Peter! Your small kindness helps draw this poison from my veins. Ah, if only all Slashdot would join together, clap their hands, and say quick that they do not believe in me!
This article came at a fitting time as I had recently picked up the bad habit of writing. It's a peculiar problem I have; it sneaks up from time to time, usually as the result of a new gadget which had the misfortune of including a keyboard. The impulse afflicts me for a few days or weeks until I finally convince myself, in no uncertain terms, that I am really a irredeemably terrible writer and should, in a just universe, have long ago been issued a restraining order against the whole of the English language. As this is, alas, an entirely unjust universe, over the years I have left a terrifying path of half-finished video game plots, reimagined TV shows and fan-fics in my wake.
But I digress. When I stumbled upon this article I thought that it would be my rescue, as my recent purchase of a Bluetooth keyboard for my smartphone had me again fancying myself an auteur while the tiny rational part of by brain helplessly fought the controls. While I had never read any of Suzanne Collins work, surely anyone capable of penning a third of Amazon's top quotes must have a rapier wit and a stunning insight into the human condition. It would be a delightful chance to reaffirm my own incompetence and move on with my life. And I'd even get a new collection of bon mots to use at the water cooler. What could possibly go wrong?
Oops, I'm starting to digress again and souls don't crush themselves, after all! Bring on the quotes!
Because sometimes things happen to people and they’re not equipped to deal with them.
Ah, well, that's...very true. Very applicable to lots of...things.
It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.
That's true, too! I've heard the same message plenty of times before, but that doesn't make it less insightful.
“I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now, and live in it forever,” he says.
Okay, maybe a bit trite, but still a nice sentiment.
“I just want to spend every possible minute of the rest of my life with you,” Peeta replies.
Ah...um, okay, now my secret My Little Pony fan-fic is starting to look good. Uh...moving on...
We’re fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction.
...Dear...
“Having an eye for beauty isn’t the same thing as a weakness,” Peeta points out. “Except possibly when it comes to you.”
...God...
Life in District 12 isn’t really so different from life in the arena. At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead.
...this...
The berries. I realize the answer to who I am lies in that handful of poisonous fruit. If I held them out to save Peeta because I knew I would be shunned if I came back without him, then I am despicable. If I held them out because I loved him, I am still self-centered, although forgivable. But if I held them out to defy the Capitol, I am someone of worth. The trouble is, I don’t know exactly what was going on inside me at that moment.
...is...
I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun.
...all...
“District Twelve. Where you can starve to death in safety,”
...complete...
That what I need to survive is not Gale’s fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can
Enrolling [in Precheck] requires a $100 application fee for a background check, plus a brief interview with a Customs officer.
Once in Precheck, TSA still checks names against terrorism watch lists before every flight, just as it does for other travelers. If a passenger is cleared for Precheck screening, a code is embedded in a traveler's boarding pass.
Precheck members usually get to use security lines set up for first-class and elite-level frequent fliers. But Precheck travelers actually don't know if they will get to use the easy screening until the TSA officer checking IDs actually scans the boarding pass. If the pass has the code, a Precheck passenger is steered to a separate screening lane for what amounts to old-style airport screening.
TSA says Precheck members are selected randomly for regular screening to enhance security. But that unpredictability irks frequent travelers. The agency doesn't make travelers go to the end of the regular screening line, however, but instead slips them into the front of the regular queue.
So it's a bit more complicated than waving a Benjamin in front of your friendly TSA employee. Though that probably works, too.
Don't worry, you're probably part of the 49%. The 51% is primarily comprised of furries, klingons, cat videos, our robot overlords, our reptilian overlords, our reptilian robot overlords, and the welsh.
Very true. This article is the password security equivalent of telling teenagers that condoms leak and abstinence is the only way to be safe. Yes, it's technically correct, but the end result is that people will be less secure than they were before.
If you've worked with average users at all, you know they're not going to switch from "correcthorsebatterystaple" to "yuc5aMuPhu2raWufra_usU&&"... they'll go back to "horse".
And if you're not aware what the major US carriers are, they're Verizon and AT&T, followed by T-Mobile and Sprint.
Verizon has better coverage in most of the country, but as you'll be sticking to big cities and major highways the others should have good coverage as well.
Also, Verizon and Sprint don't use SIM cards, while AT&T and T-Mobile use different frequency bands for 3G. Make sure you know the device you buy will work with your choice of carrier.
Oh, but if you knew who the conspirators were, you'd know they have no problem controlling mother nature. And this time, they've gone too far—tipped their "hand", as it were. Herbivores with dwarfism? Could it be any plainer? Next they'll want to put hair all over our bodies to "reduce our climate-control and clothing needs" and give us four legs "to encourage walking instead of driving".
Yes, that's right—I'm on to you, Pony Illuminati! I know your secrets! While I'm sure I'll "disappear" soon, no doubt turned to stone by your advanced science and freakish magic, know that ten more will take my place... And your plans for friendship and harmony will never succeed as long as there is but one selfish asshole to keep up my fight!
(ed. note: I would like to apologize for the above post. A valiant attempt was made to formulate a serious response to this article; in the end, however, it proved utterly impossible.)
As the summary mentions, Ben's argument was basically that "early to bed and early to rise" saved energy. Getting up with the sun and going to sleep earlier in the evening reduced the need for lamp oil. And while we use electricity instead of lamp oil, this argument is still used today.
However, when you consider that lighting is becoming more and more efficient and most of our personal energy consumption now goes to heating and cooling, the picture changes. Since the Earth takes time to warm and cool each day, the daily temperature cycle lags behind the sun by a few hours. Getting up early in the winter just means more energy spent heating your home and office, and working late in the day during summer means high A/C bills.
Plus, most people want some daylight time outside the typical 8-5 work window. There's no reason to line up the work day with daylight hours; these days, most people are cooped up in office buildings and don't really care whether it's light or dark out. And commuting during sunrise or sunset is dangerous, so that's another good reason to offset the workday from the sun cycle.
Finally, studies have shown that a period of bright light, preferably sunlight, is important for our health during the winter months. So yet again it makes no sense to align the workday with the daylight cycle, since commuters at northern latitudes only see a bit of dawn and dusk during their commute and are stuck indoors during the bright part of the day.
While it may be a bit extreme, I think the ideal solution is to start the workday a couple hours past sunrise in the winter and a couple hours before sunrise in the summer. You'll be active during the warmest hours of winter and cooler hours in summer, you'll have free time during daylight hours year round, you'll commute to work in bright sunlight during the winter, and you'll avoid staring into the sun while commuting most of the year. Of course, nobody would want to a several-hour time change, so it would be better to spread it out: Lose a minute every night for half the year, then gain a minute each night for the other half. In addition, there could also be a couple jumps during the year to help avoid commuting at dawn/dusk. Getting people to accept waking up before dawn during summer and having sunset in the middle of the afternoon during winter might still take some work, but I think it would be safer, healthier, and more efficient for everyone.
Pinkie Pie Earns $60K At Pwn2Own With Three Chromium 0-Day Exploits
Oh, sure, we're laughing now... but this should be a wake-up call.
While at first glance they seem almost indistinguishable from us, there is actually a vital difference between Ponies and ourselves—educational systems.
Pony schools are far more intense than ours, especially in the maths and sciences. If you're familiar with the so-called "math" taught in our primary schools, you will agree that this image is disturbing. Young fillies (and colts, though their society is strongly gender-biased) are also taught a tremendous work ethic and social responsibility virtually from birth; in fact, they are expected to demonstrate exceptional talent and plan a career even before they reach adolescence. Furthermore, Ponies are even taught to take responsibility for the world around them. Their town, their environment...hell, the Sun, Moon and skies might as well be in their charge. They possess a drive that we fail to instill in our own children.
None of this is particularly surprising when you consider that Equestria is an autocratic state whose leader has a singular fixation on education. While our leaders focus on populism and pork, Equestria sinks more and more resources into teaching even while its infrastructure and government services seem positively primitive.
What does this mean for us? In the short term we'll continue to maintain our dominance in industry, but farther out...simply put, we're fucked. While our children fall farther and father behind, their foals dash ahead. They're already pumping out incredible individuals and technologies that defy belief. I fully expect that the first footprints on Mars...will be hoofprints. But that's not the worst of it. In the next decade, a pony will likely take your job. Soon they'll be running our entire country.
I know what you're thinking right now: "Oh my god...Ponies, rule?". But the answer is yes, and I can't put too fine a point on it: It's only a matter of time before Ponies totally and completely rule everything. That is—unless you do something about it today. Write to your representatives. Tell them unless we all want to start singing Pony anthems, they can no longer claim to be strong on education while cutting budgets and shirking responsibility.
Tell them that starting tomorrow, their actions must match their words.
From what I've seen, most developers put very little effort into their mobile apps, and are content to write clones of better and more popular games and utilities. A few invest the proper time and effort and have a genuinely new idea. What you sow...
'We're humble about the accuracy of this prediction, which is really a collective "gut-check" feeling
Actually, we asked two guys if there would be a war. One said "yes", the other "no". So we were going to say there was a 50% chance, but then we changed it to 48% because that sounded more scientific.
And if the product you really want doesn't exist, you could always...you know...invent it yourself? The first pen I linked to was funded by Kickstarter, so it's not like you need to be rich.
This. The popularity of the iPad will do more to bring computing to the world's poor than the XO-1 and similar programs ever could, since human selfishness trumps human generosity every time.
Compared to a typical PC, a tablet is smaller, cheaper, more efficient, more durable, easier to learn, and will probably get replaced in a year or two despite not being particularly obsolete. Tablets last a long time, and with Apple pumping out hundreds of millions of them every year, it's only a matter of time before every family on the planet can get hold of one--albeit one a few models old.
So "democratizing", not "disposable". Of course, that depends on how popular they are, so... BUY TABLETS, EVERYONE! The latest and greatest! They're shiny! And then resell or donate them. As soon as possible.
Oh, and if somebody out there could buy a Bugatti Veyron, try it for a month or two, then put it on Craigslist for cheap...I'd sure appreciate it.
Slashdot Mirror
I think bandwidth (as in transfer rates) will hit diminishing returns rather soon. Once your phone can stream live HD video and audio...what's the incentive to improve? Sure, file downloads could be faster, but most people would rather just stream their content, and unless your mobile devices have terabyte hard drives in them you won't be downloading a huge amount anyway.
I'd say once mobile devices can consistently transfer at ~10Mbps, the focus should really switch to increasing coverage and caps. All the speed in the world doesn't help if you can't get reliable service or you use up your monthly allotment in five minutes.
Your calculations are off. I pointed out that (assuming a high efficiency transport mechanism) lifting every human to space would require ~1% of *proven* oil reserves. If we need 1000kg of equipment for every 1kg of human, that would only be 10 times current proven reserves. Considering oil shale alone accounts for roughly three times our proven reserves, plus the other unproven reserves, plus all the unexplored deep sea fields, and then all the coal, methane, propane, and other "fuel" sources, plus all the fuel we can generate synthetically, it's quite likely that we could find "enough fuel on earth" to bring up all the equipment as well.
And the ISS actually makes a rather inefficient form of housing. If we were looking to build an orbiting residence for seven billion people, we wouldn't make a bunch of long metal tubes—we'd probably make a spherical structure with water and radiation-resistant gear on the outside and paper-thin walls on the inside, which would cut the mass-per-occupant dramatically.
Since we haven't yet built a truly self-contained ecosystem here on earth, it's impossible to estimate the actual mass necessary to support human life indefinitely. And by the time we're ready to start work on such a project, we could very well end up pulling much of the resources from asteroids or the Moon. But I still think that the GGP's statement:
I very much doubt that there is enough fuel on Earth to lift the entire population into a near-Earth orbit, not to mention the massive amounts of infrastructure required to keep them there, (and breathing).
is quite wrong, assuming we can build an even moderately efficient transport system.
Without doing the calculations, I very much doubt that there is enough fuel on Earth to lift the entire population into a near-Earth orbit
Well, let's do some (back of the envelope) calculations!
First, let's assume we build a space elevator or something like it so we aren't wasting energy on rockets. And we'll assume that we can efficiently get power to said elevator.
Ignoring air drag (since we're presumably using an elevator), it would take about 30MJ/kg to put 1kg into low earth orbit or 50MJ/kg to lift the same weight to geosynchronous orbit. Coincidentally, this is close to the same energy contained in 1kg of oil (~42MJ/kg), though capturing that energy will not be 100% efficient. And the energy required to lift the elevator itself should be considered, though it could recover most of that energy during the trip down. Ultimately, the average ~75kg human would probably take around 2 barrels (~280kg) of crude oil to lift to geosynchronous orbit, or 1.5 barrels to put in LEO. (side note: a long flight in a 747 burns nearly 3 barrels of oil per passenger.)
7 billion people x 2 barrels = 14 billion barrels. That's less than 1% of the current proven oil reserves.
Of course, we'd probably want to give people a place to live once they reach orbit, but I can't really estimate the total mass of all the equipment needed to sustain the world's population. It seems feasible that between our proven oil reserves, whatever unproven reserves may exist, and the trillions of barrels tied up in shale, there's actually enough oil on the planet to see everyone off to their new life in space.
Come to what?
Yup, sounds about right. One year we had this really strong wind from the north. Then we had no wind at all. Then we had a really strong wind from the south. And, of course, each time the liberals blamed it on the same hurricane.
Desktop PCs and printers:
Buggy whips and horse shoes?
Fat collars and bell bottoms?
Sextants and paper charts?
Obligatory
I have noticed a marked tendency for doomed businesses to attempt mergers with other equally doomed businesses.
And when it happens I always think of cartoon characters who have run off a cliff grabbing hold of other cartoon characters who have run off the same cliff.
The exact equation for copyright damages is value * num_copies * 3 * ha_ha_ur_a_criminal = more_money_than_you'll_ever_see_in_your_life
I'd point you to the statute, but you couldn't afford it.
I really need to catch the next shuttle off Ferenginar.
Bless you! Oh, bless you, Peter! Your small kindness helps draw this poison from my veins. Ah, if only all Slashdot would join together, clap their hands, and say quick that they do not believe in me!
This article came at a fitting time as I had recently picked up the bad habit of writing. It's a peculiar problem I have; it sneaks up from time to time, usually as the result of a new gadget which had the misfortune of including a keyboard. The impulse afflicts me for a few days or weeks until I finally convince myself, in no uncertain terms, that I am really a irredeemably terrible writer and should, in a just universe, have long ago been issued a restraining order against the whole of the English language. As this is, alas, an entirely unjust universe, over the years I have left a terrifying path of half-finished video game plots, reimagined TV shows and fan-fics in my wake.
But I digress. When I stumbled upon this article I thought that it would be my rescue, as my recent purchase of a Bluetooth keyboard for my smartphone had me again fancying myself an auteur while the tiny rational part of by brain helplessly fought the controls. While I had never read any of Suzanne Collins work, surely anyone capable of penning a third of Amazon's top quotes must have a rapier wit and a stunning insight into the human condition. It would be a delightful chance to reaffirm my own incompetence and move on with my life. And I'd even get a new collection of bon mots to use at the water cooler. What could possibly go wrong?
Oops, I'm starting to digress again and souls don't crush themselves, after all! Bring on the quotes!
Because sometimes things happen to people and they’re not equipped to deal with them.
Ah, well, that's...very true. Very applicable to lots of...things.
It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.
That's true, too! I've heard the same message plenty of times before, but that doesn't make it less insightful.
“I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now, and live in it forever,” he says.
Okay, maybe a bit trite, but still a nice sentiment.
“I just want to spend every possible minute of the rest of my life with you,” Peeta replies.
Ah...um, okay, now my secret My Little Pony fan-fic is starting to look good. Uh...moving on...
We’re fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction.
...Dear...
“Having an eye for beauty isn’t the same thing as a weakness,” Peeta points out. “Except possibly when it comes to you.”
...God...
Life in District 12 isn’t really so different from life in the arena. At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead.
...this...
The berries. I realize the answer to who I am lies in that handful of poisonous fruit. If I held them out to save Peeta because I knew I would be shunned if I came back without him, then I am despicable. If I held them out because I loved him, I am still self-centered, although forgivable. But if I held them out to defy the Capitol, I am someone of worth. The trouble is, I don’t know exactly what was going on inside me at that moment.
...is...
I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun.
...all...
“District Twelve. Where you can starve to death in safety,”
...complete...
That what I need to survive is not Gale’s fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can
Oops, strike that first line. The $100 gets you into the U.S. Customs "Global Entry" program, which also puts you in Precheck.
There is also the alternative free method "To qualify, frequent fliers must meet undisclosed TSA criteria and get invited in by the airlines."
So spending a hundred bucks still looks like your best bet.
From TFA:
Enrolling [in Precheck] requires a $100 application fee for a background check, plus a brief interview with a Customs officer.
Once in Precheck, TSA still checks names against terrorism watch lists before every flight, just as it does for other travelers. If a passenger is cleared for Precheck screening, a code is embedded in a traveler's boarding pass.
Precheck members usually get to use security lines set up for first-class and elite-level frequent fliers. But Precheck travelers actually don't know if they will get to use the easy screening until the TSA officer checking IDs actually scans the boarding pass. If the pass has the code, a Precheck passenger is steered to a separate screening lane for what amounts to old-style airport screening.
TSA says Precheck members are selected randomly for regular screening to enhance security. But that unpredictability irks frequent travelers. The agency doesn't make travelers go to the end of the regular screening line, however, but instead slips them into the front of the regular queue.
So it's a bit more complicated than waving a Benjamin in front of your friendly TSA employee. Though that probably works, too.
Don't worry, you're probably part of the 49%. The 51% is primarily comprised of furries, klingons, cat videos, our robot overlords, our reptilian overlords, our reptilian robot overlords, and the welsh.
Well, it's not quite as bad as their last article, "Possible New Human Species Discovered in Cardiff."
Though at least they had the obligatory blurry, shaky video for that one.
Very true. This article is the password security equivalent of telling teenagers that condoms leak and abstinence is the only way to be safe. Yes, it's technically correct, but the end result is that people will be less secure than they were before.
If you've worked with average users at all, you know they're not going to switch from "correcthorsebatterystaple" to "yuc5aMuPhu2raWufra_usU&&"... they'll go back to "horse".
And if you're not aware what the major US carriers are, they're Verizon and AT&T, followed by T-Mobile and Sprint.
Verizon has better coverage in most of the country, but as you'll be sticking to big cities and major highways the others should have good coverage as well.
Also, Verizon and Sprint don't use SIM cards, while AT&T and T-Mobile use different frequency bands for 3G. Make sure you know the device you buy will work with your choice of carrier.
Oh, but if you knew who the conspirators were, you'd know they have no problem controlling mother nature. And this time, they've gone too far—tipped their "hand", as it were. Herbivores with dwarfism? Could it be any plainer? Next they'll want to put hair all over our bodies to "reduce our climate-control and clothing needs" and give us four legs "to encourage walking instead of driving".
Yes, that's right—I'm on to you, Pony Illuminati! I know your secrets! While I'm sure I'll "disappear" soon, no doubt turned to stone by your advanced science and freakish magic, know that ten more will take my place... And your plans for friendship and harmony will never succeed as long as there is but one selfish asshole to keep up my fight!
(ed. note: I would like to apologize for the above post. A valiant attempt was made to formulate a serious response to this article; in the end, however, it proved utterly impossible.)
Then a time traveler comes to teach the midgets how to fight back.
As the summary mentions, Ben's argument was basically that "early to bed and early to rise" saved energy. Getting up with the sun and going to sleep earlier in the evening reduced the need for lamp oil. And while we use electricity instead of lamp oil, this argument is still used today.
However, when you consider that lighting is becoming more and more efficient and most of our personal energy consumption now goes to heating and cooling, the picture changes. Since the Earth takes time to warm and cool each day, the daily temperature cycle lags behind the sun by a few hours. Getting up early in the winter just means more energy spent heating your home and office, and working late in the day during summer means high A/C bills.
Plus, most people want some daylight time outside the typical 8-5 work window. There's no reason to line up the work day with daylight hours; these days, most people are cooped up in office buildings and don't really care whether it's light or dark out. And commuting during sunrise or sunset is dangerous, so that's another good reason to offset the workday from the sun cycle.
Finally, studies have shown that a period of bright light, preferably sunlight, is important for our health during the winter months. So yet again it makes no sense to align the workday with the daylight cycle, since commuters at northern latitudes only see a bit of dawn and dusk during their commute and are stuck indoors during the bright part of the day.
While it may be a bit extreme, I think the ideal solution is to start the workday a couple hours past sunrise in the winter and a couple hours before sunrise in the summer. You'll be active during the warmest hours of winter and cooler hours in summer, you'll have free time during daylight hours year round, you'll commute to work in bright sunlight during the winter, and you'll avoid staring into the sun while commuting most of the year. Of course, nobody would want to a several-hour time change, so it would be better to spread it out: Lose a minute every night for half the year, then gain a minute each night for the other half. In addition, there could also be a couple jumps during the year to help avoid commuting at dawn/dusk. Getting people to accept waking up before dawn during summer and having sunset in the middle of the afternoon during winter might still take some work, but I think it would be safer, healthier, and more efficient for everyone.
Pinkie Pie Earns $60K At Pwn2Own With Three Chromium 0-Day Exploits
Oh, sure, we're laughing now... but this should be a wake-up call.
While at first glance they seem almost indistinguishable from us, there is actually a vital difference between Ponies and ourselves—educational systems.
Pony schools are far more intense than ours, especially in the maths and sciences. If you're familiar with the so-called "math" taught in our primary schools, you will agree that this image is disturbing. Young fillies (and colts, though their society is strongly gender-biased) are also taught a tremendous work ethic and social responsibility virtually from birth; in fact, they are expected to demonstrate exceptional talent and plan a career even before they reach adolescence. Furthermore, Ponies are even taught to take responsibility for the world around them. Their town, their environment...hell, the Sun, Moon and skies might as well be in their charge. They possess a drive that we fail to instill in our own children.
None of this is particularly surprising when you consider that Equestria is an autocratic state whose leader has a singular fixation on education. While our leaders focus on populism and pork, Equestria sinks more and more resources into teaching even while its infrastructure and government services seem positively primitive.
What does this mean for us? In the short term we'll continue to maintain our dominance in industry, but farther out...simply put, we're fucked. While our children fall farther and father behind, their foals dash ahead. They're already pumping out incredible individuals and technologies that defy belief. I fully expect that the first footprints on Mars...will be hoofprints. But that's not the worst of it. In the next decade, a pony will likely take your job. Soon they'll be running our entire country.
I know what you're thinking right now: "Oh my god...Ponies, rule?". But the answer is yes, and I can't put too fine a point on it: It's only a matter of time before Ponies totally and completely rule everything. That is—unless you do something about it today. Write to your representatives. Tell them unless we all want to start singing Pony anthems, they can no longer claim to be strong on education while cutting budgets and shirking responsibility.
Tell them that starting tomorrow, their actions must match their words.
Tell them they must stop this hippocracy.
Wait, I thought pink was the new black.
From what I've seen, most developers put very little effort into their mobile apps, and are content to write clones of better and more popular games and utilities. A few invest the proper time and effort and have a genuinely new idea. What you sow...
'We're humble about the accuracy of this prediction, which is really a collective "gut-check" feeling
Actually, we asked two guys if there would be a war. One said "yes", the other "no". So we were going to say there was a 50% chance, but then we changed it to 48% because that sounded more scientific.
http://www.cregle.com/
http://tenonedesign.com/bluetiger
And if the product you really want doesn't exist, you could always...you know...invent it yourself? The first pen I linked to was funded by Kickstarter, so it's not like you need to be rich.
This. The popularity of the iPad will do more to bring computing to the world's poor than the XO-1 and similar programs ever could, since human selfishness trumps human generosity every time.
Compared to a typical PC, a tablet is smaller, cheaper, more efficient, more durable, easier to learn, and will probably get replaced in a year or two despite not being particularly obsolete. Tablets last a long time, and with Apple pumping out hundreds of millions of them every year, it's only a matter of time before every family on the planet can get hold of one--albeit one a few models old.
So "democratizing", not "disposable". Of course, that depends on how popular they are, so... BUY TABLETS, EVERYONE! The latest and greatest! They're shiny! And then resell or donate them. As soon as possible.
Oh, and if somebody out there could buy a Bugatti Veyron, try it for a month or two, then put it on Craigslist for cheap...I'd sure appreciate it.