Iran has plentiful natural resources but does not have the capacity to refine it and must import gas. Any type of war and they could easily be cut off of that gas.
Let's hope the Obama Administration is much more skillful than the previous administration.
I think we're already seeing the beginnings of a more deft and subtle foreign policy. I don't believe it's a coincidence that Obama abandoned the idea of European missile defence (which was a serious thorn in the side of the Russians), and we suddenly hear Russia talking about serious sanctions against Iran.
One time many years ago, a bunch of us were hanging out at a friend's place watching movies, drinking beer, cracking jokes, shooting the shit, and just chilling out. This was back when most of us were still living with our parents, and the guy who's house we were at - I didn't really know anything about his family or anything.
So we'd been there for a couple hours when all of a sudden his younger brother - who I didn't even know existed until that very moment - comes tearing into the room and starts running around the furniture in circles. He's panting and making really strange guttural sounds and every now and then he'd blurt out random words. It was all just really mentally jarring after the relaxed, sociable time the bunch of us has just been having.
The guy who's house we were at stood up after probably 30 seconds, scooped up his little brother by the waist - not in a pissed off way but in more of a fun, playful way - and hauled him out of the room. I heard voices in another part of the house then a minute later the guy came back, sat back down and said "sorry about that guys, Kyle has downs syndrome."
I nodded and tried to turn my attention back to the movie, but part of my brain was still going "what the fuck was that?"
The above post left me with the exact same feeling.
a carefully-architected system... designed to implement a specific structure... new requirements don't match that structure
I'd argue this solution was either poorly architected, or poorly scoped and managed. Building system requirements without looking at the nearby landscape (which systems might eventually participate in the workflow? any relevant business plans coming down the pipeline?) is generally what leads to these kinds of isolated systems that everybody hates but nobody can get rid of.
The solution is to give in an AI, and give it the personality of a 2 or 3 year old toddler. Every couple blocks it will suddenly stop and scream "No! I don't want to go anymore! Carry me!". That way you'd get a nice mix of convenience and unplanned physical exercise.
It would be even nicer to see a minimalistic OS that supports basic internet connectivity, and also acts as a virtualbox container so that I can run something more robust inside an image
I am not surveilling him or her, the swarm (or whatever you want to call it) is. I can choose to go look at the permanent record for that person (and if I do so there is also a record of me doing that), but I have no more power to "judge" them than I do today. I can certainly bring something to the attention of the appropriate authorities, again just like today, and they will then pursue the matter according to established law (and be subject to ubiquitous surveillance throughout). Nobody has the power to turn the cameras off, ever.
A nutbar idea? Yes, and it would require a massive cultural shift that many, many people would likely find quite difficult. The alternative is what we have developing today - a system where a small segment of society has the power of pervasive surveillance over everybody else, and nobody has any meaningful power to hold them accountable for their use of the information gathered.
Same rules for everybody. Nobody controls the on or off switch.
More and better surveillance. Rampant surveillance. Ubiquitous surveillance.
I am personally rooting for the day when miniature swarming nanobots capture everything done by everybody, all the time, 24/7. I am a firm believer in the maxim "if you have nothing to hide, what are you afraid of?"... but the catch is that everybody must be subject to the same rules. That means I can go look at the permanent archive belonging to my local politician same as he or she can look at mine. Business leaders, students, everybody plays by the same rules and everybody is subject to complete transparency.
Slashdot Mirror
Iran has plentiful natural resources but does not have the capacity to refine it and must import gas. Any type of war and they could easily be cut off of that gas.
Huh? If Iran is a net importer of natural gas, what's up with this pipeline project and this gas field?
Let's hope the Obama Administration is much more skillful than the previous administration.
I think we're already seeing the beginnings of a more deft and subtle foreign policy. I don't believe it's a coincidence that Obama abandoned the idea of European missile defence (which was a serious thorn in the side of the Russians), and we suddenly hear Russia talking about serious sanctions against Iran.
Define "everyone," because I can think of some pretty scary scenarios in which "everyone" has nukes.
An incredibly German drivers license is expensive and comprehensive?
One time many years ago, a bunch of us were hanging out at a friend's place watching movies, drinking beer, cracking jokes, shooting the shit, and just chilling out. This was back when most of us were still living with our parents, and the guy who's house we were at - I didn't really know anything about his family or anything.
So we'd been there for a couple hours when all of a sudden his younger brother - who I didn't even know existed until that very moment - comes tearing into the room and starts running around the furniture in circles. He's panting and making really strange guttural sounds and every now and then he'd blurt out random words. It was all just really mentally jarring after the relaxed, sociable time the bunch of us has just been having.
The guy who's house we were at stood up after probably 30 seconds, scooped up his little brother by the waist - not in a pissed off way but in more of a fun, playful way - and hauled him out of the room. I heard voices in another part of the house then a minute later the guy came back, sat back down and said "sorry about that guys, Kyle has downs syndrome."
I nodded and tried to turn my attention back to the movie, but part of my brain was still going "what the fuck was that?"
The above post left me with the exact same feeling.
a carefully-architected system ... designed to implement a specific structure ... new requirements don't match that structure
I'd argue this solution was either poorly architected, or poorly scoped and managed. Building system requirements without looking at the nearby landscape (which systems might eventually participate in the workflow? any relevant business plans coming down the pipeline?) is generally what leads to these kinds of isolated systems that everybody hates but nobody can get rid of.
Been done.
Nobody cares if it's ugly and stiched together
... except the guy who has to go into it six months down the road because a new requirement came up or a new system must be integrated
The solution is to give in an AI, and give it the personality of a 2 or 3 year old toddler. Every couple blocks it will suddenly stop and scream "No! I don't want to go anymore! Carry me!". That way you'd get a nice mix of convenience and unplanned physical exercise.
It would be even nicer to see a minimalistic OS that supports basic internet connectivity, and also acts as a virtualbox container so that I can run something more robust inside an image
I'm pretty sure a traditional film camera would experience similar difficulties if laser light were flooding the lens.
They totally need to paint this thing pink and give it ears and a tail like a pig. That would be the most awesome military aircraft ever.
Personally, I'd love to see them bring a duck into space in order to test this hypothesis.
You know what you are?
You're a ribbon bully!
Displaying the confederate flag doesn't generally imply a threat of violence.
cue banjo music
I wonder what would happen if you chose to fly the Swastik of ancient buddhist origin on a flag outside your house?
I have to agree here. If a nazi-themed game runs afoul of German law, then simply don't sell the game there.
African or European?
I think what we need here is a good car analogy.
In my experience, other successional species generally have a good shot at breaking through crown vetch and establishing a new plant community.
I am not surveilling him or her, the swarm (or whatever you want to call it) is. I can choose to go look at the permanent record for that person (and if I do so there is also a record of me doing that), but I have no more power to "judge" them than I do today. I can certainly bring something to the attention of the appropriate authorities, again just like today, and they will then pursue the matter according to established law (and be subject to ubiquitous surveillance throughout). Nobody has the power to turn the cameras off, ever.
A nutbar idea? Yes, and it would require a massive cultural shift that many, many people would likely find quite difficult. The alternative is what we have developing today - a system where a small segment of society has the power of pervasive surveillance over everybody else, and nobody has any meaningful power to hold them accountable for their use of the information gathered.
Same rules for everybody. Nobody controls the on or off switch.
I say "bring it on."
More and better surveillance. Rampant surveillance. Ubiquitous surveillance.
I am personally rooting for the day when miniature swarming nanobots capture everything done by everybody, all the time, 24/7. I am a firm believer in the maxim "if you have nothing to hide, what are you afraid of?" ... but the catch is that everybody must be subject to the same rules. That means I can go look at the permanent archive belonging to my local politician same as he or she can look at mine. Business leaders, students, everybody plays by the same rules and everybody is subject to complete transparency.
Just hire yourself a bunch of guys in black turtleneck sweaters and the computers will basically install and configure themselves.
Only old people use Twitter in Iran
Why do you reject the possibility that he's simply an attention-starved troll?