Times change, technology advances. And some times a manufacturer has to cut off older technology.
What we did was keep a few computers non-updated so that critical software that wouldn't work on newer OS could be run on them.
Its not always possible to have new software written. Some times the company is out of business, Some times they just won't.
As an example, I had two machines, a Mac and a Windows machine, that I kept un-updated and isolated because of video codec issues. The Mac was kept on OS9 because they wouldn't support it in anything later, and the Windows updates killed the codec. All of this was because of hissyfits between the developer and Apple/Microsoft.
Since a lot of people had used that codec, I had to find a solution. I remade our videos, but can't do that with visitors videos.
So as much as some of us like to make fun of the troglodytes that lose something because they didn't foresee that their software would become obsolete. All we have to do is remember that but for the grace of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, there go we.
Ever have to go into a meeting with the CEO or Director and tell him that you need a million to rewrite software that will allow you to continue doing something you've been doing every day for years? No gain, just do the same old thing. It's easy to sit back and make fun of folks this has happened to. Not so easy to be in their shoes.
Here's what you wrote before: "And when I can work with it, it is my preferred measurement system."
Are you trolling or what? If I start a project not specified in English, I'll do metric. But I don't care if I have to work in English. I'm not certain if you come from the Ford versus Chevy or vi vs vim world, but the flamewars over measurement systems are hilariously petty - just in my opinion. If they are incredibly important to some people, I then would just congratulate them on having so few problems in their life that such a trivial matter is very important to them.
Huh? Are you saying tht the BMW and the lens are not possible to make except in the metric system? Explain. It would be a helluva lot of re-tooling, but I don't see any show stoppers. They can be produced with just as much dimensional accuracy using either system.
I'm not certain you understand what I wrote. Show me anything made with the metric system that is measureably more accurate than something made with the old school system. Show me how the metric system can measure smaller quantities and produce more precise devices than is possible by any other system.
I also noted that the metric system has the decade thing going for it. Which is nice. But in that end, that advantage, plus a dollar, gets us a down payment on a cup of coffee at Starbucks. I work metric, I work English, and for all of the arguments, I seamlessly move between them. Sometimes making devices that are metric on one end, and fractional English on the other. I don't like to do that, but sometimes ya gotta mate 'em up.
This isn't rocket surgery. The only disadvantage is extra tools and measuring devices. Many of the modern ones switch between metric and English via a button even.
The least arbitrary scale would probably be Kelvin, which at least defines a non-arbitrary zero.
Very true, as far as temperature is concerned.
Find a second non-arbitrary point and divide the space in between them in a sensible way and you're set.
Dividing by a multiple of 10 makes the most sense. Why? Because most people use a decimal number system. It would be something most people would immediately intuitively understand.
My argument isn't that dividing by ten doesn't make sense. It certainly does for people who have ten fingers. It does raise the question of why we don't use units of 20 with our toes and all. My argument is that there are so many measurement systems that are based on arbitrary concepts, like power, electrical resistance - hell darn near everything, that the amount of angst and strutting by those who go unhinged by the difference between two measurement systems is just silly. I'll just learn whatever system is around, and in this case, I can work very comfortably in whatever system I need to work in.
It doesn't matter if it's arbitrary. None of the key units in a measurement system can be defined by a universal constant that people in the street can relate to (wavelength of cadmium light anyone?).
It's designed to be rational, not meaningful.
So when I'm working in decimal inches, you find that to be equal to the metric system?
As for rational, sure. the relationships between units is nice. One of the reasons I prefer to use the metric system. But in here, and where perfectly normal posts get modded to oblivion because they propose any other view than that the metric system is unquestionably superior in every way....
I'm not convinced that being rational is all that important to the metric warriors.
All this said, I prefer metric, but we're on the American internet, not the filthy British (or insert other second-class country) internet, so learn the language or piss off.
I see the metric warriors are out in full force today. I'm at 0 and you are at -1.
Pretty funny when the metric warriors have to crush any idea that it isn't the ne plus ultra of measurement systems.
Even among those who primarily work in metric such as ourselves. It is no more accurate than the measurement system they loathe, and its only real advantage is the relationship between measurements. Then again, after knowing that 100 mm is 10 cm is.1m is of such trivial importance, I can't get as excited as they do about it.
Meanwhile we can all take solace in the fact that 50 kilometers per hour is easily expressed as 83,512.1 furlongs per fortnight.
Which brings us to the other matter of grave importance. When are we going to get Universal metric time? Humanity has been struggling against this horrid system since almost forever.
Mod me down Metric warriors, let no opposing thoughts spoil the purity of your unquestionable truths!
How are we defining arbitrary? There was a reason that boiling and freezing were selected as measuring points, but they didn't HAVE to be so does that make the measurement arbitrary? What measuring system which needs to cover an infinite set of possible cases isn't arbitrary by that definition?
And you have uncovered the the answer. They are all arbitrary. Even the boiling and freezing points. The composition of the water and atmospheric pressure and even supercooled water make for some head scratching standards.
The thing is, metric isn't better because it's "not arbitrary", and it's proponents don't prefer it because they can't work in imperial. It's just easier to use, which is surely the only method by which a measuring system can be judged given use of the decimal point and a complete specification of what is being measured.
What the metric system has going for it is the systematic relationship within it. tens hundreds thousands, and so on. And when I can work with it, it is my preferred measurement system. But the arguments for superiority of one over the other are just wrong. I'll concede it is better when I can make things more accurately using metric.
So rich people don't have medical issues while driving that might prevent them from responding to verbal cues?
This is the dumbest thing I've read all day. Do wealthy people who have heart attacks in a non-Tesla car just slow down and stop. No they don't. I've seen it twice now. Two guys - Heart attack - and they both went careening off the road. One pinball off the barriers, and the other went about 50 feet up a hill until he hit a tree and rolled over.
Anyway, for many people sex is a fundamental need like eating or sleeping or going to the bathroom. Telling people not to have sex is like trying to solve a problem with the city sewer system by telling people to simple not to go to the bathroom within the city limits.
Then again, many of us don't equate sex with defecation.
Your vaunted system which you use as a bludgeon to express the inadequacies of your enemy, the US, and your superiority?
is completely arbitrary. No more accurate or inaccurate than any other.
Oddly enough, some of us can operate just as accurately and reproducibly in whatever arbitrary measurement system we are handed, and do not need to be tied to one arbitrary measurement system to the exclusion of all others. I even have a metric mill and lathe that I can produce English parts on. I can make things in fractions, decimal inch, Whitworth, and metric. Perhaps you cannot.
Yes, and sulfur dioxide has an even more devastating effect.
Luckily we have even lower amounts of that in the atmosphere than we have Methane. Sadly the same cannot be said for CO2.
If you are talking about the sulfur dioxide aerosols, they have a cooling or anti-greenhouse effect. It's been proposed by a few that it be used as a counter-agent to the greenhouse gases, but like sowing the oceans with iron is not a very good idea.
Has methane emission increased globally during the last 150 years? How many times more methane is emitted today compared to 150 years ago?
The answer is probably has increased, based on measurements https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... It is being released constantly via natural processes, and is illustrated when it gets trapped, as when people drill holes in frozen lakes and ignite methane trapped under the ice. And yeah, people and cows fart.
The wild cards in the methane issue are permafrost melt, and methane clathrates. We've seen methane releases as permafrost melts http://www.sciencealert.com/7-... and are looking at that issue.
Then there is the methane clathrates, or methane hydrate - which is part of the permafrost issue. But there is a lot of that stuff in the ocean. Ice with a lot of methane trapped in it. Hopefully the stuff in the ocean is stable.
In what is an ironic twist, it may be wise to harvest as much of the Methane clathrate as possible, and use it as a transition energy source. While it does produce some CO2, that will be preferable to large scale methane releases.
From Wapo: "It is not known whether the information has been accessed by anyone but Vickery." So not really a confirmed hit/leak, just a serious vulnerability at this point.
All you have to do is believe them. Me - nah. Although I suppose whoever the Republicans are sending this to has what I just typed in 3..2..1..
There is absolutely no reason for regular people to safeguard anything about themselves, because the Government, and the Universities, and the hospitals, and the department stores simply give it away for free.
And I suspect that the Republican party simply made a few of their best friends aware of this tiny little "mistake", and their new owner is very, very pleased.
But the 50s car kids still appeared outgoing, energetic, etc. We've known for a while that social media depresses people, so that's probably what is going on with smartphone usage.
The kids are probably playing Candy Crush or the like rather than hanging out on social media.
Plenty of adults go through smartphone addiction, and get a little weird. Never looking up, walking in front of buses, and generally tuning out.
But just like anything, especially when dealing with children, some supervision is a good thing. When going some place, sure, take the phone. Maybe an hour playing games. Otherwise limit the use, just like with computers.
Of course there's evidence of this, it just changes every couple of years. Previous candidates: Heavy metal, Dungeons and Dragons, [...] stamp collecting, trading cards, [...] Morris Dancing, [...] cave painting [...] banging rocks together. I've left out a few hundred of them just to save space.
I was the victim of Morris Dancing addiction. My basement was filled with Hurdy Gurdys and thrift shop flower Garlands. I sold my body on the streets to buy an accordion I abandoned and rejected family and friends. I was on a downward spiral that would only end with my demise. Damn those Morrisites and their fancy geegaws and velocipedes.
Then I bought a smartphone, and kicked my addiction on facebook. Type yes if you agree.
one more reason why I can't picture them taking a shit, I mean, would you invite a buddy to go with you when you're about to put Mr. Hanky into the White House?
Damn! You win the internet for today, Opportunist! Well played. 8^)
Considering that being an ISIS recruitment platform is not a viable business model, I'm not sure what the alternative is. They seem to be trying really hard to avoid getting involved in politics.
The bigger problem they have with censorship is bogus copyright infringement claims and malicious reporting.
It's a big place though, and I've seen a lot of political videos. Young Turks is getting pretty big, Pakman is middling. A lot of Bill Maher, Fox News, Breitbart, and others.
The copyright infringement part is a problem, with some people commenting on other people's videos, and often a Takedown notice gets pitted against fair use doctrine.
Why? You are compelled to because you're a homophobic, racist, white-privileged, bigoted, Christian-moral-extremist hatemonger, intent on achieving your goal of a radical US Christian Theocracy, as your post proves by questioning what the authorities on genders decree from their public taxpayer-funded, tenure-protected, university gender-studies department positions./s
Strat
I can't stand the Gender studies crowd either, but people who have an issue with women's monthly cycle and the products they use to deal with it are pretty darn 1930's.
It's like so awful, I'll tell you what.. I've been to events where the person using the porta Potty before or after me have been women. We say hi as we pass each other, and don't even have a second thought. It doesn't make you a SJW to not see rest rooms as a place to hook up.
Slashdot Mirror
Times change, technology advances. And some times a manufacturer has to cut off older technology.
What we did was keep a few computers non-updated so that critical software that wouldn't work on newer OS could be run on them.
Its not always possible to have new software written. Some times the company is out of business, Some times they just won't.
As an example, I had two machines, a Mac and a Windows machine, that I kept un-updated and isolated because of video codec issues. The Mac was kept on OS9 because they wouldn't support it in anything later, and the Windows updates killed the codec. All of this was because of hissyfits between the developer and Apple/Microsoft.
Since a lot of people had used that codec, I had to find a solution. I remade our videos, but can't do that with visitors videos.
So as much as some of us like to make fun of the troglodytes that lose something because they didn't foresee that their software would become obsolete. All we have to do is remember that but for the grace of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, there go we.
Ever have to go into a meeting with the CEO or Director and tell him that you need a million to rewrite software that will allow you to continue doing something you've been doing every day for years? No gain, just do the same old thing. It's easy to sit back and make fun of folks this has happened to. Not so easy to be in their shoes.
So do I, but the funny walk plays havoc with my knees.
Guess some Monty Python skits are out of the question then.
Here's what you wrote before: "And when I can work with it, it is my preferred measurement system."
Are you trolling or what? If I start a project not specified in English, I'll do metric. But I don't care if I have to work in English. I'm not certain if you come from the Ford versus Chevy or vi vs vim world, but the flamewars over measurement systems are hilariously petty - just in my opinion. If they are incredibly important to some people, I then would just congratulate them on having so few problems in their life that such a trivial matter is very important to them.
How about this?. Or maybe this?
Huh? Are you saying tht the BMW and the lens are not possible to make except in the metric system? Explain. It would be a helluva lot of re-tooling, but I don't see any show stoppers. They can be produced with just as much dimensional accuracy using either system.
So it's not superior, it's just better?
I'm not certain you understand what I wrote. Show me anything made with the metric system that is measureably more accurate than something made with the old school system. Show me how the metric system can measure smaller quantities and produce more precise devices than is possible by any other system.
I also noted that the metric system has the decade thing going for it. Which is nice. But in that end, that advantage, plus a dollar, gets us a down payment on a cup of coffee at Starbucks. I work metric, I work English, and for all of the arguments, I seamlessly move between them. Sometimes making devices that are metric on one end, and fractional English on the other. I don't like to do that, but sometimes ya gotta mate 'em up.
This isn't rocket surgery. The only disadvantage is extra tools and measuring devices. Many of the modern ones switch between metric and English via a button even.
The least arbitrary scale would probably be Kelvin, which at least defines a non-arbitrary zero.
Very true, as far as temperature is concerned.
Find a second non-arbitrary point and divide the space in between them in a sensible way and you're set.
Dividing by a multiple of 10 makes the most sense. Why? Because most people use a decimal number system. It would be something most people would immediately intuitively understand.
My argument isn't that dividing by ten doesn't make sense. It certainly does for people who have ten fingers. It does raise the question of why we don't use units of 20 with our toes and all. My argument is that there are so many measurement systems that are based on arbitrary concepts, like power, electrical resistance - hell darn near everything, that the amount of angst and strutting by those who go unhinged by the difference between two measurement systems is just silly. I'll just learn whatever system is around, and in this case, I can work very comfortably in whatever system I need to work in.
It doesn't matter if it's arbitrary. None of the key units in a measurement system can be defined by a universal constant that people in the street can relate to (wavelength of cadmium light anyone?). It's designed to be rational, not meaningful.
So when I'm working in decimal inches, you find that to be equal to the metric system?
As for rational, sure. the relationships between units is nice. One of the reasons I prefer to use the metric system. But in here, and where perfectly normal posts get modded to oblivion because they propose any other view than that the metric system is unquestionably superior in every way....
I'm not convinced that being rational is all that important to the metric warriors.
All this said, I prefer metric, but we're on the American internet, not the filthy British (or insert other second-class country) internet, so learn the language or piss off.
I see the metric warriors are out in full force today. I'm at 0 and you are at -1.
Pretty funny when the metric warriors have to crush any idea that it isn't the ne plus ultra of measurement systems.
Even among those who primarily work in metric such as ourselves. It is no more accurate than the measurement system they loathe, and its only real advantage is the relationship between measurements. Then again, after knowing that 100 mm is 10 cm is .1m is of such trivial importance, I can't get as excited as they do about it.
Meanwhile we can all take solace in the fact that 50 kilometers per hour is easily expressed as 83,512.1 furlongs per fortnight.
Which brings us to the other matter of grave importance. When are we going to get Universal metric time? Humanity has been struggling against this horrid system since almost forever.
Mod me down Metric warriors, let no opposing thoughts spoil the purity of your unquestionable truths!
How are we defining arbitrary? There was a reason that boiling and freezing were selected as measuring points, but they didn't HAVE to be so does that make the measurement arbitrary? What measuring system which needs to cover an infinite set of possible cases isn't arbitrary by that definition?
And you have uncovered the the answer. They are all arbitrary. Even the boiling and freezing points. The composition of the water and atmospheric pressure and even supercooled water make for some head scratching standards.
The thing is, metric isn't better because it's "not arbitrary", and it's proponents don't prefer it because they can't work in imperial. It's just easier to use, which is surely the only method by which a measuring system can be judged given use of the decimal point and a complete specification of what is being measured.
What the metric system has going for it is the systematic relationship within it. tens hundreds thousands, and so on. And when I can work with it, it is my preferred measurement system. But the arguments for superiority of one over the other are just wrong. I'll concede it is better when I can make things more accurately using metric.
Some of us, have much much better jobs than glorifying slaving under Elon.
There there's you.
So rich people don't have medical issues while driving that might prevent them from responding to verbal cues? This is the dumbest thing I've read all day. Do wealthy people who have heart attacks in a non-Tesla car just slow down and stop. No they don't. I've seen it twice now. Two guys - Heart attack - and they both went careening off the road. One pinball off the barriers, and the other went about 50 feet up a hill until he hit a tree and rolled over.
Follow the path of Karl Marx
I follow the path of Groucho Marx.
Anyway, for many people sex is a fundamental need like eating or sleeping or going to the bathroom. Telling people not to have sex is like trying to solve a problem with the city sewer system by telling people to simple not to go to the bathroom within the city limits.
Then again, many of us don't equate sex with defecation.
Your vaunted system which you use as a bludgeon to express the inadequacies of your enemy, the US, and your superiority?
is completely arbitrary. No more accurate or inaccurate than any other.
Oddly enough, some of us can operate just as accurately and reproducibly in whatever arbitrary measurement system we are handed, and do not need to be tied to one arbitrary measurement system to the exclusion of all others. I even have a metric mill and lathe that I can produce English parts on. I can make things in fractions, decimal inch, Whitworth, and metric. Perhaps you cannot.
Now quickly, mod me down as a troll.
Yes, and sulfur dioxide has an even more devastating effect.
Luckily we have even lower amounts of that in the atmosphere than we have Methane. Sadly the same cannot be said for CO2.
If you are talking about the sulfur dioxide aerosols, they have a cooling or anti-greenhouse effect. It's been proposed by a few that it be used as a counter-agent to the greenhouse gases, but like sowing the oceans with iron is not a very good idea.
Has methane emission increased globally during the last 150 years? How many times more methane is emitted today compared to 150 years ago?
The answer is probably has increased, based on measurements https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... It is being released constantly via natural processes, and is illustrated when it gets trapped, as when people drill holes in frozen lakes and ignite methane trapped under the ice. And yeah, people and cows fart.
The wild cards in the methane issue are permafrost melt, and methane clathrates. We've seen methane releases as permafrost melts http://www.sciencealert.com/7-... and are looking at that issue.
Then there is the methane clathrates, or methane hydrate - which is part of the permafrost issue. But there is a lot of that stuff in the ocean. Ice with a lot of methane trapped in it. Hopefully the stuff in the ocean is stable.
In what is an ironic twist, it may be wise to harvest as much of the Methane clathrate as possible, and use it as a transition energy source. While it does produce some CO2, that will be preferable to large scale methane releases.
What does this have to do with left vs right? I just don't get this demented US debate.
Because demented it is. Don't think of it as left vs right, but more as batshit crazy that has succeeded in denial of what is in front of it's eyes.
The State Government isn't doing what you want them to do, lobbyists, the cure is to write out bigger checks.
From Wapo: "It is not known whether the information has been accessed by anyone but Vickery." So not really a confirmed hit/leak, just a serious vulnerability at this point.
All you have to do is believe them. Me - nah. Although I suppose whoever the Republicans are sending this to has what I just typed in 3..2..1..
There is absolutely no reason for regular people to safeguard anything about themselves, because the Government, and the Universities, and the hospitals, and the department stores simply give it away for free.
And I suspect that the Republican party simply made a few of their best friends aware of this tiny little "mistake", and their new owner is very, very pleased.
But the 50s car kids still appeared outgoing, energetic, etc. We've known for a while that social media depresses people, so that's probably what is going on with smartphone usage.
The kids are probably playing Candy Crush or the like rather than hanging out on social media.
Plenty of adults go through smartphone addiction, and get a little weird. Never looking up, walking in front of buses, and generally tuning out. But just like anything, especially when dealing with children, some supervision is a good thing. When going some place, sure, take the phone. Maybe an hour playing games. Otherwise limit the use, just like with computers.
Banning is ridiculous at this point.
Of course there's evidence of this, it just changes every couple of years. Previous candidates: Heavy metal, Dungeons and Dragons, [...] stamp collecting, trading cards, [...] Morris Dancing, [...] cave painting [...] banging rocks together. I've left out a few hundred of them just to save space.
I was the victim of Morris Dancing addiction. My basement was filled with Hurdy Gurdys and thrift shop flower Garlands. I sold my body on the streets to buy an accordion I abandoned and rejected family and friends. I was on a downward spiral that would only end with my demise. Damn those Morrisites and their fancy geegaws and velocipedes.
Then I bought a smartphone, and kicked my addiction on facebook. Type yes if you agree.
one more reason why I can't picture them taking a shit, I mean, would you invite a buddy to go with you when you're about to put Mr. Hanky into the White House?
Damn! You win the internet for today, Opportunist! Well played. 8^)
You tell me. How long until feminists decide that women are 'at risk' sharing bathrooms with men? What happens then?
There's no winning with such unreasoning.
Dunno. They could told to move ot North Carolina?
Considering that being an ISIS recruitment platform is not a viable business model, I'm not sure what the alternative is. They seem to be trying really hard to avoid getting involved in politics.
The bigger problem they have with censorship is bogus copyright infringement claims and malicious reporting.
It's a big place though, and I've seen a lot of political videos. Young Turks is getting pretty big, Pakman is middling. A lot of Bill Maher, Fox News, Breitbart, and others.
The copyright infringement part is a problem, with some people commenting on other people's videos, and often a Takedown notice gets pitted against fair use doctrine.
Why? You are compelled to because you're a homophobic, racist, white-privileged, bigoted, Christian-moral-extremist hatemonger, intent on achieving your goal of a radical US Christian Theocracy, as your post proves by questioning what the authorities on genders decree from their public taxpayer-funded, tenure-protected, university gender-studies department positions. /s
Strat
I can't stand the Gender studies crowd either, but people who have an issue with women's monthly cycle and the products they use to deal with it are pretty darn 1930's.
It's like so awful, I'll tell you what.. I've been to events where the person using the porta Potty before or after me have been women. We say hi as we pass each other, and don't even have a second thought. It doesn't make you a SJW to not see rest rooms as a place to hook up.