That could be kind of cool to watch, see where the AIs take their virtual civilization on a massive scale like that. Much better than watching the computer play chess against itself. Not that I've ever done that.
Bah, go one better. Play ProgressQuest! No time spent training the computer, it already knows!! Save hours each day!!! (Re)learn the basics, like personal hygiene!!!! Master the appropriate use of punctuation!!!!!
It's fundamentally the same question as the Apples + Bananas question on the Easy page, just requires more thought. I used to ask the Apples/Bananas question when I held interviews, but in the form you have (how many fruit do you need to remove...)
I like the vending machine examples better, personally, though this is the first I heard that form.
Calendar Cubes I like this one. You need all the numbers from 0 through 9 plus 0 through 3. That's 14 faces. You will never need 00 though, so you can remove one of the 0s. Also, you will only ever need the 3 with 0 or 1, so you can remove it from one of the blocks. The solution: the numbers 1-6 on one block, and 7-9 and 0-2 on the other. Yeah it works.
Unfortunately, it doesn't. 07, 08, 09 can't be shown -- 0 has to be on both cubes. The trick is that 9 and 6 can be represented by the same character.
Greedy Pirates It's not apparent to me that this is the intended answer, but "Throw pirates 3 and 4 overboard and divide up the rest between 1,2, and 5. Pirates 1 and 2 will agree to the largest share, and pirate 5 always has a say after that, since 3 and 4 can't agree to anything, so he's needed for the majority.
I'm not so sure about this one, but I think that 'majority' changes with the total number alive. Since 5 is also a greedy pirate, he would do better to conspire with 3 and 4 to split equally among them, since they would get more than if 1 and 2 were included. Of course, this would have other repurcussions, but...
Now if I could just figure out the black/white hat prisoner execution scenario...
IMHO, this is exactly what is keeping Linux from becoming mainstream. Linux is developed by people who like to tinker with things. It is the DIY hotrod of operating systems. Most 'normal' people, when faced with the choice of building their own souped-up muscle car or buying a Ford (when all they want to do is commute) choose the more generic car, the one which requires a minimal effort on their part.
I looked into this as part of my thesis. It was really preliminary work done with a really lousy camera and Matlab (not real time), but given the right equipment and a DSP it could probably be done.
You could always post-date the check to beyond the date the bill comes to a vote. Then check the congrescritter's voting record on the bill, and if he votes for it, stop payment.
SablKnight
Re:Decent movies stand alone
on
Resident Evil
·
· Score: 1
Producers finally figured out that you don't just have to retell a game - you just have to get the feel of the game
As I understand it, the movie leads in to the beginning of the first game.
Note: I never played the first game, so this is based on what people tell me.
Big deal, my dad had a pistol-style gatling gun about five years ago. It cost him about $20. I think it had eight "barrels" and was not very prone to mechanical failure, being only three pieces of plastic and a piece of string. You could load a lot of rubber bands on the thing, though it took forever.
It worked by laying the string down across each "barrel" before stretching the rubber band across it. Then you slid the cylinder on the pistol grip, fed the string on to the crank, and started cranking. The tightening string would release the rubber bands in quick succession.
Actually, there is (IMNSHO) a much better way to launch rubbery projectiles. It's simple.
All instructions are for righties, lefties reverse directions.
1) Holding the band dangling in your left hand, insert your right pinky through the loop. Let it settle in the first joint of your pinky. Curl your pinky down into your palm.
2) With your left hand, stretch the band around your hand, following the crease at your wrist and looping behind your thumb. Keep your thumb pointed up at all times.
3) Extend your right index finger in the standard "I'm going to shoot you with my finger" method. With your left hand, hook the rubber band on the tip of your finger. This works better if your nails are relatively short.
Voila, you now have a rubber band gun. Point your finger at your victi... um, inanimate target, and when you have a good aim, release the rubber band with your pinky. It will slide around the base of your thumb and launch off your finger in a perfect trajectory.
Variations on this are possible. I've done it on my index knuckle (snub-nose) and with two rubber bands (using the ring and middle fingers as well). However, my favorite variation is the shotgun.
Proceed as normal, but instead of hooking the band on your right index finger, hook it on your left thumb. Holding your left hand in line with your right index finger, aim it as you would a shotgun or rifle. The physics of this are the same as the pistol method described above, but the power (and pain on delivery) of the projectile increases dramatically. Bonus points for "pumping" the "gun" with your left hand and making shotgun noises before smiting your enemie... inanimate targets.
Safety notes: I take no responsability for anything that occurs because of this method being used. However, if you keep the band held tight with your pinky, even if it snaps it won't shoot off at you, it will just spin around and hit you in the hand.
When I was reading through the article, the Jefferson quote on ideas struck me as applying pretty directly to any sort of information, such as software...
Its peculiar character, too, is that no one possesses the less, because every other possesses the whole of it. He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me . . . . Inventions then cannot, in nature, be a subject of property. Society may give an exclusive right to the profits arising from them, as an encouragement to men to pursue ideas which may produce utility, but this may or may not be done, according to the will and convenience of the society, without claim or complaint from anybody.
Just try replacing the words in bold with appropriate digital information related terms and see where it gets you. Just a thought.
I started watching the show when it first came out, but unfortunately have fallen away from it due to scheduling issues. I always enjoyed the (admittedly watered down) forensic science, despite some stupid slip-ups with basic physics. The only thing that really got to me was how much authority the CSI team had. How often do the forensics guys really interrogate suspects anyway? Isn't that the job for the detectives?
I was wondering about that myself... he seems to be heavily implying throughout the article that his page could easily be using it. I wonder if it's maybe a set-up for part 2, which would look identical but incorporate leech code in the 'next' button...
Disclaimer: My legal experience extends to watching a lot of Law&Order, one or two eps of night court, and griping about the OJ trial.
Couldn't the target of these threatening letters press charges of racketeering or extortion? If both the BSA and the US Marshals were charged, it might make people think a little differently, and with a good lawyer you might even be able to get an indictment...
I'm not sure how this is intended to fit in with the space travel policy; at a first glance it looks more like a troll than anything else. While there is a long-standing weight/size restriction, I didn't see it mentioned anywhere in the scope of this article. Incidentally, though, I was thinking along these lines while reading the article (I'm about this close to getting a clearance, so the background stuff wouldn't matter, but I'm 6'4" and could stand to lose about 50 pounds.) Of course, I'm also not a multi-millionaire, so that rules it out too...
Oh, but slicing your fingers is an important part of computer maintenance! Without a blood sacrifice your machine is doomed to fail (more, if running Windows)
Is it just me, or did THG seem to not really like any of these? They all seemed to be lying about response times and color depth, and each one seemed to have a nasty afterglow problem according to the reviewer. The most positive things said about any was about the form factor! I found ArsTechnica's buyer's guide more upbeat; the cynicism here definitely pushes me away from possibly getting a flat-panel display anytime soon. Not that I was about to anyway; my E790B is serving quite nicely.
As for Glorfindel not being in the movie, I'm not upset, but disappointed. I do not see why Arwen had to fill that role. They could have expanded her in other ways with Aragorn. They are seen together in a few scenes in Rivendell. Glorfindel could have been just about any other elf. But, having a strong elf-lord protect them from the Nazgul up until this point, shows how powerful some of the elves can be. It makes an important note in the Council of Elrond when they are deciding who will go on the Fellowship, and whether they elves should hide and guard the ring.
I agree with you about the lessening of Frodo's character by not allowing him his moment of defiance. However, I do see why they chose Arwen above some other generic elf to replace Glorfindel. Based on interviews I've read and seen, one of the big themes that PJ is pushing is how much Arwen is giving up when she chooses to become mortal. By showing her as a strong elf-lord (lady?) it emphasizes just what kind of status and power she is sacrificing.
The only one of these that counts is King Arthur. The Lord of the Rings predates all the others and is widely considered to be the founding work of modern fantasy.
Slashdot Mirror
won't it eventually lead to being an all-AI game?
That could be kind of cool to watch, see where the AIs take their virtual civilization on a massive scale like that. Much better than watching the computer play chess against itself. Not that I've ever done that.
SablKnight
Bah, go one better. Play ProgressQuest! No time spent training the computer, it already knows!! Save hours each day!!! (Re)learn the basics, like personal hygiene!!!! Master the appropriate use of punctuation!!!!!
OK, I'm done now.
SablKnight
It's fundamentally the same question as the Apples + Bananas question on the Easy page, just requires more thought. I used to ask the Apples/Bananas question when I held interviews, but in the form you have (how many fruit do you need to remove...)
I like the vending machine examples better, personally, though this is the first I heard that form.
-SablKnight
Calendar Cubes
I like this one. You need all the numbers from 0 through 9 plus 0 through 3. That's 14 faces. You will never need 00 though, so you can remove one of the 0s. Also, you will only ever need the 3 with 0 or 1, so you can remove it from one of the blocks. The solution: the numbers 1-6 on one block, and 7-9 and 0-2 on the other. Yeah it works.
Unfortunately, it doesn't. 07, 08, 09 can't be shown -- 0 has to be on both cubes. The trick is that 9 and 6 can be represented by the same character.
Greedy Pirates
It's not apparent to me that this is the intended answer, but "Throw pirates 3 and 4 overboard and divide up the rest between 1,2, and 5. Pirates 1 and 2 will agree to the largest share, and pirate 5 always has a say after that, since 3 and 4 can't agree to anything, so he's needed for the majority.
I'm not so sure about this one, but I think that 'majority' changes with the total number alive. Since 5 is also a greedy pirate, he would do better to conspire with 3 and 4 to split equally among them, since they would get more than if 1 and 2 were included. Of course, this would have other repurcussions, but...
Now if I could just figure out the black/white hat prisoner execution scenario...
-SablKnight
IMHO, this is exactly what is keeping Linux from becoming mainstream. Linux is developed by people who like to tinker with things. It is the DIY hotrod of operating systems. Most 'normal' people, when faced with the choice of building their own souped-up muscle car or buying a Ford (when all they want to do is commute) choose the more generic car, the one which requires a minimal effort on their part.
-SablKnight
I looked into this as part of my thesis. It was really preliminary work done with a really lousy camera and Matlab (not real time), but given the right equipment and a DSP it could probably be done.
-SablKnight
The things they could have left out imho were some of the effects like the worms and bugs crawling over the hobbits when they were hidden...
IIRC, this was done to enhance the 'evil aura' of the black riders, that nature fled from them.
-SablKnight
You could always post-date the check to beyond the date the bill comes to a vote. Then check the congrescritter's voting record on the bill, and if he votes for it, stop payment.
SablKnight
Producers finally figured out that you don't just have to retell a game - you just have to get the feel of the game
As I understand it, the movie leads in to the beginning of the first game.
Note: I never played the first game, so this is based on what people tell me.
-SablKnight
Um, laser != melty thing always. It's just light, your contact lens will probably just focus it like it does any other light source.
How did this get Insightful?
-SablKnight
Let's also be real here, what terrorist is
going to spend two days escalting up the food
chain to hijack a plane.
Maybe the same ones who would spend years learning to fly planes in preparation for one flight?
-SablKnight
Big deal, my dad had a pistol-style gatling gun about five years ago. It cost him about $20. I think it had eight "barrels" and was not very prone to mechanical failure, being only three pieces of plastic and a piece of string. You could load a lot of rubber bands on the thing, though it took forever.
It worked by laying the string down across each "barrel" before stretching the rubber band across it. Then you slid the cylinder on the pistol grip, fed the string on to the crank, and started cranking. The tightening string would release the rubber bands in quick succession.
Of course, it wasn't tripod mounted...
-SablKnight
Actually, there is (IMNSHO) a much better way to launch rubbery projectiles. It's simple.
All instructions are for righties, lefties reverse directions.
1) Holding the band dangling in your left hand, insert your right pinky through the loop. Let it settle in the first joint of your pinky. Curl your pinky down into your palm.
2) With your left hand, stretch the band around your hand, following the crease at your wrist and looping behind your thumb. Keep your thumb pointed up at all times.
3) Extend your right index finger in the standard "I'm going to shoot you with my finger" method. With your left hand, hook the rubber band on the tip of your finger. This works better if your nails are relatively short.
Voila, you now have a rubber band gun. Point your finger at your victi... um, inanimate target, and when you have a good aim, release the rubber band with your pinky. It will slide around the base of your thumb and launch off your finger in a perfect trajectory.
Variations on this are possible. I've done it on my index knuckle (snub-nose) and with two rubber bands (using the ring and middle fingers as well). However, my favorite variation is the shotgun.
Proceed as normal, but instead of hooking the band on your right index finger, hook it on your left thumb. Holding your left hand in line with your right index finger, aim it as you would a shotgun or rifle. The physics of this are the same as the pistol method described above, but the power (and pain on delivery) of the projectile increases dramatically. Bonus points for "pumping" the "gun" with your left hand and making shotgun noises before smiting your enemie... inanimate targets.
Safety notes: I take no responsability for anything that occurs because of this method being used. However, if you keep the band held tight with your pinky, even if it snaps it won't shoot off at you, it will just spin around and hit you in the hand.
-SablKnight
When I was reading through the article, the Jefferson quote on ideas struck me as applying pretty directly to any sort of information, such as software...
Its peculiar character, too, is that no one possesses the less, because every other possesses the whole of it. He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me . . . .
Inventions then cannot, in nature, be a subject of property. Society may give an exclusive right to the profits arising from them, as an encouragement to men to pursue ideas which may produce utility, but this may or may not be done, according to the will and convenience of the society, without claim or complaint from anybody.
Just try replacing the words in bold with appropriate digital information related terms and see where it gets you. Just a thought.
-SablKnight
I started watching the show when it first came out, but unfortunately have fallen away from it due to scheduling issues. I always enjoyed the (admittedly watered down) forensic science, despite some stupid slip-ups with basic physics. The only thing that really got to me was how much authority the CSI team had. How often do the forensics guys really interrogate suspects anyway? Isn't that the job for the detectives?
-SablKnight
I was wondering about that myself... he seems to be heavily implying throughout the article that his page could easily be using it. I wonder if it's maybe a set-up for part 2, which would look identical but incorporate leech code in the 'next' button...
-SablKnight
I wonder if this coating could be removed by repeated passes through one of those scratch-remover machines you can pick up almost anywhere...
-SablKnight
Which of course will result in the widespread, though unintentional, use of limited use DVD players.
I bet melted plastic does wonders for the inside of a player when the user tries to play it once too often...
-SablKnight
Disclaimer: My legal experience extends to watching a lot of Law&Order, one or two eps of night court, and griping about the OJ trial.
Couldn't the target of these threatening letters press charges of racketeering or extortion? If both the BSA and the US Marshals were charged, it might make people think a little differently, and with a good lawyer you might even be able to get an indictment...
-SablKnight
I'm not sure how this is intended to fit in with the space travel policy; at a first glance it looks more like a troll than anything else. While there is a long-standing weight/size restriction, I didn't see it mentioned anywhere in the scope of this article. Incidentally, though, I was thinking along these lines while reading the article (I'm about this close to getting a clearance, so the background stuff wouldn't matter, but I'm 6'4" and could stand to lose about 50 pounds.) Of course, I'm also not a multi-millionaire, so that rules it out too...
-SablKnight
Oh, but slicing your fingers is an important part of computer maintenance! Without a blood sacrifice your machine is doomed to fail (more, if running Windows)
-SablKnight
Is it just me, or did THG seem to not really like any of these? They all seemed to be lying about response times and color depth, and each one seemed to have a nasty afterglow problem according to the reviewer. The most positive things said about any was about the form factor! I found ArsTechnica's buyer's guide more upbeat; the cynicism here definitely pushes me away from possibly getting a flat-panel display anytime soon. Not that I was about to anyway; my E790B is serving quite nicely.
-SablKnight
As for Glorfindel not being in the movie, I'm not upset, but disappointed. I do not see why Arwen had to fill that role. They could have expanded her in other ways with Aragorn. They are seen together in a few scenes in Rivendell. Glorfindel could have been just about any other elf. But, having a strong elf-lord protect them from the Nazgul up until this point, shows how powerful some of the elves can be. It makes an important note in the Council of Elrond when they are deciding who will go on the Fellowship, and whether they elves should hide and guard the ring.
I agree with you about the lessening of Frodo's character by not allowing him his moment of defiance. However, I do see why they chose Arwen above some other generic elf to replace Glorfindel. Based on interviews I've read and seen, one of the big themes that PJ is pushing is how much Arwen is giving up when she chooses to become mortal. By showing her as a strong elf-lord (lady?) it emphasizes just what kind of status and power she is sacrificing.
-SablKnight
I'd disagree. If I hear "not only to behold, but to be-held!" once more I may vomit.
-SablKnight
The only one of these that counts is King Arthur. The Lord of the Rings predates all the others and is widely considered to be the founding work of modern fantasy.
-SablKnight