You may be surprised to know that life itself created our modern atmosphere, there was virtually no free oxygen
Which naturally means no other planet could possibly have developed differently from ours, perhaps in a way where oxygen isn't somehow trapped during its creation, or is later freed by a planetary event separate from the creation of life.../snark
It's physically impossible for an object to spin on two axes
Really? So you're saying it's possible for something to have only x or y motion, but not both? So if I take a dot and paint it on a ball, I can spin it so the dot is appearing to move along a straight vertical line... but there's no way that it can be spun so that from the observer's perspective, it could appear to be moving diagonally? It is possible for something to spin on two axis, because all objects in space are three dimensional and there can be positive or negative motion on any of those axis' relative to the observer's point of view. As such, an object can spin on multiple axis.
And we haven't even touched orbital eccentricity yet...
For life in general, maybe. Possibly. But not us. Humans require a very delicate balance of things that while any one of them is quite common, there's not a lot of evidence that all of them together is. Oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere in the right concentrations, and a lot of H2O? Probably not hard to come by. Strong and uniform magnetic field to trap the atmosphere and deflect solar radiation? Hard to observe empirically; It could be very rare by some accounts. Presence of a moon or other astronomical event to keep the planet spinning on a single axis and not two? That's somewhat common, though limited evidence suggests the closer you get to a star, the less moons will be in orbit around each planet, so there is that. Stable rotation of the planet at a speed sufficient to prevent one side or another from burning up? Again -- evidence points to a moon being a good promoter of this, and not that uncommon. But we have no direct observation of how fast (most) of the planets detected so far in the habitable zone rotate.
And lastly, let's not forget: We're rendering our own planet increasing inhospitable to life by the year. It may be that, in the future, we look for the presence of global warming as an indicator of alien life, as we frantically work to either save our planet, or try to find a new one to destroy.
Should we have laws to make stripping metadata illegal?
The solution to bad laws is not more bad laws. The reason we got into this mess is because of copyright, and the idea that websites like Facebook have any right whatsoever to your creative rights beyond non-exclusive publication. If you want to set things right, start by making the authorship rights of the individual who made the creative work something that cannot, by any contract or legal instrument, be abridged in any way. Oh, I know, businesses everywhere will be screaming bloody murder: What about our marketing? Our advertising! Oh however will we pay the bills without access to all your personal data! It's easy: Clicking like isn't a creative act. Telling people your likes and dislikes isn't a creative act. Creating metadata based on creative works (like keywords being used in status updates or comments) isn't a problem either -- in fact, the company can happily claim copyright to the resulting database and use it however it wants. And that's what most of the marketing and crap is based on. That's where the money comes from.
And one more thing: Those rights aren't transferrable or abridgable in any way, nor are they exclusive... but they do expire at the time of your death. No hand me downs for the relatives. No "150 years plus the life of the author" crap. No: Once you're dead, everything you ever said is fair game for the general public. You're the only one that should be allowed to benefit from your own work, and once you're dead, there's no more benefit to be had... so the rest of the world can reproduce your work freely... They just have to give you credit, like always.
Don't get into this argument about who owns what and derivative works and derivative derivative works and works for hire, and blah blah blah. It's a trap. An Ackbar trap, even. The moment you start to play that game, you lose, because there'll always be another argument, another subtle change, another justification. No. If you want to get a handle on intellectual property, you draw a firm line in the sand and say "This far, no farther." You do not ask for new laws to patch up old ones -- you get rid of the bad laws, strip it down to the bare metal, and then build it up right.
but since typical PC towers are much more easily configurable than an Apple iMac, they probably have to do even less work stateside.
I think that's understating matters somewhat. Just to get the "case" open requires a heat gun, numerous guitar picks, and the patience of Jove to not damage anything. Replacing the RAM consists of a total disassembly of the entire system, removing every last piece, and there are several design decisions that the only explanation for is to make it more difficult for even the most experience disassembler to gain access to. With a PC case, the most you usually need is a phillips-head screwdriver, standard size. Even at that, many cases are designed with thumb screws so no tools are required at all to access and replace any component in the system. Opening the iMac requires a heat gun, guitar picks, two different kinds of Torx wrenches (a special order item), and anyone who services apple products will highly recommend a complete 25 bit set for screws, as well as an extender as the bolts are sometimes set into place with adhesive -- though you can get by with only 4 different bits to service the latest iMac. The odds of even an experienced system builder damaging the adhesive bonding the LCD/glass component to the case is high; It will likely require replacement. And no, Apple doesn't sell those separately. Even God would be turned away. Did I mention the bonded LCD and glass? Yeah... if you scratch the glass on the front, you have to replace both, even if the LCD is still perfectly functional.
The only reason they're "Made in the USA" (*cough* assembled, I mean) is because shipping a build-to-order system from overseas is prohibitively expensive. Also, because repairing them is so damned difficult, they put the assembly and repair depot on the same site. Make no mistake though; It's not due to patriotic pride that the sticker is there.
I think most people would agree that e.g. the Dalei Lama or Queen Elizabeth II are charismatic leaders
Not to say you are wrong that there are exceptions to the rule, but the exceptions you picked are particularly bad at representing your position: The queen was chosen because of blood line; Royal families don't have the same competitive pressures the everyday person has. Likewise for the Dalei Lama, who was, for somewhat different reasons, also not subject to those pressures.
It seems to me that charisma is much more important for getting ahead in politics and business.
Technically, it's sexual attractiveness. Charisma is just a generic term for someone that is sexually attractive as well as knowing how to use it to their advantage. And intelligence is a factor for getting into power... just not by itself. Intelligence alone has no proven evolutionary advantage (that is, the chance of passing your genes on to the next generation). I know many people who have intelligence but lack attractive features, and they are amongst the most miserable people I know. It allows them to be aware of exactly how the world works, in every detail, and to also be forced to be constantly aware of how small they are within it. The Total Perspective Vortex isn't just a plot device for intelligent people: for them, they've already sat in the chair.
It's worth noting that in this particular country, porn can consist of people showing a little bit of nose. Women are pulled off the streets all the time for this kind of thing and beaten. Foreign women are well-advised to be aware of local customs prior to travel, as it can result in beatings, arrest, or being forcibly stripped and your clothing replaced with something more "decent" according to their laws.
There is no same-sex marriage in Germany. Gay couples can enter a registered domestic partnership which is treated the same as marriage with regard to some issues (inheritance, social issues, pensions,...) but is not equal to marriage.
Still a lot more equal than the "Fuck off" you get in 'merica. You want to quibble about minutae, fine -- but the point stands: We're way behind on civil rights compared to most of the rest of the first world and we should be ashamed of that.
if you signed your name to what you wrote above, not a single soul would give a flying fuck
Translation: "I can't argue with what you just said, so instead I'll just construct an argument where 'everybody' would agree with me! In your face internet."
You seem to assume that a psychologist is a "normal person". And, that is where your scenario falls on it's face. Shrinks are, in fact, some very strange people, haunted by their own ghosts and harassed by their own demons.
No, that's exactly why it can only be diagnosed in psychologists and certain other personality types; they're already resource-starved because of what you mentioned. Coming into direct contact with a mind that is unencumbered by any of that causes their brains to overload -- it's simply too much to process at once.
i asked if you honestly believe that if you signed your name to your slashdot post above, that it would mean you would be placed on a terror watchlist
How can anyone know for sure, since it isn't published? But considering the documented actions of some that caused them to end up on it... the better question is: Why take chances with your life in such an oppressive regime?
Er, no. That's something else entirely... it's when a geek goes to see a psychologist, and three hours later they leave because the psychologist goes rigid and becomes unresponsive for days. Afterwords, all they usually say for awhile after that is "500... 500... 500..." over and over again. Occasionally they get this funny look on their face and then they look at their watch and exclaim "Timed out! It's all out of time!" before returning to their stupor. They do eventually recover. It's theorized it's because direct contact with the geek psyche overwhelms a normal person, causing their brain to seize for a long time until the information overload subsides.
I too enjoy watching this guy roast. But still, this "news" has nothing to do with technology nor anything that interests the true geek community - which Slashdot serves.
Since Malda sold out and/. now relentlessly pursues revenue and has been rotating increasingly lame editorial staff in, I don't think the geek community is what it serves anymore. I'm thinking more The Krakken or some other lovecraftian horror beast, dwelling away beneath its servers, occasionally eating a true geek to absorb its power before vomiting up another monetization scheme.
And you aren't a girl either, so just stop it already.
I don't recall ever dating a guy named Anonymous Coward, but I have been drunk while making out a few times, so it's conceivable I wouldn't remember you, but I'm very sure I haven't had sex with anyone with your name, and they'd be the only ones who'd know for sure. Thanks for playing though.:D
Unfortunately (for your credibility) the actual leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds is Accidents, with Motor-vehicle being the largest subgroup. After that comes "Homicide and legal-intervention". Then "Suicide."
Citation needed? Oh wait, nevermind, I can do that for you: Wrong.. Accidents are no longer the leading cause of death due to injury... it's suicide.
The USA has the second LOWEST rate of suicide, 10 per 100000, of any nation, industrialized or otherwise.
Ah... citation needed? Again? Happy to obliege. Also... wrong again! We're ranked #38 out of 107. By your math, we should be 105. A small error on your part, I'm sure.
It doesn't give you that visceral thrill of raging against the machine.
No, just the satisfaction of being both right, and having stomped another troll into the dirt. Now if you'll excuse me... there are other people wrong on the internet that need my love.
t. Unless your idea of "most of Europe" is one that doesn't include, France, Germany, Greece, the U.K., Italy, and I'm sure others that I don't feel like chasing down
Sadly, you're wrong. France? Check. Germany? Check. Greece? Pending due to EU ruling. The UK? Not listed here; Other websites report yes. Italy? Check. United States? Ummm.... Not so much.
You do realize that Incandescent light bulbs are at 3000K or so.
I do. Do you realize that congress isn't exactly known for its firm grasp of science? Remember... they banned people from carrying more than a couple ounces of liquids out of fear they could be used to create binary explosives because that was the plot of a Die Hard movie, not because there was any evidence terrorists had any plans of using it, or that it would even provide the explosive force necessary. As a result, people flying home after surgery have had their ice packs confinscated, they've been forced to put diabetic pumps through metal detectors and body scanners (rendering them inoperative and posing an immediate threat to the life of the passenger), etc.
So I posed the question to underscore the line of questioning that average person would have about such devices.... and instead I have my intelligence insulted. No matter how correct you may be, that is not an excuse for poor form.
Why is Slashdot carrying a piece about an alleged murder case?
Because the alleged murderer has held a system most of the people here have either owned or had to service hostage, and if there's one thing a geek dislikes more than broken hardware, it's stupidly-designed software. *grabs popcorn* I'm gonna enjoy watching this guy roast.
Slashdot Mirror
Looks like his License (to kill) expired. The renewal fees were probably too much.
You may be surprised to know that life itself created our modern atmosphere, there was virtually no free oxygen
Which naturally means no other planet could possibly have developed differently from ours, perhaps in a way where oxygen isn't somehow trapped during its creation, or is later freed by a planetary event separate from the creation of life... /snark
It's physically impossible for an object to spin on two axes
Really? So you're saying it's possible for something to have only x or y motion, but not both? So if I take a dot and paint it on a ball, I can spin it so the dot is appearing to move along a straight vertical line... but there's no way that it can be spun so that from the observer's perspective, it could appear to be moving diagonally? It is possible for something to spin on two axis, because all objects in space are three dimensional and there can be positive or negative motion on any of those axis' relative to the observer's point of view. As such, an object can spin on multiple axis.
And we haven't even touched orbital eccentricity yet...
For life in general, maybe. Possibly. But not us. Humans require a very delicate balance of things that while any one of them is quite common, there's not a lot of evidence that all of them together is. Oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere in the right concentrations, and a lot of H2O? Probably not hard to come by. Strong and uniform magnetic field to trap the atmosphere and deflect solar radiation? Hard to observe empirically; It could be very rare by some accounts. Presence of a moon or other astronomical event to keep the planet spinning on a single axis and not two? That's somewhat common, though limited evidence suggests the closer you get to a star, the less moons will be in orbit around each planet, so there is that. Stable rotation of the planet at a speed sufficient to prevent one side or another from burning up? Again -- evidence points to a moon being a good promoter of this, and not that uncommon. But we have no direct observation of how fast (most) of the planets detected so far in the habitable zone rotate.
And lastly, let's not forget: We're rendering our own planet increasing inhospitable to life by the year. It may be that, in the future, we look for the presence of global warming as an indicator of alien life, as we frantically work to either save our planet, or try to find a new one to destroy.
Should we have laws to make stripping metadata illegal?
The solution to bad laws is not more bad laws. The reason we got into this mess is because of copyright, and the idea that websites like Facebook have any right whatsoever to your creative rights beyond non-exclusive publication. If you want to set things right, start by making the authorship rights of the individual who made the creative work something that cannot, by any contract or legal instrument, be abridged in any way. Oh, I know, businesses everywhere will be screaming bloody murder: What about our marketing? Our advertising! Oh however will we pay the bills without access to all your personal data! It's easy: Clicking like isn't a creative act. Telling people your likes and dislikes isn't a creative act. Creating metadata based on creative works (like keywords being used in status updates or comments) isn't a problem either -- in fact, the company can happily claim copyright to the resulting database and use it however it wants. And that's what most of the marketing and crap is based on. That's where the money comes from.
And one more thing: Those rights aren't transferrable or abridgable in any way, nor are they exclusive... but they do expire at the time of your death. No hand me downs for the relatives. No "150 years plus the life of the author" crap. No: Once you're dead, everything you ever said is fair game for the general public. You're the only one that should be allowed to benefit from your own work, and once you're dead, there's no more benefit to be had... so the rest of the world can reproduce your work freely... They just have to give you credit, like always.
Don't get into this argument about who owns what and derivative works and derivative derivative works and works for hire, and blah blah blah. It's a trap. An Ackbar trap, even. The moment you start to play that game, you lose, because there'll always be another argument, another subtle change, another justification. No. If you want to get a handle on intellectual property, you draw a firm line in the sand and say "This far, no farther." You do not ask for new laws to patch up old ones -- you get rid of the bad laws, strip it down to the bare metal, and then build it up right.
They are not common household tools, but
I rest my case, your honor.
but since typical PC towers are much more easily configurable than an Apple iMac, they probably have to do even less work stateside.
I think that's understating matters somewhat. Just to get the "case" open requires a heat gun, numerous guitar picks, and the patience of Jove to not damage anything. Replacing the RAM consists of a total disassembly of the entire system, removing every last piece, and there are several design decisions that the only explanation for is to make it more difficult for even the most experience disassembler to gain access to. With a PC case, the most you usually need is a phillips-head screwdriver, standard size. Even at that, many cases are designed with thumb screws so no tools are required at all to access and replace any component in the system. Opening the iMac requires a heat gun, guitar picks, two different kinds of Torx wrenches (a special order item), and anyone who services apple products will highly recommend a complete 25 bit set for screws, as well as an extender as the bolts are sometimes set into place with adhesive -- though you can get by with only 4 different bits to service the latest iMac. The odds of even an experienced system builder damaging the adhesive bonding the LCD/glass component to the case is high; It will likely require replacement. And no, Apple doesn't sell those separately. Even God would be turned away. Did I mention the bonded LCD and glass? Yeah... if you scratch the glass on the front, you have to replace both, even if the LCD is still perfectly functional.
The only reason they're "Made in the USA" (*cough* assembled, I mean) is because shipping a build-to-order system from overseas is prohibitively expensive. Also, because repairing them is so damned difficult, they put the assembly and repair depot on the same site. Make no mistake though; It's not due to patriotic pride that the sticker is there.
I think most people would agree that e.g. the Dalei Lama or Queen Elizabeth II are charismatic leaders
Not to say you are wrong that there are exceptions to the rule, but the exceptions you picked are particularly bad at representing your position: The queen was chosen because of blood line; Royal families don't have the same competitive pressures the everyday person has. Likewise for the Dalei Lama, who was, for somewhat different reasons, also not subject to those pressures.
It seems to me that charisma is much more important for getting ahead in politics and business.
Technically, it's sexual attractiveness. Charisma is just a generic term for someone that is sexually attractive as well as knowing how to use it to their advantage. And intelligence is a factor for getting into power... just not by itself. Intelligence alone has no proven evolutionary advantage (that is, the chance of passing your genes on to the next generation). I know many people who have intelligence but lack attractive features, and they are amongst the most miserable people I know. It allows them to be aware of exactly how the world works, in every detail, and to also be forced to be constantly aware of how small they are within it. The Total Perspective Vortex isn't just a plot device for intelligent people: for them, they've already sat in the chair.
It's worth noting that in this particular country, porn can consist of people showing a little bit of nose. Women are pulled off the streets all the time for this kind of thing and beaten. Foreign women are well-advised to be aware of local customs prior to travel, as it can result in beatings, arrest, or being forcibly stripped and your clothing replaced with something more "decent" according to their laws.
There is no same-sex marriage in Germany. Gay couples can enter a registered domestic partnership which is treated the same as marriage with regard to some issues (inheritance, social issues, pensions, ...) but is not equal to marriage.
Still a lot more equal than the "Fuck off" you get in 'merica. You want to quibble about minutae, fine -- but the point stands: We're way behind on civil rights compared to most of the rest of the first world and we should be ashamed of that.
Slashdot is largely powered by articles submitted by readers.
That's just the input. What happens between the input and the output is a whole 'nother matter...
if you signed your name to what you wrote above, not a single soul would give a flying fuck
Translation: "I can't argue with what you just said, so instead I'll just construct an argument where 'everybody' would agree with me! In your face internet."
You seem to assume that a psychologist is a "normal person". And, that is where your scenario falls on it's face. Shrinks are, in fact, some very strange people, haunted by their own ghosts and harassed by their own demons.
No, that's exactly why it can only be diagnosed in psychologists and certain other personality types; they're already resource-starved because of what you mentioned. Coming into direct contact with a mind that is unencumbered by any of that causes their brains to overload -- it's simply too much to process at once.
i asked if you honestly believe that if you signed your name to your slashdot post above, that it would mean you would be placed on a terror watchlist
How can anyone know for sure, since it isn't published? But considering the documented actions of some that caused them to end up on it... the better question is: Why take chances with your life in such an oppressive regime?
...to Slashdot Spectrum Disorder.
Er, no. That's something else entirely... it's when a geek goes to see a psychologist, and three hours later they leave because the psychologist goes rigid and becomes unresponsive for days. Afterwords, all they usually say for awhile after that is "500... 500... 500..." over and over again. Occasionally they get this funny look on their face and then they look at their watch and exclaim "Timed out! It's all out of time!" before returning to their stupor. They do eventually recover. It's theorized it's because direct contact with the geek psyche overwhelms a normal person, causing their brain to seize for a long time until the information overload subsides.
I too enjoy watching this guy roast. But still, this "news" has nothing to do with technology nor anything that interests the true geek community - which Slashdot serves.
Since Malda sold out and /. now relentlessly pursues revenue and has been rotating increasingly lame editorial staff in, I don't think the geek community is what it serves anymore. I'm thinking more The Krakken or some other lovecraftian horror beast, dwelling away beneath its servers, occasionally eating a true geek to absorb its power before vomiting up another monetization scheme.
do you honestly believe that?
You're the one full of beliefs. I only traffic in facts.
And you aren't a girl either, so just stop it already.
I don't recall ever dating a guy named Anonymous Coward, but I have been drunk while making out a few times, so it's conceivable I wouldn't remember you, but I'm very sure I haven't had sex with anyone with your name, and they'd be the only ones who'd know for sure. Thanks for playing though. :D
Unfortunately (for your credibility) the actual leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds is Accidents, with Motor-vehicle being the largest subgroup. After that comes "Homicide and legal-intervention". Then "Suicide."
Citation needed? Oh wait, nevermind, I can do that for you: Wrong.. Accidents are no longer the leading cause of death due to injury... it's suicide.
The USA has the second LOWEST rate of suicide, 10 per 100000, of any nation, industrialized or otherwise.
Ah... citation needed? Again? Happy to obliege. Also... wrong again! We're ranked #38 out of 107. By your math, we should be 105. A small error on your part, I'm sure.
It doesn't give you that visceral thrill of raging against the machine.
No, just the satisfaction of being both right, and having stomped another troll into the dirt. Now if you'll excuse me... there are other people wrong on the internet that need my love.
t. Unless your idea of "most of Europe" is one that doesn't include, France, Germany, Greece, the U.K., Italy, and I'm sure others that I don't feel like chasing down
Sadly, you're wrong. France? Check. Germany? Check. Greece? Pending due to EU ruling. The UK? Not listed here; Other websites report yes. Italy? Check. United States? Ummm.... Not so much.
Care to revise your statement, sir?
nevermind, paranoid schizophrenia is a sad disease
At least it's curable. Your arrogance and stupidity, sadly, they haven't come up with a pill for.
You do realize that Incandescent light bulbs are at 3000K or so.
I do. Do you realize that congress isn't exactly known for its firm grasp of science? Remember... they banned people from carrying more than a couple ounces of liquids out of fear they could be used to create binary explosives because that was the plot of a Die Hard movie, not because there was any evidence terrorists had any plans of using it, or that it would even provide the explosive force necessary. As a result, people flying home after surgery have had their ice packs confinscated, they've been forced to put diabetic pumps through metal detectors and body scanners (rendering them inoperative and posing an immediate threat to the life of the passenger), etc.
So I posed the question to underscore the line of questioning that average person would have about such devices.... and instead I have my intelligence insulted. No matter how correct you may be, that is not an excuse for poor form.
Why is Slashdot carrying a piece about an alleged murder case?
Because the alleged murderer has held a system most of the people here have either owned or had to service hostage, and if there's one thing a geek dislikes more than broken hardware, it's stupidly-designed software. *grabs popcorn* I'm gonna enjoy watching this guy roast.
They thought they had him, but turns out it was a false positive.
"This user has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down." -- PoliceOS (Belize Edition)