Don't be silly. 1080i is very useful for content distributors. It allows one to optimize bandwidth depending on the content involved, as it trades off temporal resolution for spacial resolution. The result is higher apparent resolution for slower moving content, while using less bandwidth than 720p.
Ummm, I *am* a developer. Trust me, I know plenty of people in the industry who honestly have no idea what good programming practices are, or why they are beneficial. Ask one of these people to write unit tests, and they'll respond with "but that wastes my time when I could be writing code", or "my job is to develop, not test". These people *are* ignorant. And whether you like it or not, they exist, and in my experience, they're far more prevalent then I would like.
IMHO, development practices should be designed by senior members of the development staff with input from the rest of the team. However, this should be a request for input, not permission, which is what it seems you're implying.
a) Get a PVR. I built a Myth setup, and I rarely watch commercials anymore. b) Don't want news on TV. Unless it's the BBC or CBC, it's just not worth the trouble.
Practices that improve productivity should (and generally do) appeal to developers.
Assuming, that is, your developers are skilled and objective enough to be able to tell when this is the case. Unfortunately, it's often the job of senior technical folks to force change upon the less experienced and ignorant, because they honestly have no idea what's good for them.
The biggest credibility problem, though, is simple: weathermen can't predict the weather next week. Climate != weather, but really - why would anyone think that people could predict the weather in the next 200 years when they can't see through to next week?
Because there's a big difference between long-term trends and short term variation. But since that argument has already, apparently, flown clear over your head, there seems little point in trying to explain it again.
There weren't a million patents on crappier *software*, though. Software patents, in the US, are a relatively new phenomenon. The fact you don't understand this means you're either very young, lack any understanding of history, or have consumed the kool-aid.
And the saddest fact of all? Even after all the blood spilled, the democrats only won many of their races by a small margin, indicating that a large, though still minority, population of the US still very much supports Bush and the neocons.
In fact, nearly every non-brain-dead scripting language does this (Perl, Python, Lisp, etc), with Ruby being one of the few exceptions. It's also one of the slowest, which is not a coincidence...
We do however have a good idea of the effects that carbon emission restrictions will have on the global economy
We do, huh? Funny, because I don't recall anyone attempting this in the past, so I fail to see why you're so sure.
I would argue that enforced emission reductions would simply open new economic opportunities for companies providing solutions to lower emissions or increase energy efficiency. It would also reduce costs for existing companies, thanks to reduced energy expenditures.
Oh, and as an aside, the idea that economists are on any more solid ground than climatologists is, frankly, laughable. Both involve analysis of chaotic systems with many many variables. And at least climatologists apply the scientific method to their studies.
And really, the food doesn't reach the people who need it because of corruption and greed.
Of course, but that has nothing to do with global warming, or our efforts to curtail it.
Though, ironically, our attempts to curtail it are likely being impeded by... corruption and greed.
As for the rest, consider that global warming would likely lead to drought in what are currently high yield crop growing areas. It's very likely that global warming could cause far more damage, in terms of hunger, than any efforts to stop it.
Are you stupid or something? I live in Alberta, and our cold winters are *vital* to our ecology. Among other things, cold weather helps to keep various damaging insects at bay, such as a pine beetle. And any kind of generalized warming threatens to deepen droughts, out here.
Besides, during the summer, we already see 30C+, and out east it's even worse (40-50C with the humidex). The last thing we need are *hotter* summers.
Seriously, if you don't like it, leave. But global warming is *not* a good thing for us, or anyone else for that matter.
We (humans) like it warm, and do far better when it's warmer than it has been recently
Yeah, unfortunately, we (humans) rely on crops which require specific climates in which to thrive. Global warming means shifting climates, causing droughts in some areas, or flooding in others. If you're not concerned about this, read a bit about the Dust Bowl, or about the massive droughts in Africa due to a shift in the rain belt thanks to climate change.
We (humans) also tend to congregate in cities, which are in grave danger if the sea levels rise as predicted, thanks to melting ice present on landmasses in the north and south poles.
Umm, we already *can* feed them. Right now. The fact is, the world currently produces enough food to provide for everyone on earth (link). The problem is this food doesn't reach the people who need it, primarily due to poverty.
Wow, so many falsehoods (or trolls?). First off, all those documents prove is that, back in 1991, they were in possession of the documents necessary to build a nuke. It says nothing about their technological capability or whether they possessed the necessary materials.
Second off, those documents provide no evidence for a recent active weapons program.
Third, there's no evidence they even *authored* the documents. They could have come from anywhere.
Honestly, do you ever bother to *use* the brain you presumably possess?
a) Posession of those documents is not proof of an ongoing weapons development program. b) Possession of those documents is not proof of the technological capability of executing the instructions in those documents. c) Possession of those documents is not proof of having the materials to execute said instructions, even if you have the capability.
Hell, I can download the instructions for any number of weapson *right now*. That's no basis for invading my home.
Wow, it's amazing how easily you missed the point. Let me rephrase:
In a minor release, they significantly changed the semantics of a commonly-used function. And they did so with little warning. This is unacceptable. Period.
What monopoly are you talking about, exactly? In all these municipal wifi programs, I've never heard mention of legislation to ban competitors. So, are you just making shit up to fit your worldview, or do you have evidence to back your assertions?
Slashdot Mirror
Good point, although I wonder, is it cheaper to make a 1080i display than a 1080p?
Don't be silly. 1080i is very useful for content distributors. It allows one to optimize bandwidth depending on the content involved, as it trades off temporal resolution for spacial resolution. The result is higher apparent resolution for slower moving content, while using less bandwidth than 720p.
Your argument has one problem. Both are opinion, even though you state them as fact.
Ummm, I *am* a developer. Trust me, I know plenty of people in the industry who honestly have no idea what good programming practices are, or why they are beneficial. Ask one of these people to write unit tests, and they'll respond with "but that wastes my time when I could be writing code", or "my job is to develop, not test". These people *are* ignorant. And whether you like it or not, they exist, and in my experience, they're far more prevalent then I would like.
IMHO, development practices should be designed by senior members of the development staff with input from the rest of the team. However, this should be a request for input, not permission, which is what it seems you're implying.
This is why you:
a) Get a PVR. I built a Myth setup, and I rarely watch commercials anymore.
b) Don't want news on TV. Unless it's the BBC or CBC, it's just not worth the trouble.
Practices that improve productivity should (and generally do) appeal to developers.
Assuming, that is, your developers are skilled and objective enough to be able to tell when this is the case. Unfortunately, it's often the job of senior technical folks to force change upon the less experienced and ignorant, because they honestly have no idea what's good for them.
The biggest credibility problem, though, is simple: weathermen can't predict the weather next week. Climate != weather, but really - why would anyone think that people could predict the weather in the next 200 years when they can't see through to next week?
Because there's a big difference between long-term trends and short term variation. But since that argument has already, apparently, flown clear over your head, there seems little point in trying to explain it again.
There weren't a million patents on crappier *software*, though. Software patents, in the US, are a relatively new phenomenon. The fact you don't understand this means you're either very young, lack any understanding of history, or have consumed the kool-aid.
And the saddest fact of all? Even after all the blood spilled, the democrats only won many of their races by a small margin, indicating that a large, though still minority, population of the US still very much supports Bush and the neocons.
I.e. North Korea, Cuba, and the defunct Soviet Union? I guess there's Canada too (and what a crappy system it is, I can tell you as a Canadian).
You do realize that the majority of developed nations have universal healthcare, right? Like, say, the entirety of the European Union?
Honestly, if you think Canada is as bad as NK, get the fuck out. We don't need you. Moron.
In fact, nearly every non-brain-dead scripting language does this (Perl, Python, Lisp, etc), with Ruby being one of the few exceptions. It's also one of the slowest, which is not a coincidence...
We do however have a good idea of the effects that carbon emission restrictions will have on the global economy
We do, huh? Funny, because I don't recall anyone attempting this in the past, so I fail to see why you're so sure.
I would argue that enforced emission reductions would simply open new economic opportunities for companies providing solutions to lower emissions or increase energy efficiency. It would also reduce costs for existing companies, thanks to reduced energy expenditures.
Oh, and as an aside, the idea that economists are on any more solid ground than climatologists is, frankly, laughable. Both involve analysis of chaotic systems with many many variables. And at least climatologists apply the scientific method to their studies.
And really, the food doesn't reach the people who need it because of corruption and greed.
Of course, but that has nothing to do with global warming, or our efforts to curtail it.
Though, ironically, our attempts to curtail it are likely being impeded by... corruption and greed.
As for the rest, consider that global warming would likely lead to drought in what are currently high yield crop growing areas. It's very likely that global warming could cause far more damage, in terms of hunger, than any efforts to stop it.
Are you stupid or something? I live in Alberta, and our cold winters are *vital* to our ecology. Among other things, cold weather helps to keep various damaging insects at bay, such as a pine beetle. And any kind of generalized warming threatens to deepen droughts, out here.
Besides, during the summer, we already see 30C+, and out east it's even worse (40-50C with the humidex). The last thing we need are *hotter* summers.
Seriously, if you don't like it, leave. But global warming is *not* a good thing for us, or anyone else for that matter.
We (humans) like it warm, and do far better when it's warmer than it has been recently
Yeah, unfortunately, we (humans) rely on crops which require specific climates in which to thrive. Global warming means shifting climates, causing droughts in some areas, or flooding in others. If you're not concerned about this, read a bit about the Dust Bowl, or about the massive droughts in Africa due to a shift in the rain belt thanks to climate change.
We (humans) also tend to congregate in cities, which are in grave danger if the sea levels rise as predicted, thanks to melting ice present on landmasses in the north and south poles.
Umm, we already *can* feed them. Right now. The fact is, the world currently produces enough food to provide for everyone on earth (link). The problem is this food doesn't reach the people who need it, primarily due to poverty.
At the time of what? 1990s or 2002? The paragraph is ambiguous at best. And if they were so close, where is the recent evidence of such a program?
Ooooh, right, there *isn't* any.
Wow, so many falsehoods (or trolls?). First off, all those documents prove is that, back in 1991, they were in possession of the documents necessary to build a nuke. It says nothing about their technological capability or whether they possessed the necessary materials.
Second off, those documents provide no evidence for a recent active weapons program.
Third, there's no evidence they even *authored* the documents. They could have come from anywhere.
Honestly, do you ever bother to *use* the brain you presumably possess?
And yet, with all your ranting and handwaving... still no WMDs, yet again proving that reality has a strong liberal bias.
Oh ffs:
a) Posession of those documents is not proof of an ongoing weapons development program.
b) Possession of those documents is not proof of the technological capability of executing the instructions in those documents.
c) Possession of those documents is not proof of having the materials to execute said instructions, even if you have the capability.
Hell, I can download the instructions for any number of weapson *right now*. That's no basis for invading my home.
Seriously, get your head out of your ass.
Wow, it's amazing how easily you missed the point. Let me rephrase:
In a minor release, they significantly changed the semantics of a commonly-used function. And they did so with little warning. This is unacceptable. Period.
There wasn't another consortium competing with the DVDCA?
Yes. Telling an ethnic joke is the same thing as referring to someone as "macaca".
FLOSS raster graphics app
:)
Who the hell puts graphics on their dental floss?
BTW, yes, I realize what FLOSS is supposed to stand for... I just think it's one of the most idiotic acronyms yet invented.
What monopoly are you talking about, exactly? In all these municipal wifi programs, I've never heard mention of legislation to ban competitors. So, are you just making shit up to fit your worldview, or do you have evidence to back your assertions?