In case you missed the subject line, it was a joke--by none other than Mark Twain.
Re:Artificial Intelligence?
on
Cracking Go
·
· Score: 1
So you don't see any merit in building a computer TODAY that can solve a program quickly that you estimate would take a hundred million years? I just don't get it--if we produce a hardware/software combo that can solve this search problem, you don't think it would be applicable to any other problems?? As I said in a different post, a huge part of AI today is search problems of various kinds. Any kind of leap that would solve a search problem like Go would almost without a doubt be useful for other problems as well.
Re:Artificial Intelligence?
on
Cracking Go
·
· Score: 1
So, as I said in another post, what's the point of doing anything that doesn't prove anything / have scientific merit? Why post anything on slashdot? Some people like challenges, and working to overcome them--is that bad now? Even in exhaustive search problems, the specific algorithms that would be design to implement a massive search like this are probably not worthless--maybe new pruning techniques, new memory compression techniques, who knows--the point is it's not just as simple as for(1.. 10^60) check position..
Is Go Fair?
I always wonder why people get so defensive about Go--these same kind of arguments come up everytime there's a Go article on slashdot...
Re:And what is the point?
on
Cracking Go
·
· Score: 1
This is exactly how professional chess programs work--exhaustive searches on supercomputers--with the addition of some opening/closing books. What does that solve / help in computer science? I don't know, not a lot?
On the other hand, it could tell us some things about the game of Go--is it a "fair" game, etc.
More to the point, why not? It's a challenge, design a program / hardware solution to beat Go. By your logic, why do anything?
Re:Artificial Intelligence?
on
Cracking Go
·
· Score: 1
Even if it where possible to conquer the game via an exhaustive search of all possibilities, it would still be nowhere near Artificial Intelligence. Wow, I don't think you really have any idea of what "Artificial Intelligence" means. For that matter, why did you capitalize it--the study of artificial intelligence involves many areas from mathematics, to computer science, to biology, neuroscience, etc--it's not some mystical... I don't know what, but whatever you seem to think it is!
You might be shocked, but, given the current state of things, a VERY large part of ai is exactly what you belittle--search questions.
You're also 100% WRONG about most other board playing games--most games do not have a "large database of previous games." Some (typically powerful) programs do have some stored combinations--my understanding of the strongest chess players is that they have opening books and closing books. Everything in between is search. In my intro level ai class in college several years ago we designed a othello player--one of the parameters of the assignment was that given X memory+computing constraints and Y time constraints, we needed to be able to search 7 ply ahead. Yes, that's right--"artificial intelligence" class where we designed a program to do an exhaustive search!!
I would also strongly disagree with your assertion that "even world champions of chess" don't think more than 5-6 ply ahead--I've seen guesses of several times that number.
If you know some secrets to designing a go player than doesn't involve search, that's something that should wake everybody up--there could be a turing award in it for you!
In short, I disagree with everything you said in your post, every word:)
As for actual customers numbers, I have no idea, but am curious. I happen to live in an area--Northern VA--where I know a decent number of people with FIOS, though I still have cable modem..
Are there any other serious fttp competitors to Verizon out there?
Why exactly shouldn't we use wireless devices? I can think of a lot of good reasons--like not wanting to hear assholes chatting it up the whole flight (if possible), but from what I've read, there's no technical reasons cellphones shouldn't be able to be used--if you know more than I do, feel free to correct me.
A software property that allows a user to use their own device in the manner of their choosing isn't a "security hole", it's "basic functionality". Apple pushing a patch to remove functionality in a manner that they know will cause their customer's phones to be rendered unusable should be considered unacceptable. I think you're missing the point and confusing two entirely separate issues.
Issue #1) iPhone is locked--it will only operate on AT&T network in the US. Issue #2) There exists a security flaw which allows software to run that should not be allowed to run. (Apple's definition!)
Issue 2 allowed the creation of software that resolves issue 1. If apple "solves" issue 2 (again, in a purely optional update, with forewarning that it could brick the phone), bricking any units that were "hacked," so what?
Wow, you must know a crapload about the iphone hacks? I'll be honest I know very little about how they actually work. Is it not possible, or LIKELY though that the hacks rely on a security hole, that the firmware update fixes the security hole, leaving software that depended on it dead, and bricking the unit??
I don't have an iphone. I don't particularly want one. And I seriously do not understand the amount of geek-angst seen on slashdot over this issue!
The way I see it--you're free to do whatever you want with the hardware you bought. Unlock the iphone, perfectly fine.
That doesn't mean Apple has to go out of their way to support any modified hardware/software combinations that exist out there. Their software update is completely optional, nobody has to install it. Anyone that makes the CHOICE to mod their iphone and makes the CHOICE to install apple's update (knowing that it will probably brick) does not elicit much sympathy for me.
I don't think that has anything to do with anyone being "evil" (I have to say, if you think Balmer or Jobs is evil, it's possible your definition of evil could use some updating..) or a the RDF.
I installed the "hackintosh" osx86 distro on a generic PC of mine. It worked pretty well. I installed the 10.4.8 update, and it no longer booted. Not quite analogous, but a similar situation..
Just because I use Linux does not mean I can't get a date. I find this obnoxious as well..
Using Linux might make me a geek, but it does not make me a nerd. So just USING a certain piece of software can make you a geek?? You know, I thought being a geek was more than just the clothes you wear, the software you use, etc. More likely, you use linux BECAUSE you are a geek. Though I won't deny there are people who want "geek cred" or whatever... I find it ironic though. Besides which, the articles quotes the LUG president calling themselves nerds!
Why does the reporter assume the LUG members have the ulterior motive of getting laid? I don't think the reporter DOES assume that--in fact, the article goes into the origin and reason for the auction (PR class, networking, etc). How about the quote "And who better to help with that than sorority girls who like nothing better than a makeover?" -- how insulting is THAT? Not all sorority girls are mindless, boycrazy morons...
OK, I'll admit that most men have the ulterior motive of trying to get laid. Still, the tone of every report I have read is, "Look what the nerds will go through in an attempt to get laid." They are propagating a stereotype and no one seems to care. I'm not sure who "they" is--the reporters, or the LUG? Because from what I've read, it seems like the LUG and the LUG president are doing just fine propagating some negative stereotypes all around.. OTOH, if it works, some good might come out of it.. It's actually a kind of interesting idea--just seems like the LUG isn't doing itself any favors with the nerd quotes.
OTOH (and I don't have any numbers to back this up, so it's totally a theory)... maybe the subsidies we're providing their space program, along with money they make from space tourism to the ISS, is actually making Russia money??
Re:More boobs! Re:Confusing subject
on
The Quest For Glory
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
I agree--QfG1 remake and 4 were my favorite...5 was so terrible, felt like a slap in the face!
You might want to check out Tierra's remake of QfG2 -- looks like it should be fun. Also, QfG 4.5 is a fan made game that gives an interesting take on the series!
The Pentium bug was much more difficult to hit, yet with millions of them out there, people managed to hit it while doing important computations (money, safety, etc). Really? I never heard of anyone hitting it while doing "money or safety" computations--do you have any further info?
The transition for the supply/production side is officially over, but it will take awhile for everyone to change over in everyday usage. Amazon still lists the ISBN-10s for instance.
Slim margins? I don't think so. Slim margins? Did you actually read my post?? I actually explained how their margins can be quite good given the good pricing deals they get, but that they are often TIGHT at certain times of the year!
I'll attempt to explain again--
first of all, your base assumption that each of 30,000 students (that's a a pretty large school!!!!) is going to buy $500 worth of books twice a year is absolutely insane! I don't think I ever spent more than $150-200 on books for a single semester, and normally probably around $100. Now, some fields DO have more expensive books on average, but your $500 assumption is way off base (especially taking into account returns, used, etc). Your assumptions also seem to be about a very large public school with a probably big corporate bookstore..EXACTLY the situation I was not talking about. If you read my post, you'll notice I was talking about INDEPENDENT booksellers, coops, etc. These are the small companies that do not have the massive amount of cash on hand as a B&N/Borders/etc. Both schools I went to to get my degrees did NOT have big campus bookstores, and the stores did NOT sell school supplies, sweaters, etc.
As I explained in my post, and you see to have rediscovered in your post, the bookstores DO get almost all of their money within a few weeks, two or three times a year. But you know what, they have to operate the entire year. They have to stock books for entire semesters. That is, they have high inventory costs (along with wages, rent--if you've never dealt with a university, they can be brutal to on campus businesses!, and other miscellaneous costs) all year long. When a bookstore orders books they HAVE to order enough books assuming that everyone in every class is going buy every book new. You and I both know many students buy online, used, other stores, whatever, or don't even buy many optional books. Again though, the bookstores HAVE to have money locked into maintaining this inventory. The stores buy more than they will ever sell! They know this, the publishers know this--that's why bookstores on average get around 3 months to return their product to publishers with a full refund. Their losses WILL be recouped--through sales and eventual returns, but they have to spend a great deal of money to fully stock their inventory.
There's no way in the world that the bookstore's costs come even close to the amount of profit they're making. They just don't want to admit it. How imaginative of you:) As someone who spent multiple years working in a publisher's accounting office during summers, I can tell you exactly what my experience was, and the experiences of those with many more years in the industry than me--that independent college bookstores DO have very tight times of the year, many of them go out of business every year, and many more B&N/Borders type stores pop up every year. But hey, what's that experience compared to somebody who thinks the average college bookstores is going to see 30,000 students spending $500 a semester??
Frustrated with the cost of textbooks? Buy them online. Set up a website for students to sell books to each other. Post flyers. Bypass the bookstore. Bingo, you may be surprised to learn you're not the first person that's thought of this (though come to think of it, I mention those things in my post..odd!)--yet another reason why many, many independent college bookstores have been going out of business in reason years.
Many universities are able to require that you buy housing from them for some or all of your time at the school. If you don't like it, go somewhere else--not like there are a shortage of quality schools around!
No surprise college textbook stores want to do this--especially independent/coop stores which often have tighter margins (as opposed to B&N/Amazon/etc chain stores). Many of these stores that don't have millions / hundreds of thousands in the bank virtually go broke before classes start, and then make all their money within a several week period (ie, before semesters or quarters start). What they don't sell, they return to the publisher. Despite the margins they DO manage to get, because of the nature of the business, many bookstores have large periods of the year when they are in very tight financial situations.
Bookstores almost always receive a minimum of a 30-40% discount when they buy from the publisher--B&N/Amazon/Borders tend to be able to use their clout to get higher discounts than an independent store or coop. Wholesalers may get even higher discounts. In addition, many publishers will have an "adoption" price and a regular price--so if a college adopts a book, they can buy it for a cheaper price than an individual. Adoption price+40% discount.
Makes sense they would want to protect that margin, as online stores, used resellers, etc are taking a large chunk of the traditional college bookstore business.
Having said all that, I completely don't understand the coop's legal argument.. not like a publicly listed price is a trade secret, nor the ISBN owned by the resller!
aka, ISBN-13. Transition to ISBN13 (which is compatible with UPC+EAN) is well under way, though I've noticed that you still primarily see the ISBN 10. In America, ISBN13's have a "978" prefix added for now, and a recalculated checksum (the last digit of the ISBN).
Hmm... wonder if it's time to retire this name? I based it off RJ's character.
I've been reading RJ's books since I was in the 6th grade. At times they almost feel like they were a "real" part of my teenage development. Many of my friends were into RJ's books as well and they were a group experience in some ways. We talked about what would happen (heh, what still hasn't happened!), sometimes we roleplayed in Randland, and we quizzed each other on RJ trivia.
I had the honor of meeting RJ at a book signing once, and he came across as an honorable, down to earth, and funny person.
He will be missed, and I wish the best for his family and friends.
Actually, check your facts - the US has the highest incidence of circumcision by far, the rest of the world usually being less than 10% of all boys per year. Here in the US it's around 50%. That's VERY ignorant. I would first of all expect Israel to have the highest incidence of circumcision--considering it's a religious requirement for Jews AND Muslims who make up virtually the entire population. This is backed up by data from wikipedia, and also to my surprise, the Philippines are up there as well (over 90%!!). You MIGHT be confusing the fact that some cultures circumcise later in life, and not at birth. It's actually an event to be celebrated in many Islamic cultures!
And speaking of the rest of the world, circumcision is very ubiquitous across the Muslim world--that's roughly a billion people (male+female).
Also, although anecdotal, I can say that most moms do not breastfeed in the Denver, CO area, and think that we are crackpots for doing so still at 18 months.. Well, after absolutely getting your "facts" statement 100% wrong, thanks for helpfully sharing your anecdote. I don't know who exactly you talk to that thinks breast-feeding is a bad idea?? You then conflate the question of "do Americans breastfeed" with the issue of "people think we're crazy for doing it after 18 months" -- two ENTIRELY different questions!!
As to whether you are crackpots for still doing it after 18 months, I don't know of any studies/etc that show any advantage to breast-feeding beyond 6 months to a year? I'd be curious to see any if you do have any references though? If you and your wife (or vice versa if you are the wife!) are able to live a lifestyle where you can spend the time, energy, and effort to breastfeed for 18 months, more power to you. That's not a lifestyle choice that many people are ABLE to make, nor one that many people would want to make, given the seemingly dubious benefits.
Slashdot Mirror
In case you missed the subject line, it was a joke--by none other than Mark Twain.
So you don't see any merit in building a computer TODAY that can solve a program quickly that you estimate would take a hundred million years? I just don't get it--if we produce a hardware/software combo that can solve this search problem, you don't think it would be applicable to any other problems?? As I said in a different post, a huge part of AI today is search problems of various kinds. Any kind of leap that would solve a search problem like Go would almost without a doubt be useful for other problems as well.
So, as I said in another post, what's the point of doing anything that doesn't prove anything / have scientific merit? Why post anything on slashdot? Some people like challenges, and working to overcome them--is that bad now? Even in exhaustive search problems, the specific algorithms that would be design to implement a massive search like this are probably not worthless--maybe new pruning techniques, new memory compression techniques, who knows--the point is it's not just as simple as for(1 .. 10^60) check position..
Is Go Fair?
I always wonder why people get so defensive about Go--these same kind of arguments come up everytime there's a Go article on slashdot...
This is exactly how professional chess programs work--exhaustive searches on supercomputers--with the addition of some opening/closing books. What does that solve / help in computer science? I don't know, not a lot?
On the other hand, it could tell us some things about the game of Go--is it a "fair" game, etc.
More to the point, why not? It's a challenge, design a program / hardware solution to beat Go. By your logic, why do anything?
You might be shocked, but, given the current state of things, a VERY large part of ai is exactly what you belittle--search questions.
You're also 100% WRONG about most other board playing games--most games do not have a "large database of previous games." Some (typically powerful) programs do have some stored combinations--my understanding of the strongest chess players is that they have opening books and closing books. Everything in between is search. In my intro level ai class in college several years ago we designed a othello player--one of the parameters of the assignment was that given X memory+computing constraints and Y time constraints, we needed to be able to search 7 ply ahead. Yes, that's right--"artificial intelligence" class where we designed a program to do an exhaustive search!!
I would also strongly disagree with your assertion that "even world champions of chess" don't think more than 5-6 ply ahead--I've seen guesses of several times that number.
If you know some secrets to designing a go player than doesn't involve search, that's something that should wake everybody up--there could be a turing award in it for you!
In short, I disagree with everything you said in your post, every word
Anyone have any #'s for fiber rollout to the home in the US?
Googling around for stats on Verizon FIOS seems like as of 2Q 2007, they claim 3.9 million homes have FIOS availability, and are aiming for 18 million by 2010. http://www.mediabuyerplanner.com/2007/10/01/comcast-starting-to-feel-heat-from-verizons-fios/
As for actual customers numbers, I have no idea, but am curious. I happen to live in an area--Northern VA--where I know a decent number of people with FIOS, though I still have cable modem..
Are there any other serious fttp competitors to Verizon out there?
Why exactly shouldn't we use wireless devices? I can think of a lot of good reasons--like not wanting to hear assholes chatting it up the whole flight (if possible), but from what I've read, there's no technical reasons cellphones shouldn't be able to be used--if you know more than I do, feel free to correct me.
This article is kinda funny... http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/09/25/memphis.air.snafu/
lol, you must be new here
Reminds me of a shirt I saw once.. "New Jersey: Where the weak are killed and eaten"
I'm thinking a slashdot variant could be appropriate?
Issue #1) iPhone is locked--it will only operate on AT&T network in the US.
Issue #2) There exists a security flaw which allows software to run that should not be allowed to run. (Apple's definition!)
Issue 2 allowed the creation of software that resolves issue 1. If apple "solves" issue 2 (again, in a purely optional update, with forewarning that it could brick the phone), bricking any units that were "hacked," so what?
Wow, you must know a crapload about the iphone hacks? I'll be honest I know very little about how they actually work. Is it not possible, or LIKELY though that the hacks rely on a security hole, that the firmware update fixes the security hole, leaving software that depended on it dead, and bricking the unit??
I don't have an iphone. I don't particularly want one. And I seriously do not understand the amount of geek-angst seen on slashdot over this issue!
The way I see it--you're free to do whatever you want with the hardware you bought. Unlock the iphone, perfectly fine.
That doesn't mean Apple has to go out of their way to support any modified hardware/software combinations that exist out there. Their software update is completely optional, nobody has to install it. Anyone that makes the CHOICE to mod their iphone and makes the CHOICE to install apple's update (knowing that it will probably brick) does not elicit much sympathy for me.
I don't think that has anything to do with anyone being "evil" (I have to say, if you think Balmer or Jobs is evil, it's possible your definition of evil could use some updating..) or a the RDF.
I installed the "hackintosh" osx86 distro on a generic PC of mine. It worked pretty well. I installed the 10.4.8 update, and it no longer booted. Not quite analogous, but a similar situation..
OTOH (and I don't have any numbers to back this up, so it's totally a theory) ... maybe the subsidies we're providing their space program, along with money they make from space tourism to the ISS, is actually making Russia money??
I agree--QfG1 remake and 4 were my favorite...5 was so terrible, felt like a slap in the face!
You might want to check out Tierra's remake of QfG2 -- looks like it should be fun. Also, QfG 4.5 is a fan made game that gives an interesting take on the series!
(just to be clear, I don't have an xbox...)
Yeah seriously, just the other day I broke my Xbox while installing a modchip--it doesn't work at all now!
Yet those MICROSOFT FAT CATS won't let me return it--can you believe that??
The transition for the supply/production side is officially over, but it will take awhile for everyone to change over in everyday usage. Amazon still lists the ISBN-10s for instance.
I'll attempt to explain again--
first of all, your base assumption that each of 30,000 students (that's a a pretty large school!!!!) is going to buy $500 worth of books twice a year is absolutely insane! I don't think I ever spent more than $150-200 on books for a single semester, and normally probably around $100. Now, some fields DO have more expensive books on average, but your $500 assumption is way off base (especially taking into account returns, used, etc). Your assumptions also seem to be about a very large public school with a probably big corporate bookstore..EXACTLY the situation I was not talking about. If you read my post, you'll notice I was talking about INDEPENDENT booksellers, coops, etc. These are the small companies that do not have the massive amount of cash on hand as a B&N/Borders/etc. Both schools I went to to get my degrees did NOT have big campus bookstores, and the stores did NOT sell school supplies, sweaters, etc.
As I explained in my post, and you see to have rediscovered in your post, the bookstores DO get almost all of their money within a few weeks, two or three times a year. But you know what, they have to operate the entire year. They have to stock books for entire semesters. That is, they have high inventory costs (along with wages, rent--if you've never dealt with a university, they can be brutal to on campus businesses!, and other miscellaneous costs) all year long. When a bookstore orders books they HAVE to order enough books assuming that everyone in every class is going buy every book new. You and I both know many students buy online, used, other stores, whatever, or don't even buy many optional books. Again though, the bookstores HAVE to have money locked into maintaining this inventory. The stores buy more than they will ever sell! They know this, the publishers know this--that's why bookstores on average get around 3 months to return their product to publishers with a full refund. Their losses WILL be recouped--through sales and eventual returns, but they have to spend a great deal of money to fully stock their inventory. There's no way in the world that the bookstore's costs come even close to the amount of profit they're making. They just don't want to admit it. How imaginative of you
The whole situation kind of reminds me of the book Airframe by Michael Crichton (which I enjoyed a lot!).
Many universities are able to require that you buy housing from them for some or all of your time at the school. If you don't like it, go somewhere else--not like there are a shortage of quality schools around!
Though I suppose there is only one Harvard!
No surprise college textbook stores want to do this--especially independent/coop stores which often have tighter margins (as opposed to B&N/Amazon/etc chain stores). Many of these stores that don't have millions / hundreds of thousands in the bank virtually go broke before classes start, and then make all their money within a several week period (ie, before semesters or quarters start). What they don't sell, they return to the publisher. Despite the margins they DO manage to get, because of the nature of the business, many bookstores have large periods of the year when they are in very tight financial situations.
Bookstores almost always receive a minimum of a 30-40% discount when they buy from the publisher--B&N/Amazon/Borders tend to be able to use their clout to get higher discounts than an independent store or coop. Wholesalers may get even higher discounts. In addition, many publishers will have an "adoption" price and a regular price--so if a college adopts a book, they can buy it for a cheaper price than an individual. Adoption price+40% discount.
Makes sense they would want to protect that margin, as online stores, used resellers, etc are taking a large chunk of the traditional college bookstore business.
Having said all that, I completely don't understand the coop's legal argument.. not like a publicly listed price is a trade secret, nor the ISBN owned by the resller!
aka, ISBN-13. Transition to ISBN13 (which is compatible with UPC+EAN) is well under way, though I've noticed that you still primarily see the ISBN 10. In America, ISBN13's have a "978" prefix added for now, and a recalculated checksum (the last digit of the ISBN).
Hmm... wonder if it's time to retire this name? I based it off RJ's character.
I've been reading RJ's books since I was in the 6th grade. At times they almost feel like they were a "real" part of my teenage development. Many of my friends were into RJ's books as well and they were a group experience in some ways. We talked about what would happen (heh, what still hasn't happened!), sometimes we roleplayed in Randland, and we quizzed each other on RJ trivia.
I had the honor of meeting RJ at a book signing once, and he came across as an honorable, down to earth, and funny person.
He will be missed, and I wish the best for his family and friends.
And speaking of the rest of the world, circumcision is very ubiquitous across the Muslim world--that's roughly a billion people (male+female). Also, although anecdotal, I can say that most moms do not breastfeed in the Denver, CO area, and think that we are crackpots for doing so still at 18 months.. Well, after absolutely getting your "facts" statement 100% wrong, thanks for helpfully sharing your anecdote. I don't know who exactly you talk to that thinks breast-feeding is a bad idea?? You then conflate the question of "do Americans breastfeed" with the issue of "people think we're crazy for doing it after 18 months" -- two ENTIRELY different questions!!
As to whether you are crackpots for still doing it after 18 months, I don't know of any studies/etc that show any advantage to breast-feeding beyond 6 months to a year? I'd be curious to see any if you do have any references though? If you and your wife (or vice versa if you are the wife!) are able to live a lifestyle where you can spend the time, energy, and effort to breastfeed for 18 months, more power to you. That's not a lifestyle choice that many people are ABLE to make, nor one that many people would want to make, given the seemingly dubious benefits.