I had always thought that bridge felt a little small... Anybody around with the technical manual and some measurements at what they built at the Hilton that can verify this? Come on pedants, help us out here!
Be fair here, Galactica hit on quite a few very good social issues in its time (racism, political witch hunts, etcetc). Back before the seasons 3 and 4 mystic bullcrap at least... As good as TNG in it's prime? No - but they also didn't have god damned Wesley Crusher. In any case, I'd take a little of Galactica's moral issue discussion over an entire series of Desperate Housewives.
You're right, GP shouldn't compare it to the Pyramids (nothing in Vegas lasts very long - the city is on average rebuilt every 20 years). Perhaps a comparison to the Luxor would be more accurate! In any case, this is Vegas we're talking about. The town is eyesore central.
Attractions in Vegas live and die on novelty. A place like this wouldn't have (or expect to have) any staying power. Vegas gets rebuilt every 20 years, so comparing it to enduring landmarks like Pisa is a bit off the mark. It really comes down to whether or not there is enough of an audience to support it and return the investment in the first few years. As much as I'd love it to have existed, I just don't think it would have pulled the crowds that a Vegas establishment would depend on for income. Remember, nerds weren't cool yet in the 90s... Hell, I think they'd do a bit better with it today than they would have back then. Couple it with the next installment of the rebooted Star Trek movie.
I don't want to look at the radio towers up the hill. I don't want to look at the airplanes going into the airport downtown. I don't want to look at your house across the valley. I don't want to look at your truck parked on the road. I don't want to look at your face when I'm out and about.
I don't know how well that makes my point, but it sums up about how I feel about the aesthetic complaints. It's not on your property, it's not lit up garishly, it's not making noise keeping you up. Deal with it. Just like everybody else on this damn planet deals with the things we see every day that we don't want to see.
The shadow effect is a valid gripe, though I have yet to see a wind farm within half a mile of a house - at distances atmospheric scattering will reduce that "strobe" effect significantly. Distracted driving though? With the radios, cell phones, and everything else going on you're going to list windmills as a factor on drivers? That's an excuse, not an actual problem.
I can't argue with you on the subsidies though. Wind power is mature enough that it really needs to be cost effective unsubsidized.
My point is that you don't hold the tool maker at fault when somebody misuses their tools. From a business standpoint you're right, they absolutely should make their algorithm as robust as possible. But a tool is designed for a task, there is only so much you can do to design in ways to keep it from being mis-used and it's an uphill battle against diminishing returns. The problem is, once you start saying they have an ethical responsibility to prevent that sort of gaming you end up in a mindset where a lawyer could convince a jury of it and hold them legally responsible *and* it draws attention away from the actual malicious acts by the perpetrator.
No, that isn't the key here at all. If she simply had decided she didn't like the name of the company and did the same thing, it is *still* defamation whether money was involved or not. The request for money to fix it just adds additional *criminal* acts of racketeering and extortion to the civil charges of defamation. The existing laws here were plenty.
Google really isn't involved either. If I decided to defame you by posting "Caution: Known Cow Fondler" posters with your picture on every power pole in town, do you blame the utility company? No, you blame me and sue me for defamation. Trying to hold a third party responsible because their algorithm was gamed by one person involved in criminal acts is exactly the restraint on free speech that you want to avoid. Hold people responsible for their actions, but leave the tool makers alone.
As another poster here noted: everything is working as intended, though likely with the major wrinkle that the business she sank in her scheme will probably never recover their losses or that $2.5m judgement.
My roomate did get some great deals at Best Buy last black friday... Of course, spending six hours waiting in line and (I kid you not) hopping between stores to save a hundred bucks on a bunch of crap is not exactly my idea of a great deal.
If I had a nickel for every moron who didn't understand that Republican controlled presidents have run up most of the debt, I'd be rich too.
Problem is, we're so wrapped up in the D and the R that we're ignoring the fact that *both* sides are spending their ways into oblivion. All they argue over is what they're spending our money on. The term "conservative" in politics used to imply fiscally conservative - now it implies socially conservative. It's a lot easier to get people worked up over social issues than fiscal ones. Which is really too bad, because I'd bet dollars to donuts that the vast majority of Americans really are fiscally conservative. And, I really love donuts.
"Beck," "Limbaugh," and "think" shouldn't be used in the same sentence unless that sentence is something along the lines of "I think Beck and Limbaugh are batshit crazy."
It's like when 50 years ago the Democrats became beholden to the Teamsters; in came big trucking and the subsidized interstate system
That is what he's responding to. Right after Eisenhower's presidency in the 1940s, where he pushed for the interstate highways primarily from a military standpoint. Teamsters seem to have liked the system but for different reasons.
Slashdot Mirror
Been posting all over this thread, so no +funny points to give you, but thanks for making me giggle.
I had always thought that bridge felt a little small... Anybody around with the technical manual and some measurements at what they built at the Hilton that can verify this? Come on pedants, help us out here!
Be fair here, Galactica hit on quite a few very good social issues in its time (racism, political witch hunts, etcetc). Back before the seasons 3 and 4 mystic bullcrap at least... As good as TNG in it's prime? No - but they also didn't have god damned Wesley Crusher. In any case, I'd take a little of Galactica's moral issue discussion over an entire series of Desperate Housewives.
You know, I always thought the Luxor needed a Stargate themed attraction in there somewhere...
You're right, GP shouldn't compare it to the Pyramids (nothing in Vegas lasts very long - the city is on average rebuilt every 20 years). Perhaps a comparison to the Luxor would be more accurate! In any case, this is Vegas we're talking about. The town is eyesore central.
Yes really, can you think of a better reason than to honestly ask somebody "Hey baby, want to take a ride in my space ship?"
Attractions in Vegas live and die on novelty. A place like this wouldn't have (or expect to have) any staying power. Vegas gets rebuilt every 20 years, so comparing it to enduring landmarks like Pisa is a bit off the mark. It really comes down to whether or not there is enough of an audience to support it and return the investment in the first few years. As much as I'd love it to have existed, I just don't think it would have pulled the crowds that a Vegas establishment would depend on for income. Remember, nerds weren't cool yet in the 90s... Hell, I think they'd do a bit better with it today than they would have back then. Couple it with the next installment of the rebooted Star Trek movie.
I don't want to look at the radio towers up the hill. I don't want to look at the airplanes going into the airport downtown. I don't want to look at your house across the valley. I don't want to look at your truck parked on the road. I don't want to look at your face when I'm out and about.
I don't know how well that makes my point, but it sums up about how I feel about the aesthetic complaints. It's not on your property, it's not lit up garishly, it's not making noise keeping you up. Deal with it. Just like everybody else on this damn planet deals with the things we see every day that we don't want to see.
The shadow effect is a valid gripe, though I have yet to see a wind farm within half a mile of a house - at distances atmospheric scattering will reduce that "strobe" effect significantly. Distracted driving though? With the radios, cell phones, and everything else going on you're going to list windmills as a factor on drivers? That's an excuse, not an actual problem.
I can't argue with you on the subsidies though. Wind power is mature enough that it really needs to be cost effective unsubsidized.
doh.... cancelling an accidental mod... and the rest of my mods in this discussion :'(
My point is that you don't hold the tool maker at fault when somebody misuses their tools. From a business standpoint you're right, they absolutely should make their algorithm as robust as possible. But a tool is designed for a task, there is only so much you can do to design in ways to keep it from being mis-used and it's an uphill battle against diminishing returns. The problem is, once you start saying they have an ethical responsibility to prevent that sort of gaming you end up in a mindset where a lawyer could convince a jury of it and hold them legally responsible *and* it draws attention away from the actual malicious acts by the perpetrator.
No, that isn't the key here at all. If she simply had decided she didn't like the name of the company and did the same thing, it is *still* defamation whether money was involved or not. The request for money to fix it just adds additional *criminal* acts of racketeering and extortion to the civil charges of defamation. The existing laws here were plenty.
Google really isn't involved either. If I decided to defame you by posting "Caution: Known Cow Fondler" posters with your picture on every power pole in town, do you blame the utility company? No, you blame me and sue me for defamation. Trying to hold a third party responsible because their algorithm was gamed by one person involved in criminal acts is exactly the restraint on free speech that you want to avoid. Hold people responsible for their actions, but leave the tool makers alone.
As another poster here noted: everything is working as intended, though likely with the major wrinkle that the business she sank in her scheme will probably never recover their losses or that $2.5m judgement.
Yeah, that bit had me confused too...
Oddly enough that's exactly what people were saying when Best Buy effectively killed off CompUSA.
Y'know, Best Buy may be pretty big, but they are not the economy of the United States.
My roomate did get some great deals at Best Buy last black friday... Of course, spending six hours waiting in line and (I kid you not) hopping between stores to save a hundred bucks on a bunch of crap is not exactly my idea of a great deal.
What the f is a VCR?
You managed to negotiate price at Best Buy? Tell us your secrets!!!!
If I had a nickel for every moron who didn't understand that Republican controlled presidents have run up most of the debt, I'd be rich too.
Problem is, we're so wrapped up in the D and the R that we're ignoring the fact that *both* sides are spending their ways into oblivion. All they argue over is what they're spending our money on. The term "conservative" in politics used to imply fiscally conservative - now it implies socially conservative. It's a lot easier to get people worked up over social issues than fiscal ones. Which is really too bad, because I'd bet dollars to donuts that the vast majority of Americans really are fiscally conservative. And, I really love donuts.
"Beck," "Limbaugh," and "think" shouldn't be used in the same sentence unless that sentence is something along the lines of "I think Beck and Limbaugh are batshit crazy."
Oh that's the word! I always get those three mixed up.
oh oh I know! Democrat!! Or was it Republican.... Oh hell I guess I don't know anymore.
It's like when 50 years ago the Democrats became beholden to the Teamsters; in came big trucking and the subsidized interstate system
That is what he's responding to. Right after Eisenhower's presidency in the 1940s, where he pushed for the interstate highways primarily from a military standpoint. Teamsters seem to have liked the system but for different reasons.
...wrapped in bacon
No no, he's been modded "Insightful." That means he's not 100% full of shit, right?