-1 Troll? Now I know that this is a concerted trolling effort. No matter, I got +1 bonuses to burn. Here it is again, in case the world missed it the first time:
We can't deny that the various religious fundamentalists are somewhat responsible. They have successfully lobbied the US government to reduce its financial support to NASA and other scientific bodies. They have even taken the "battle" to the classroom.
WTF is up with all the trolling on "religeous fundamentalism" lately? I mean, space travel is about as far away as you can get from a hot-button issue for the religious conservatives! If anything, perhaps you should be congratulating our "fundie supporting president" for raising NASA's budget rather than reducing it like our previous bleeding heart liberal president did.
As far as I can figure it, the new troll is:
1. Claim that the "religious fundies" are responsible for all the world's woes. 2. Get modded up because the liberal Slashdotters immediately agree with the words "religeous fundamentalist", no matter how stupid. 3. ??? 4. Profit!
I'm suprised the Chinese didn't elect to use a Long March rocket but it may not have quite the throw they need for the transfer stage.
That's an understatement. The current generation of Long March rockets have all the lift power of a Delta II rocket (one of the smaller rockets currently in production), despite having all the fanfare of the Saturn V. While China hopes to change that situation with the Long March 5, that rocket is still a ways in the future.
Until China develops a medium to heavy lift vehicle, they're going to need a third party rocket to attempt something as ambitious as a Mars mission. U.S. security restrictions make access to our rockets difficult, making Russia the next best choice. The fact that Russia sells their rocketry services on the cheap doesn't hurt either.
We can't deny that the various religious fundamentalists are somewhat responsible. They have successfully lobbied the US government to reduce its financial support to NASA and other scientific bodies. They have even taken the "battle" to the classroom.
WTF is up with all the trolling on "religeous fundamentalism" lately? I mean, space travel is about as far away as you can get from a hot-button issue for the religious conservatives! If anything, perhaps you should be congratulating our "fundie supporting president" for raising NASA's budget rather than reducing it like our previous bleeding heart liberal president did.
As far as I can figure it, the new troll is:
1. Claim that the "religious fundies" are responsible for all the world's woes. 2. Get modded up because the liberal Slashdotters immediately agree with the words "religeous fundamentalist", no matter how stupid. 3. ??? 4. Profit!
Yep, you are correct man. I only hope they dish out some sweet and tasty revenge on the Ori for their part in destroying the Prometheus before the season runs out.
Actually, now it's me who's confused. The Prometheus replacement is the Odyssey. You and the other poster are correct about the Atlantis Orion.
Ahhh, If Shepherd had his way, the Orion would have been called The Enterprise (damn you McKay). Same as if O'Neill had his wish, the Prometheus would have been too.
It's become something of a running gag on the show. (Which 200 just HAD to poke at. "1. That's Star Trek, 2. It's ridiculous!"):P
This movie is exactly one of those; just with better filming quality and SLJ.
That's not entirely true. Having watched Boa vs. Python (one of the better attempts at the low-budget 'B' movie genre) and Anacondas: The Search for the Blood Orchid around the same time, I can say with confidence that the production quality differences extend to the story as well as the filming and effects. Most of the low-budget scripts are at best random reasons for carnage, while the high production films actually tie the action into a storyline that works. Sometimes it's even believable.:P
I think New Line was expecting the hype to make this the highest grossing film of all time or something, and are therefore disappointed that they "only" got $15 million.
In addition, I think that this movie will probably see a LOT more profits on DVD than in the theater. For example, I'd love to take my wife to see it, but it just isn't an important enough movie to us to bring in the babysitter to watch the kids. We'd much rather wait until it hits DVD, then watch it in the comfort of our own home. It will be just as much fun there, and quite a bit more comfortable.
I think it's actually a bit more complicated than that. Obviously, Microsoft is a competitor to Nintendo. Which means that the employees (many of which worked very hard on bringing the 360 to life) are going to hold personal pride in that machine, even to some detriment of their objective judgement.
Most likely, the environment at Microsoft is one of extreme pride toward the 360, and a general belief that the system is superior to all others. Being that Peter is now immersed in that environment, it's hard to believe that it would not affect his own thinking and judgement. Which means that he's likely to be very positive toward the 360 no matter what happens, and the Wii will have to work very hard to garner his affection.
Don't worry. Sony has added Real-Time Weapon Change to help you out. At only $599, it's the perfect platform for playing Riiiiiidge Raaaacer! It's Ridge Racer! Riiiiiidge Raaaacer! And they have absolutely no gimmicks like a playing card scanner or a tilt-motion sensor. It will be an experience like going to a fine restaurant and getting hit with a $599 bill. But you won't mind the third mortgage on your house, because you'll be able to spend even more money on hardware upgrades, and buy stuff online with "micro"-payments.
Doncha' just love surprises? Especially when they're based on REAL JAPANESE HISTORY. As the PS3 shows, it was tough in those days, what with the Giant Crabs and all. Good thing you could flip them over on their backs.
The same Warhawk developers who were so widely quoted as having said the motion sensing was "included at the last minute" actually only meant the got the controllers a week or two before E3 - but they had known about the motion sensing ability for much longer.
Yeah, we knew. We watched the video. Not to mention that we know Sony has had the tech for about a decade now. However, he said that he was hoping it would show up in the PS3. From his stance, the official decision was made right before E3. It did not exist in previous controllers he was testing with.
So why did Sony suddenly decide to throw it in AFTER Nintendo announced the Wii-mote? Well, attempting to compete with Nintendo seems like the most logical explanation. After all, Nintendo has been testing the complete Wii technology for years now. Sony only decided to add it to the controller at the 11th hour. Which means that other than Warhawk, this tech has had very little product development happening to it. Which also means that a largely untested component is going out the door in barely a month or two. From a product manufacturing and deployment perspective, that's a nightmare.
Honestly, I *do* believe Sony that they had been considering the technology before this. What I don't believe is that they committed to it prior to Nintendo's announcement. I think that they originally considered whatever Nintendo was working on to be "gimmicks" (the exact word used by Ken Kutaragi at Sony E3), and that raw graphical technology would win the day. They only got worried once they saw the incredibly positive response to Nintendo's new controller.
In the end, I think this may end up harming Sony. Their Dual Shock controller was well liked in part because of its rumble technology. (Also "inspired by" Nintendo.) Now they've replaced this long-established feature with a simple sensor that they've had very little time to test. Which means that it may end up being useless to developers as not enough fore-thought went into it. The result will be a double-blow when the Wii introduces both usable motion sensing technology (powered by a network of sensors rather than just one!) AND rumble in their controllers.
The problem is some of the OS/2 code is still owned by Microsoft.
Generally, I agree with this being a huge issue. However, Sun had similar problems with much of the Solaris code. Differently from IBM, however, they invested massive resources in cleaning out the codebase to make it suitable for an OSS release. IBM won't lift a finger to do the same unless they see massive consulting dollars behind it.
just saying perhaps they should hold off announcements until they're actually ready to like, you know open source something.
Now THAT I can get behind.:)
Unfortunately, it has little to do with the issue at hand. OpenSolaris is fully released, and has several distros based on it. So this rant of one IBM executive is completely baseless and probably intended to promote IBM at Sun's expense.
While I warmly thank Sun for their massive donations to free software,
Like OpenOffice (LGPL), OpenSolaris (CDDL - OSI Approved), and Project Looking Glass (GPL) just to name a few? You're quite right, they contribute heavily to Free, OSS software.
I wish they'd just STFU until they actually Open Source something.
This statement does not jive with your previous statement. Either Sun releases Free, OSS software (in which case they have a right to be heralded) or they don't (in which case they should STFU). Since I just rattled off three Sun OSS projects at the drop of a hat, I'm thinking that the former is the true case.
The problem here is that Sun seems to want all the PR that a "leader of the FOSS community" deserves without actually dipping more than their big toe in the water.
I'd say that OSSing OpenSolars + JDS (the parts above and beyond GNome) + Looking Glass 3D + SPARC T1 is quite a step above "dipping their big toe". IBM acts as if they have the moral high ground simply because they've contributed to and promoted Linux. While their contributions are appreciated, I hardly see them as equalling that of releasing a complete OS.
As you said, consumers have been clammering for IBM to OSS OS/2. (Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock) We're still waiting.
IBM hasn't been out and about announcing how open-source AIX and OS/2 are (going to be) (any day now).
What would be interesting to keep an eye on is if OpenAIX or OpenOS/2 show up anytime soon. If they do, it could be indicitive that this FUD is all part of IBM's plan to promote their own OSS projects. Another thing to consider if this happens, is if they would have been released without Sun taking action first?
Here's a guy who actually did a custom case using eMachineShop. Sadly, all his pics seem to be offline. However, his descriptions and engineering logs are intact. I just skimmed it, but it sounds like it cost him about $700 to do the one-off job he needed. The per-unit price would drop rapidly if you began ordering your design in bulk. (For example, if you were selling it online.)
So let me get this straight. A company that has failed to knock together a custom PC that boots CDs despite FOUR YEARS of trying now thinks that they're mogul enough to take the PC World by storm with an online game delivery application (like Steam?) that appears to have little to differentiate itself in the market?
Excuse me while I don't hold my breath in anticipation.
This company has churned through incredible amounts of talent to produce nothing more than press releases about a fancy keyboard and mouse! In that time, Microsoft has launched not one, but TWO separate game consoles that both compete in the exact same space. In that same time, the company was believed to have been a Pump and Dump scheme by the SEC. In that same time, they have never demonstrated an actual working prototype of anything more than their mouse and keyboard!
Excuse me? Could someone please tell me how long it takes to send a manufacturing file out for a custom case, then stuff standard hardware into it? (Don't answer that, it's a rhetorical question.)
I have absolutely no trust in this company, its vision, or its future; and I feel deep sympathy for anyone who has had the displeasure of dealing with them in the past.
Did anyone ever tell you that you're overly critical? (*looks at name*) Oh, sorry.:P
Do you have any scrap of proof
Did I say anything to suggest I did?
beyond your own personal hope that it is?
Now I may not be the sharpest stick out there, but methinks you're trying to imply that I'm using this as an excuse to make myself feel better about running a pirated copy.
*checks iBook*
Phew! Looks like I'm still running my 100% legal version of OS X 10.4 that I purchased (as in, paid cash for) from Amazon to upgrade my aging 10.2 install.
Wait. I just noticed something. You don't think I could get in trouble for downloading these OS patches from Apple do you? I mean, I didn't pay money for them. Could they be... *gasp* unlicensed? I swear, I didn't know anything about them! I mean, the Mac did it by itself! It downloaded the software and asked me if I agreed to the license! Oh God! I didn't know, I didn't KNOW!
[...]
Yeah.
One doesn't need to be engaged in illegal activities to speculate on why someone in authority might want those activities to be occurring. Let's not forget that Windows 3.1 became popular because of rampant pirating. Speculating that a company is harnessing such activities for their benefit is not outside the realm of reason.
Slashdot Mirror
WTF is up with all the trolling on "religeous fundamentalism" lately? I mean, space travel is about as far away as you can get from a hot-button issue for the religious conservatives! If anything, perhaps you should be congratulating our "fundie supporting president" for raising NASA's budget rather than reducing it like our previous bleeding heart liberal president did.
As far as I can figure it, the new troll is:
1. Claim that the "religious fundies" are responsible for all the world's woes.
2. Get modded up because the liberal Slashdotters immediately agree with the words "religeous fundamentalist", no matter how stupid.
3. ???
4. Profit!
Fawking trolls.
Until China develops a medium to heavy lift vehicle, they're going to need a third party rocket to attempt something as ambitious as a Mars mission. U.S. security restrictions make access to our rockets difficult, making Russia the next best choice. The fact that Russia sells their rocketry services on the cheap doesn't hurt either.
WTF is up with all the trolling on "religeous fundamentalism" lately? I mean, space travel is about as far away as you can get from a hot-button issue for the religious conservatives! If anything, perhaps you should be congratulating our "fundie supporting president" for raising NASA's budget rather than reducing it like our previous bleeding heart liberal president did.
As far as I can figure it, the new troll is:
1. Claim that the "religious fundies" are responsible for all the world's woes.
2. Get modded up because the liberal Slashdotters immediately agree with the words "religeous fundamentalist", no matter how stupid.
3. ???
4. Profit!
Fawking trolls.
It's become something of a running gag on the show. (Which 200 just HAD to poke at. "1. That's Star Trek, 2. It's ridiculous!")
McCoy: Psst! Jim! He's talking about Internet Security Systems!
:P)
(Kirk looks sheepish)
Kirk: Doh!
(IBM rolls its eyes)
(Yes, of course I knew what TFA was talking about. The headline, however, was just too good to pass up!
IBM: This ISS, could it carry my wisdom beyond the Internet?
Sybok: It could. Yes.
IBM: Then I shall make use of this... ISS.
Sybok: It will be your chariot!
(Kirk politely raises his hand.)
Kirk: Excuse me.
IBM: It will carry my power to every corner of creation...
Kirk: Excuse me! I'd just like to ask a question!
(McCoy looks at Kirk like he just farted in church.)
Kirk: Excuse me, but What does IBM need with a space station?
Atlantis is assigned the Dadaelus. The Prometheus was Earth's primary defense. The Orion took her place after the Prometheus's destruction.
That's not entirely true. Having watched Boa vs. Python (one of the better attempts at the low-budget 'B' movie genre) and Anacondas: The Search for the Blood Orchid around the same time, I can say with confidence that the production quality differences extend to the story as well as the filming and effects. Most of the low-budget scripts are at best random reasons for carnage, while the high production films actually tie the action into a storyline that works. Sometimes it's even believable.
In addition, I think that this movie will probably see a LOT more profits on DVD than in the theater. For example, I'd love to take my wife to see it, but it just isn't an important enough movie to us to bring in the babysitter to watch the kids. We'd much rather wait until it hits DVD, then watch it in the comfort of our own home. It will be just as much fun there, and quite a bit more comfortable.
Most likely, the environment at Microsoft is one of extreme pride toward the 360, and a general belief that the system is superior to all others. Being that Peter is now immersed in that environment, it's hard to believe that it would not affect his own thinking and judgement. Which means that he's likely to be very positive toward the 360 no matter what happens, and the Wii will have to work very hard to garner his affection.
Hah! I can see right through your troll! It's very transparent.
I thought the last episode made it obvious?
MOVIE
Don't worry. Sony has added Real-Time Weapon Change to help you out. At only $599, it's the perfect platform for playing Riiiiiidge Raaaacer! It's Ridge Racer! Riiiiiidge Raaaacer! And they have absolutely no gimmicks like a playing card scanner or a tilt-motion sensor. It will be an experience like going to a fine restaurant and getting hit with a $599 bill. But you won't mind the third mortgage on your house, because you'll be able to spend even more money on hardware upgrades, and buy stuff online with "micro"-payments.
:P
Doncha' just love surprises? Especially when they're based on REAL JAPANESE HISTORY. As the PS3 shows, it was tough in those days, what with the Giant Crabs and all. Good thing you could flip them over on their backs.
Ok, I need to stop now. I could go on all day.
Yeah, we knew. We watched the video. Not to mention that we know Sony has had the tech for about a decade now. However, he said that he was hoping it would show up in the PS3. From his stance, the official decision was made right before E3. It did not exist in previous controllers he was testing with.
So why did Sony suddenly decide to throw it in AFTER Nintendo announced the Wii-mote? Well, attempting to compete with Nintendo seems like the most logical explanation. After all, Nintendo has been testing the complete Wii technology for years now. Sony only decided to add it to the controller at the 11th hour. Which means that other than Warhawk, this tech has had very little product development happening to it. Which also means that a largely untested component is going out the door in barely a month or two. From a product manufacturing and deployment perspective, that's a nightmare.
I think this says it all. :-/
Honestly, I *do* believe Sony that they had been considering the technology before this. What I don't believe is that they committed to it prior to Nintendo's announcement. I think that they originally considered whatever Nintendo was working on to be "gimmicks" (the exact word used by Ken Kutaragi at Sony E3), and that raw graphical technology would win the day. They only got worried once they saw the incredibly positive response to Nintendo's new controller.
In the end, I think this may end up harming Sony. Their Dual Shock controller was well liked in part because of its rumble technology. (Also "inspired by" Nintendo.) Now they've replaced this long-established feature with a simple sensor that they've had very little time to test. Which means that it may end up being useless to developers as not enough fore-thought went into it. The result will be a double-blow when the Wii introduces both usable motion sensing technology (powered by a network of sensors rather than just one!) AND rumble in their controllers.
Ouch, Sony. Ouch.
Thank God for that Real-Time Weapon Change. Without it, you wouldn't be able to hit the weakpoint.
Just an FYI, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is coming to the Wii. So you don't need to plunk down mega-$$$ to rehash the same old FF on Sony's PS3.
Now tell me, can you get THAT on your 360? I didn't think so.
Unfortunately, it has little to do with the issue at hand. OpenSolaris is fully released, and has several distros based on it. So this rant of one IBM executive is completely baseless and probably intended to promote IBM at Sun's expense.
This statement does not jive with your previous statement. Either Sun releases Free, OSS software (in which case they have a right to be heralded) or they don't (in which case they should STFU). Since I just rattled off three Sun OSS projects at the drop of a hat, I'm thinking that the former is the true case.
As you said, consumers have been clammering for IBM to OSS OS/2. (Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock) We're still waiting.
What would be interesting to keep an eye on is if OpenAIX or OpenOS/2 show up anytime soon. If they do, it could be indicitive that this FUD is all part of IBM's plan to promote their own OSS projects. Another thing to consider if this happens, is if they would have been released without Sun taking action first?
Here's a guy who actually did a custom case using eMachineShop. Sadly, all his pics seem to be offline. However, his descriptions and engineering logs are intact. I just skimmed it, but it sounds like it cost him about $700 to do the one-off job he needed. The per-unit price would drop rapidly if you began ordering your design in bulk. (For example, if you were selling it online.)
So let me get this straight. A company that has failed to knock together a custom PC that boots CDs despite FOUR YEARS of trying now thinks that they're mogul enough to take the PC World by storm with an online game delivery application (like Steam?) that appears to have little to differentiate itself in the market?
Excuse me while I don't hold my breath in anticipation.
This company has churned through incredible amounts of talent to produce nothing more than press releases about a fancy keyboard and mouse! In that time, Microsoft has launched not one, but TWO separate game consoles that both compete in the exact same space. In that same time, the company was believed to have been a Pump and Dump scheme by the SEC. In that same time, they have never demonstrated an actual working prototype of anything more than their mouse and keyboard!
Excuse me? Could someone please tell me how long it takes to send a manufacturing file out for a custom case, then stuff standard hardware into it? (Don't answer that, it's a rhetorical question.)
I have absolutely no trust in this company, its vision, or its future; and I feel deep sympathy for anyone who has had the displeasure of dealing with them in the past.
Did I say anything to suggest I did?
Now I may not be the sharpest stick out there, but methinks you're trying to imply that I'm using this as an excuse to make myself feel better about running a pirated copy.
*checks iBook*
Phew! Looks like I'm still running my 100% legal version of OS X 10.4 that I purchased (as in, paid cash for) from Amazon to upgrade my aging 10.2 install.
Wait. I just noticed something. You don't think I could get in trouble for downloading these OS patches from Apple do you? I mean, I didn't pay money for them. Could they be... *gasp* unlicensed? I swear, I didn't know anything about them! I mean, the Mac did it by itself! It downloaded the software and asked me if I agreed to the license! Oh God! I didn't know, I didn't KNOW!
[...]
Yeah.
One doesn't need to be engaged in illegal activities to speculate on why someone in authority might want those activities to be occurring. Let's not forget that Windows 3.1 became popular because of rampant pirating. Speculating that a company is harnessing such activities for their benefit is not outside the realm of reason.