"Man is the best computer we can put aboard a spacecraft... and the only one that can be mass produced with unskilled labor" - Werner von Braun
While I can't express the difficulty of solving it in "design and build a single-function robot"-work equivalence terms, the "support the humans" aspect of the equation is an enormous problem.
As much as I agree with your premise, the relative amount of effort necessary for both mission types can't be expressed in a simple, apples-to-apples comparison.
Heh... I posted the same reaction to the same article on my blog. I suppose I should be used to corporations speaking out of both sides of their mouths by now (10+ years in the industry,) but that article's complaint was just so blatantly ridiculous it surprised even me.
I guess the bottom line here is things like job security, loyalty, and foresight are anathema to modern multinationals. I pray I live to see the day when foreign firms wise up and realize they don't need the governance of expensive overseas executives.
As for me, I'm still working, but I've quit saving up for a down payment on a house in Silicon Valley. I'll be putting all that money to a new, different (undergraduate) degree. Haven't decided on a major just yet, but I had fun getting my first one and it helped me for a bit. Suffice it to say, retirement may be postponed.
I was just thinking about that, actually. Imagine injecting the eInk particles into the layer of skin in which conventional tattoo ink is placed. Then, using a stylus (or raster equivalent) a small, localized electric field is traced across the surface, drawing a pattern. If you don't like your tattoo, it can be changed or erased.
I never understood the lighting situation in the Splinter Cell series of games, either? I mean, if the games' locations are supposed to be so ultra-secure, don't you think they'd, oh, I don't know, install a lot of lights?;)
True, the xbox port probably won't be comparable to the PC version in terms of graphical quality. However, the gameplay should be nearly the same (controller issues aside) because I doubt Valve would settle for anything less.
That said, I'm really looking forward to HL2's xbox release. I've seen the PC version, and while it is impressive, I can't justify spending that kind of cash on a gaming rig when an xbox and game software can both be had for less than the price of a mid-range video card.
I couldn't agree more. I read the Simpson review and got the impression that he is way too emotionally involved with the source material to give a perspective that more casual fans can identify with.
I'm going to see the film. In fact, I can't wait to see it. I'm sure I'll enjoy it, especially because I won't be able to predict everything that's going to happen.
If you leave something off be default and the machine is operating as per user expectations, why turn it, and its associated security risks (if any,) on?
I suppose ignorance can be bliss in the proper environment.;)
Of course you're right, but all of that is true for computers in general and not specific to any particular hardware (yet) or OS (realistically, not yet, either.) Believe me, when my machine starts censoring naughty thoughts at the network port, I'm going to vote with my feet (or, rather, my hammer) and move to a different platform.
For now, for the most part, politically speaking (how's that for chained qualifiers?), a computer is a computer, regardless of what OS it runs. That is to say, most serious political threats to machines currently come from without, not within.
I'm not quite clear on what I'm not allowed to do with my computer that one might be allowed to do with other computers, but I've already made my choice based on the first two considerations I listed. My computer is sufficient for my needs.
As for my toaster, well, it issued a fatwa against pumpernickel three weeks ago and I haven't spoken with it since.
I get no end of amusement from people claiming that Mac users buy Macs because "they don't know anything about computers," or something to that effect. The fact of the matter is, this particular Mac user sees his computer for what it is: an appliance. It's not a platform, a political party, or a religion. It's a machine, not entirely unlike a toaster or Cuisinart.
When choosing a computer, I took into consideration:
1) What I need it to do.
2) How I plan to interact with it.
3) How much effort I need to put into maintaining it.
3a) How much effort I need to put into making sure my machine stays mine (i.e. not compromised by some bored malcontent.)
So, over the course of several decades, I test-drove a few different machines, running different OSs (disclosure: I ran DOS and Windows variants up to and including XP, various Linux distributions, and Mac OS X.) It became glaringly obvious that OS X was far and away the OS of choice for the amount of time and effort I intend to invest in using and maintaing my computer.
I'm not a BSD advocate or a network security guru because, quite frankly, the subjects absolutely bore me to tears. However, even I can appreciate the simple, quiet wisdom of turning most networking services OFF on a fresh install of an OS (as does OS X.) Just think how much more secure our computing environment would be if people only enabled the services they absolutely needed.
The import thing is that it is our choice.
I've heard this more than a few times and, believe me, I'm not trying to be confrontational. I just want an honest answer: what choice? How did you make your decision to become a Christian? Is there a set of circumstances or arguments that I can reproduce that will lead me to the same conclusion?
Wow! Thanks for bringing back a lot of great memories! My microscope was one of my absolute favorite toys as a kid. Given that this is Slashdot and all, I guess I shouldn't be too ashamed of many happy afternoons spent trying to find all kinds of neat "bugs" in a drop of pond water, despite how hopelessly nerdy I'm sure it must sound.
I've been watching the PDA evolution from the outside for a while (ever since buying a Palm Professional back in '98) and, for the life of me, I *still* can't figure out what these things are good for. Despite the trend toward ever-more-powerful specs, I see them as a terribly expensive compromise between the convenience and communications options afforded by cell phones and the power of a modern notebook.
So, here's the question: what do you, members of the/. community, use your PDAs for, anyway? I'm genuinely curious; please don't interpret this as flamebait.
Oh, I wish I could have a dog. I love 'em. The only problem is that I'm horribly allergic to them. I break out in hives, my throat closes up, the works.
I hope we will eventually be able isolate the allergen, find the sequence that codes for it (assuming it is a protein), and alter it such that it doesn't adversely affect the dog's health and keeps people like me from having horrible reactions to them.
Most people that want to buy game consoles own TVs. In order to innovate in the display technology area, you either have to sell the display as an integral part of the unit (e.g. Gameboy, etc.) or convince people that they really need to buy a new display.
New, integrated displays have to be incredibly cheap or there will be no incentive to manufacture them. New stand alone displays have to be really, really incredible or there's no incentive for people to buy them.
Slashdot Mirror
"Man is the best computer we can put aboard a spacecraft ...
and the only one that can be mass produced with unskilled labor" - Werner von Braun
While I can't express the difficulty of solving it in "design and build a single-function robot"-work equivalence terms, the "support the humans" aspect of the equation is an enormous problem.
As much as I agree with your premise, the relative amount of effort necessary for both mission types can't be expressed in a simple, apples-to-apples comparison.
Heh... I posted the same reaction to the same article on my blog. I suppose I should be used to corporations speaking out of both sides of their mouths by now (10+ years in the industry,) but that article's complaint was just so blatantly ridiculous it surprised even me.
I guess the bottom line here is things like job security, loyalty, and foresight are anathema to modern multinationals. I pray I live to see the day when foreign firms wise up and realize they don't need the governance of expensive overseas executives.
As for me, I'm still working, but I've quit saving up for a down payment on a house in Silicon Valley. I'll be putting all that money to a new, different (undergraduate) degree. Haven't decided on a major just yet, but I had fun getting my first one and it helped me for a bit. Suffice it to say, retirement may be postponed.
I was just thinking about that, actually. Imagine injecting the eInk particles into the layer of skin in which conventional tattoo ink is placed. Then, using a stylus (or raster equivalent) a small, localized electric field is traced across the surface, drawing a pattern. If you don't like your tattoo, it can be changed or erased.
No, he appears to be saying that individuality comes from within. Anything else is just fashion.
Differentiate yourself from the other "dotted lines drones" with things that are really important: your character and actions.
Yes I shake.
Is it possible to mod this one +0.5 TOO Informative?
I never understood the lighting situation in the Splinter Cell series of games, either? I mean, if the games' locations are supposed to be so ultra-secure, don't you think they'd, oh, I don't know, install a lot of lights? ;)
True, the xbox port probably won't be comparable to the PC version in terms of graphical quality. However, the gameplay should be nearly the same (controller issues aside) because I doubt Valve would settle for anything less.
That said, I'm really looking forward to HL2's xbox release. I've seen the PC version, and while it is impressive, I can't justify spending that kind of cash on a gaming rig when an xbox and game software can both be had for less than the price of a mid-range video card.
I couldn't agree more. I read the Simpson review and got the impression that he is way too emotionally involved with the source material to give a perspective that more casual fans can identify with.
I'm going to see the film. In fact, I can't wait to see it. I'm sure I'll enjoy it, especially because I won't be able to predict everything that's going to happen.
The $100 price tag also keeps (most) yahoos from actually sending their dogs' DNA to this study.
that's remarkable insight, because most other CEOs sit around meetings and tell everyone that they want to make a mediocre product.
Certainly not in so many words, but the aisles and aisles of hardware in most big-box electronics stores sends that message loud and clear.
My point exactly!
;)
If you leave something off be default and the machine is operating as per user expectations, why turn it, and its associated security risks (if any,) on?
I suppose ignorance can be bliss in the proper environment.
Of course you're right, but all of that is true for computers in general and not specific to any particular hardware (yet) or OS (realistically, not yet, either.) Believe me, when my machine starts censoring naughty thoughts at the network port, I'm going to vote with my feet (or, rather, my hammer) and move to a different platform.
For now, for the most part, politically speaking (how's that for chained qualifiers?), a computer is a computer, regardless of what OS it runs. That is to say, most serious political threats to machines currently come from without, not within.
I'm not quite clear on what I'm not allowed to do with my computer that one might be allowed to do with other computers, but I've already made my choice based on the first two considerations I listed. My computer is sufficient for my needs.
As for my toaster, well, it issued a fatwa against pumpernickel three weeks ago and I haven't spoken with it since.
I get no end of amusement from people claiming that Mac users buy Macs because "they don't know anything about computers," or something to that effect. The fact of the matter is, this particular Mac user sees his computer for what it is: an appliance. It's not a platform, a political party, or a religion. It's a machine, not entirely unlike a toaster or Cuisinart.
When choosing a computer, I took into consideration:
1) What I need it to do.
2) How I plan to interact with it.
3) How much effort I need to put into maintaining it.
3a) How much effort I need to put into making sure my machine stays mine (i.e. not compromised by some bored malcontent.)
So, over the course of several decades, I test-drove a few different machines, running different OSs (disclosure: I ran DOS and Windows variants up to and including XP, various Linux distributions, and Mac OS X.) It became glaringly obvious that OS X was far and away the OS of choice for the amount of time and effort I intend to invest in using and maintaing my computer.
I'm not a BSD advocate or a network security guru because, quite frankly, the subjects absolutely bore me to tears. However, even I can appreciate the simple, quiet wisdom of turning most networking services OFF on a fresh install of an OS (as does OS X.) Just think how much more secure our computing environment would be if people only enabled the services they absolutely needed.
That makes sense, of course, but I'm wondering why the Born Again would choose to be indoctrinated. Something had to make them choose.
The import thing is that it is our choice. I've heard this more than a few times and, believe me, I'm not trying to be confrontational. I just want an honest answer: what choice? How did you make your decision to become a Christian? Is there a set of circumstances or arguments that I can reproduce that will lead me to the same conclusion?
and even I screwed it up! d'oh!
... I just bought the "Ren and Stimpy" DVD boxed set, so I've heard this a few times recently :
What rolls down stairs alone or in pairs?
Rolls over your neighbor's dog?
What fits on your back and great for a snack?
It's Log, Log, Log!
It's LO-OG! It's LO-OG!
It's big, it's heavy, it's wood!
It's LO-OG! It's LO-OG!
It's better than bad, it's good!
Come on and get your Log!
You're gonna love it: Log!
Everyone needs a Log! (trails off)
(voiceover)
Log! From Blammo!
Oh, how I need to get a life, but R&S is one fantastic show!
Wow! Thanks for bringing back a lot of great memories! My microscope was one of my absolute favorite toys as a kid. Given that this is Slashdot and all, I guess I shouldn't be too ashamed of many happy afternoons spent trying to find all kinds of neat "bugs" in a drop of pond water, despite how hopelessly nerdy I'm sure it must sound.
I've been watching the PDA evolution from the outside for a while (ever since buying a Palm Professional back in '98) and, for the life of me, I *still* can't figure out what these things are good for. Despite the trend toward ever-more-powerful specs, I see them as a terribly expensive compromise between the convenience and communications options afforded by cell phones and the power of a modern notebook.
/. community, use your PDAs for, anyway? I'm genuinely curious; please don't interpret this as flamebait.
So, here's the question: what do you, members of the
-boredman
Are they anything like honeydews? Last time I checked, it was Carnegie Mellon.
Good point. That works, too. Either way, having the dog genome mapped out will help in this endeavor.
Oh, I wish I could have a dog. I love 'em. The only problem is that I'm horribly allergic to them. I break out in hives, my throat closes up, the works.
I hope we will eventually be able isolate the allergen, find the sequence that codes for it (assuming it is a protein), and alter it such that it doesn't adversely affect the dog's health and keeps people like me from having horrible reactions to them.
Most people that want to buy game consoles own TVs. In order to innovate in the display technology area, you either have to sell the display as an integral part of the unit (e.g. Gameboy, etc.) or convince people that they really need to buy a new display.
New, integrated displays have to be incredibly cheap or there will be no incentive to manufacture them. New stand alone displays have to be really, really incredible or there's no incentive for people to buy them.
arctan(19.05 / (2.5 * (10^6))) * (180 / pi) * 3 600 = 1.57173782
given the 19.05 mm penny diameter number and the 2.5 km distance number.
- (really) boredman