In other words, it's perfect for the asymmetric battlefield that the US and other technologically advanced societies are on today, where the "enemy" and "civilians" are indistinguishable, and you need to watch them without being discovered. This will save lives.
I've been playing on www.transprt.com. port 2002 and www.ags2.com. for quite some time. ags2 is getting a bit stale, because It's a 1000 sectors, 200 planets game and I've got 199 of the 200 planets.:) Anyone else have a server open?
I would get up at 3am and run a 100 foot telephone cable from our living room to the basement, where I would spend about three hours a night chatting and playing Tradewars 2002 and Legend of the Red Dragon. Always by dialing only local BBSs of course.
Oh man, that took me straight back to high school... starting at about 11, so you could double your turns at midnight on TW. Flirting with Violet in the Inn. Good Times (tm).
That's one of the smartest things I've seen on slashdot for a while. If you look at children, they play constantly, and learn physical, mental, emotional, and social skills while doing so. I suspect many of us in IT owe some (large) measure of our skills with computers to "playing" with video and computer games at an early age (I know that a large amount of my skills were learned just trying to get some games to work!).
Social game playing like star wars galaxies (my addiction) or world of warcraft include a large component of social contact! The moronic quote from Michael Pachter aside, the main reason I play those games is social, I play, my friends play, and hopefully, we get to play together.
What about instant messaging? Is that social? Obviously, yes. Well, most online games have instant messaging, which usually is a lot more fun than the instant messaging with text only (especially when you get some kind of emotes on your avatar!).
I have been playing SWG for around 7 months now (just got in pre-CU - in time to have my crafting doc nerfed, but hey, happens), and my melee combat specialist is wondering whether or not the last few months of village xp grind will be wasted? Should I keep my force sensitive skills or trade them in for regular combat skills? Will the branches I have unlocked matter for my new character?
From a more general perspective, can you offer the community some reassurance that no further massive changes will occur to the SWG codebase (for a reasonable amount of time, like say 18 months), so that we can count on some time to get used to this new version? I for one treat my characters like a somewhat separate person (i.e. I try to "roleplay"), and I get attached to them after a while, I don't want to have to change up every time the system gets "upgraded."
Thanks, Andrew
P.S. I don't know if you also want suggestions, but wouldn't the profession system be better if you just created different kinds of skill points? i.e. each character could have 200 combat, 200 crafting, and 200 social skill points, maybe 50 general skill points, set up an unlocking system for Jedi skill points once you'd used up the previous kind? Anyway, just a suggestion for keeping the complexity, it's really what separates SWG from the other MMORPGs. *thanks!*
If you open a book of puzzles, you will realize how many of them are trivially solved by a computer.
But the computer has to be given the algorithm to solve these puzzles, which must be written by a human. So far, no one has been able to give problem solving ability of that magnitude to a computer (many might claim that it involves "intuition" that cannot be simulated by a digital system).
I'd say part of the reason (not trying to harsh Apple for prices here, they're premium systems for premium prices) is who wants to risk cutting up a $4000 system to put in more cooling?
But, it wasn't really a troll, I honestly think that the Bush administration has manipulated the public by, for example, trying to announce the capture of terrorist suspects to steal the spotlight from his opponent. I do think the democrats have a point that Bush depends on the image of an America divided, and fear helps that division.
Understanding someone's motive to mass murder thousands of innocents doesn't make them any less crazy. Their acts define them as crazy, not their motivations. Understanding their motives, while perhaps helpful in reducing or eliminating future acts, does nothing to change the fact that they've earned their title of crazy by past acts.
To play the reductionist, then there's no difference between the murder of someone who ran over your dog and just randomly walking into McD's and shooting someone?
Or, put another way, those responsible for the US's current war in Iraq are crazy because the deaths of thousands have been caused, despite the fact that we had evidence of WMD's (well, or maybe not, but that's beside the point?).
And to be even more "liberal" or whatever, governors whose states allow executions, and don't stay the execution are crazy and guilty of mass murder? Despite the motive of punishment and exacting societies justice?
What I'm getting at is that we in the western world have sanctioned mass murder and devastation based on the motives (whether protection from WMDs or communism), so I don't agree with your argument. I'm not saying there aren't crazy people in the world.. there are, I've met some, but the reality is that there are people who are not crazy in their societies view that we would call crazy, and that is what the US is up against - and the way to defeat it is not by attacking it head on, but by understanding the causes of anger, the depth of inequality, and moving toward a more just system of governance for the world. If the motive is to stop your society from being exterminated, then most of us would consider mass murder to be warranted. I would agree with you though, that if the act itself is the motivation, it's probably the act of a crazy person.
Doesn't this kind of point to the need to help reduce the number of "crazies?" Wouldn't that lead us to study what makes these "crazies" the way they are? And wouldn't we probably then notice that it's not as simple as "crazy" or not, or good or evil? It seems like we call someone crazy or evil when we don't understand their motive, even though that motive may make perfect sense for someone with a different perspective.
I guess what I'm really getting at is that we have all experienced advanced technology getting cheaper and cheaper, allowing more and more people access to it. The more people who can use the technology, the better chance they will use it for what we would consider evil. Ergo, we must reduce the number of people who would consider using new technologies for evil. To get all political, I would say this would be best done on a global scale by encouraging all nations participation in global governance and reducing the VAST wealth disparities that have been generated between the developed and developing (1st and 3rd worlds?) nations.
So, to wind up my little rant: International governance and organizations that promote fair trade - good. Pre-emptive war, slashing aid budgets, and ignoring the UN - bad.
It's totally ridiculous to throw these things away, we need LESS WASTE, not MORE!! I would love to buy a re-usable fuel cell for my laptop, but I will NEVER buy one that gets thrown away after it is used.
I can't believe I'm responding to someone named "PsychoFurryEwok," but I seem to recall that plot line from several sci fi stories, most notably Asimov's Foundation "trilogy."
Okay, wouldn't the easiest way to take one down be a much smaller ballon with a small explosive payload? Some kind of optical guidance and a little motor to seek the target would finish the job.
perhaps rf is just easier to understand, reflecting the general low intelligence of paranoid schozophrenics in general i guess
From my brief schooling at community college, and discussions with a relative who works in a "behavioral health" (mental hospital) ward, I can tell you that you're way off base on this part of your argument. Paranoid Schizophrenics tend to be above average intelligence. They tend to construct elaborate and extremely complex reasoning for their paranoia. I would guess that they're trying to figure out why (for example) they hear voices (most common hallucination among paranoid schizophrenics is auditory) and radio/microwave and other "invisible" forces are easy fodder for fantasies of this nature because they can't be easily disproved.
The article at iop.com mentioned above seems to imply that the reaction on the rhodium catalyst causes the heat increase, not the other way 'round. So, anyone care to sepculate on whether this could be used both as an electricity generator and a home heater?
I'm not really impressed with the possibility of seeing some code from NASA. Sure, it'll be sweet and have some interesting applications, but I'd MUCH rather see code from the NSA!
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.
Which I'd guess was aimed directly at the British crown. Does this mean if Gates accepts, he's breaking the law? (obviously, IANAL)
I wonder if they count time at "work" in this average as well? I'd be up to around 10 hours a day if so, but less on weekends (when I'm doing all that "socializing").
I guess my average would be about 55 hours/week then. I bet there's people around here with a lot more though - and probably someone with more than 50 hours a week just on slashdot?!!
I can't tell you how many geeks here in Santa Cruz are appalled at the behavior of a company that uses our cities name. I guess that would go double or triple for the ones who used to work there!
Slashdot Mirror
In other words, it's perfect for the asymmetric battlefield that the US and other technologically advanced societies are on today, where the "enemy" and "civilians" are indistinguishable, and you need to watch them without being discovered. This will save lives.
I've been playing on www.transprt.com. port 2002 and www.ags2.com. for quite some time. ags2 is getting a bit stale, because It's a 1000 sectors, 200 planets game and I've got 199 of the 200 planets. :) Anyone else have a server open?
Oh man, that took me straight back to high school... starting at about 11, so you could double your turns at midnight on TW. Flirting with Violet in the Inn. Good Times (tm).
That's one of the smartest things I've seen on slashdot for a while. If you look at children, they play constantly, and learn physical, mental, emotional, and social skills while doing so. I suspect many of us in IT owe some (large) measure of our skills with computers to "playing" with video and computer games at an early age (I know that a large amount of my skills were learned just trying to get some games to work!).
Social game playing like star wars galaxies (my addiction) or world of warcraft include a large component of social contact! The moronic quote from Michael Pachter aside, the main reason I play those games is social, I play, my friends play, and hopefully, we get to play together.
What about instant messaging? Is that social? Obviously, yes. Well, most online games have instant messaging, which usually is a lot more fun than the instant messaging with text only (especially when you get some kind of emotes on your avatar!).
Hello Mr. Smedley,
I have been playing SWG for around 7 months now (just got in pre-CU - in time to have my crafting doc nerfed, but hey, happens), and my melee combat specialist is wondering whether or not the last few months of village xp grind will be wasted? Should I keep my force sensitive skills or trade them in for regular combat skills? Will the branches I have unlocked matter for my new character?
From a more general perspective, can you offer the community some reassurance that no further massive changes will occur to the SWG codebase (for a reasonable amount of time, like say 18 months), so that we can count on some time to get used to this new version? I for one treat my characters like a somewhat separate person (i.e. I try to "roleplay"), and I get attached to them after a while, I don't want to have to change up every time the system gets "upgraded."
Thanks,
Andrew
P.S. I don't know if you also want suggestions, but wouldn't the profession system be better if you just created different kinds of skill points? i.e. each character could have 200 combat, 200 crafting, and 200 social skill points, maybe 50 general skill points, set up an unlocking system for Jedi skill points once you'd used up the previous kind? Anyway, just a suggestion for keeping the complexity, it's really what separates SWG from the other MMORPGs. *thanks!*
But the computer has to be given the algorithm to solve these puzzles, which must be written by a human. So far, no one has been able to give problem solving ability of that magnitude to a computer (many might claim that it involves "intuition" that cannot be simulated by a digital system).
"Me fail English? That's unpossible." -Ralph Wiggum
Now the show can be reincarnated on the scifi channel and done as a true scifi show instead of the crappy campy pop of the first years.
I'd say part of the reason (not trying to harsh Apple for prices here, they're premium systems for premium prices) is who wants to risk cutting up a $4000 system to put in more cooling?
But, it wasn't really a troll, I honestly think that the Bush administration has manipulated the public by, for example, trying to announce the capture of terrorist suspects to steal the spotlight from his opponent. I do think the democrats have a point that Bush depends on the image of an America divided, and fear helps that division.
*flashes of bush's 2004*
To play the reductionist, then there's no difference between the murder of someone who ran over your dog and just randomly walking into McD's and shooting someone?
Or, put another way, those responsible for the US's current war in Iraq are crazy because the deaths of thousands have been caused, despite the fact that we had evidence of WMD's (well, or maybe not, but that's beside the point?).
And to be even more "liberal" or whatever, governors whose states allow executions, and don't stay the execution are crazy and guilty of mass murder? Despite the motive of punishment and exacting societies justice?
What I'm getting at is that we in the western world have sanctioned mass murder and devastation based on the motives (whether protection from WMDs or communism), so I don't agree with your argument. I'm not saying there aren't crazy people in the world.. there are, I've met some, but the reality is that there are people who are not crazy in their societies view that we would call crazy, and that is what the US is up against - and the way to defeat it is not by attacking it head on, but by understanding the causes of anger, the depth of inequality, and moving toward a more just system of governance for the world. If the motive is to stop your society from being exterminated, then most of us would consider mass murder to be warranted. I would agree with you though, that if the act itself is the motivation, it's probably the act of a crazy person.
I guess what I'm really getting at is that we have all experienced advanced technology getting cheaper and cheaper, allowing more and more people access to it. The more people who can use the technology, the better chance they will use it for what we would consider evil. Ergo, we must reduce the number of people who would consider using new technologies for evil. To get all political, I would say this would be best done on a global scale by encouraging all nations participation in global governance and reducing the VAST wealth disparities that have been generated between the developed and developing (1st and 3rd worlds?) nations.
So, to wind up my little rant:
International governance and organizations that promote fair trade - good.
Pre-emptive war, slashing aid budgets, and ignoring the UN - bad.
It's totally ridiculous to throw these things away, we need LESS WASTE, not MORE!! I would love to buy a re-usable fuel cell for my laptop, but I will NEVER buy one that gets thrown away after it is used.
I can't believe I'm responding to someone named "PsychoFurryEwok," but I seem to recall that plot line from several sci fi stories, most notably Asimov's Foundation "trilogy."
Okay, wouldn't the easiest way to take one down be a much smaller ballon with a small explosive payload? Some kind of optical guidance and a little motor to seek the target would finish the job.
From my brief schooling at community college, and discussions with a relative who works in a "behavioral health" (mental hospital) ward, I can tell you that you're way off base on this part of your argument. Paranoid Schizophrenics tend to be above average intelligence. They tend to construct elaborate and extremely complex reasoning for their paranoia. I would guess that they're trying to figure out why (for example) they hear voices (most common hallucination among paranoid schizophrenics is auditory) and radio/microwave and other "invisible" forces are easy fodder for fantasies of this nature because they can't be easily disproved.
The article at iop.com mentioned above seems to imply that the reaction on the rhodium catalyst causes the heat increase, not the other way 'round. So, anyone care to sepculate on whether this could be used both as an electricity generator and a home heater?
I'm not really impressed with the possibility of seeing some code from NASA. Sure, it'll be sweet and have some interesting applications, but I'd MUCH rather see code from the NSA!
Doh, I originally read that snippet from the constitution after hacking a sendmail.cf file for about an hour... soo I didn't quite grok it all.
okay, i get IANAUSC, but what is BACOTEGB? but am citizen of empire of great britain?
Which I'd guess was aimed directly at the British crown. Does this mean if Gates accepts, he's breaking the law? (obviously, IANAL)
"Sawbuck?" Was that the 1860's?
I wonder if they count time at "work" in this average as well? I'd be up to around 10 hours a day if so, but less on weekends (when I'm doing all that "socializing").
I guess my average would be about 55 hours/week then. I bet there's people around here with a lot more though - and probably someone with more than 50 hours a week just on slashdot?!!
I can't tell you how many geeks here in Santa Cruz are appalled at the behavior of a company that uses our cities name. I guess that would go double or triple for the ones who used to work there!
Ooh! I remember this one, it's terminate and stay resident, right?