Part of me worries that things like this will make the government find ways to make repeats of this more difficult to occur. I fear the wrath of government will overly legislate and take over the internet.
Part of me wonders- for every act like this we know of- how many go on behind the scenes.
Yet part of me feels relieved that there are people who CAN hack the government because it acts as a safety check on the government. When it is impossible to sneak around behind the governments back then that allows corruption to sneak into government.
I don't know that if I found a way to hack the FBI I'd be bragging about it online- although it should bring up an important caution to them. If Anonymous can listen in to FBI conference calls- China almost certainly can.
I think SpaceX have too few employees at the moment for a formal union to be necessary. My comments about British unions was more tongue in cheek than anything really though- parallelling how unions killed Britain's once thriving car manufacturing industry to the point now where Britain has no major production car brands based in that country... although they do make cars for other companies. Shame if space transport went the same way.
Obviously there are pros- and cons to unions. In the late 19th century/early 20th century they did a world of good.
One could say that China, with the abuse many of their workers face are in dire need of a strong union movement... as long as they can cut it back before it gets too strong and ruins their economy like they did for many countries in Europe.
I agree though- unions ARE a plague that industries bring upon themselves by treating workers poorly.
Since there are plenty of arguments against the other comments you've made I'd like to point out that:
So now burning (hint, just a chemical action) some dead dinosaur is
You may know this- but so many people don't: there is probably less than 0.1% dinosaur in oil (I don't know the %- I made up that number)- it comes mostly from microbes and plants. I don't know where the myth that oil is all "dinosaur" came from. As if there is something special about the organic molecules in dinosaurs that made them specifically required for oil.
Actually, it isn't nonsense. Without a magnetic field to protect the atmosphere it would "quickly" be eroded away by the solar winds. (quickly, geologically speaking that is)
Depends which globe you are talking about. If you're not talking about Earth- you're off topic.
If you're talking about Earth and look at overall trend analysis graphs covering the last 100 years- the last 15 years fit in the scale correctly. Also 9 of the 10 warmest years on record have occurred during the past 15 years.
Maybe so, but somehow a large chunk of manufacturing companies that leave Britain (and stay in Western Europe) seem to relocate to Germany for one reason or another.
I could be incorrect- but I thought I read somewhere in the last two years a large study that reported that violent video-games, contrary to previous opinion, caused less violence. The games kept teenagers off the street AND acted as an outlet for violent expression.
1% is not going to be a deterrant- and wheras it would be nice to have a fund to give children more places to play outside; I don't think such a venture should be based on a morality tax that is based on a faulty premise.
Boooooo! Which is more likely to get public interest?
AB-745 - or thunderdemon? C-11 - or firedragon.
I'm sorry- but I want my manned mission to mars to be on something memorable like the thrustdoomfireballcruncher not the X-23. Now if the "Pikachu, I choose you" mission takes man to Titan, then I'll be disappointed. "Pikachu of Doom" rocket might be more acceptible.
The Chinese will soon "learn" the secrets to mimic SpaceX's techniques. Supposedly there was a British company with a reusable launch vehicle that were claiming to have even lower costs than SpaceX's- but they were only in the feasibility stage with ESA last year. If they can actually get past that and to the launch stage we could have a real healthy battle going on. Although- knowing Britain- the unions will somehow get involved and tripple the costs- and then it will never get built- or the Germans will build it instead.
Several companies appear to be in the game now- will be interesting to see if SpaceX continue with the mammoth lead over the next decade.
As pointed out- elephants numbers are easily controlled due to their size. I would like to suggest we one up the elephant suggestion- and go for an even bigger animal- I would suggest the blue whale.
Yes, I know- technically the blue whale is an aquatic animal- but they can breath air. We could create artificial limbs for them- attack fake legs to their flippers and their tails to allow them to walk on land.
Since any young born would not be able to move- (hence eat), without human intervention, you wouldn't have to worry about their numbers exploding out of control.
To me- this seems a near perfect solution. The only problem is that whales don't eat grass- but that's only a minor technicality- and you have to admit whales with artificial tripod limbs crossing the desert of Australia is a site worth one or two minor technical glitches.
Kittens are an invasive species that need to be eaten.
Seriously- cats have caused mega-damage in Australia wiping out many species of ground birds. If the elephants eat the cats (not native to Australia) it can only be a good thing.
Although- if the elephants eat the cats- the invasive species "mice/rats" will scare the elephants into the ocean to swim back to Africa/Asia- which will allow the cat population to boom again.
OK- complete fiction- but it lays down the scenario. Hitler faced with almost certain defeat releases a virus that kills most people on earth- and of the few survivors- most of them are dying slow deaths. He hoped releasing the virus would deflect his enemies from attacking him.
OK- now that is complete fiction that obviously never happened. However, there could be a scenario where someone feeling there back is against the wall feels that the best solution is to make everyone suffer equally. People ask- why worry if North Korea or Iran have nukes- they won't use them they don't want to get nuked in retaliation.
Well- if you're facing certain defeat- you could go to extreme measures if you think you're going to lose anyway. There are quasi-rational reasons to release such a virus.
A deadly fast-spreading virus could be an easier to produce "weapon of last resort" than nuclear weapons. The evil imperialist capitalist dogs of America are preparing an invasion of your communist paradise- you have no hope of winning? What do you do? infect the major cities of your enemy with the "capitalist-swine flu". With millions at home dying- the evil US might turn there focus away from war. Sure- the virus will eventually kill most of humanity- even on your island...but it buys you a little time.
Or what about simply for revenge. If we're going down- you're coming with us. Release the Flu.
Ideological reasons- God will save the righteous- only the wicked will get the flu. Perhaps man has become too evil- it is time to start anew- release the virus that will send us back to medieval times.
There are any number of quasi-intelligent reasons to release such a virus.
Perhaps the "heat death" would kill us- most likely we'll be wiped out before then anyway... or perhaps our species would find a way to reverse the heat death or "block ourselves off in a sustainable habitat whilst the universe died around us". We've got trillions of years before that happened- look at how far technology has progressed in 1000 years- you think given such an unthinkable time available humanity would control the universe?
I agree- one way or another we will eventually die- nothing lasts forever. But- we can preserve the species as long as possible. It may be many more years than can be fathomed- but everything... everything... eventually ends.
Whether you agree with the TSA or not they do currently have the legal authority to grope you.
Petition government to change the law- but if you go into the airport- expect the TSA to have authority and expect them to use it. If you don't approve of their measures or don't plan to abide by them- stay out of the airport until you manage (if you manage) to restrict TSA power.
Of course there is life on Venus. I remember from my University days that this research was done a long time ago and one scientist discovered that Men are From Mars, Women are from Venus
Slashdot Mirror
I have mixed feelings on this story.
Part of me worries that things like this will make the government find ways to make repeats of this more difficult to occur. I fear the wrath of government will overly legislate and take over the internet.
Part of me wonders- for every act like this we know of- how many go on behind the scenes.
Yet part of me feels relieved that there are people who CAN hack the government because it acts as a safety check on the government. When it is impossible to sneak around behind the governments back then that allows corruption to sneak into government.
I don't know that if I found a way to hack the FBI I'd be bragging about it online- although it should bring up an important caution to them. If Anonymous can listen in to FBI conference calls- China almost certainly can.
I think SpaceX have too few employees at the moment for a formal union to be necessary. My comments about British unions was more tongue in cheek than anything really though- parallelling how unions killed Britain's once thriving car manufacturing industry to the point now where Britain has no major production car brands based in that country... although they do make cars for other companies. Shame if space transport went the same way.
Obviously there are pros- and cons to unions. In the late 19th century/early 20th century they did a world of good.
One could say that China, with the abuse many of their workers face are in dire need of a strong union movement... as long as they can cut it back before it gets too strong and ruins their economy like they did for many countries in Europe.
I agree though- unions ARE a plague that industries bring upon themselves by treating workers poorly.
Since there are plenty of arguments against the other comments you've made I'd like to point out that:
So now burning (hint, just a chemical action) some dead dinosaur is
You may know this- but so many people don't: there is probably less than 0.1% dinosaur in oil (I don't know the %- I made up that number)- it comes mostly from microbes and plants. I don't know where the myth that oil is all "dinosaur" came from. As if there is something special about the organic molecules in dinosaurs that made them specifically required for oil.
Actually, it isn't nonsense. Without a magnetic field to protect the atmosphere it would "quickly" be eroded away by the solar winds. (quickly, geologically speaking that is)
The earth is gaining Mass- thanks to those darn catholic missionaries.
Depends which globe you are talking about. If you're not talking about Earth- you're off topic.
If you're talking about Earth and look at overall trend analysis graphs covering the last 100 years- the last 15 years fit in the scale correctly. Also 9 of the 10 warmest years on record have occurred during the past 15 years.
Maybe so, but somehow a large chunk of manufacturing companies that leave Britain (and stay in Western Europe) seem to relocate to Germany for one reason or another.
I could be incorrect- but I thought I read somewhere in the last two years a large study that reported that violent video-games, contrary to previous opinion, caused less violence. The games kept teenagers off the street AND acted as an outlet for violent expression.
1% is not going to be a deterrant- and wheras it would be nice to have a fund to give children more places to play outside; I don't think such a venture should be based on a morality tax that is based on a faulty premise.
Boooooo! Which is more likely to get public interest?
AB-745 - or thunderdemon? C-11 - or firedragon.
I'm sorry- but I want my manned mission to mars to be on something memorable like the thrustdoomfireballcruncher not the X-23. Now if the "Pikachu, I choose you" mission takes man to Titan, then I'll be disappointed. "Pikachu of Doom" rocket might be more acceptible.
The Chinese will soon "learn" the secrets to mimic SpaceX's techniques. Supposedly there was a British company with a reusable launch vehicle that were claiming to have even lower costs than SpaceX's- but they were only in the feasibility stage with ESA last year. If they can actually get past that and to the launch stage we could have a real healthy battle going on. Although- knowing Britain- the unions will somehow get involved and tripple the costs- and then it will never get built- or the Germans will build it instead.
Several companies appear to be in the game now- will be interesting to see if SpaceX continue with the mammoth lead over the next decade.
Good point- although I was actually referencing an earlier story where Australia was talking about importing Elephants to eat an invasive grass responsible for wild fires.
Music? Yes
As pointed out- elephants numbers are easily controlled due to their size. I would like to suggest we one up the elephant suggestion- and go for an even bigger animal- I would suggest the blue whale.
Yes, I know- technically the blue whale is an aquatic animal- but they can breath air. We could create artificial limbs for them- attack fake legs to their flippers and their tails to allow them to walk on land.
Since any young born would not be able to move- (hence eat), without human intervention, you wouldn't have to worry about their numbers exploding out of control.
To me- this seems a near perfect solution. The only problem is that whales don't eat grass- but that's only a minor technicality- and you have to admit whales with artificial tripod limbs crossing the desert of Australia is a site worth one or two minor technical glitches.
If only Florida had imported elephants to prevent wild fires this tree would still be alive today.
Quite easily I imagine. Not even the TSA would want to give an elephant a cavity check.
Kittens are an invasive species that need to be eaten.
Seriously- cats have caused mega-damage in Australia wiping out many species of ground birds. If the elephants eat the cats (not native to Australia) it can only be a good thing.
Although- if the elephants eat the cats- the invasive species "mice/rats" will scare the elephants into the ocean to swim back to Africa/Asia- which will allow the cat population to boom again.
Great novel 1945 by James Herbet:
OK- complete fiction- but it lays down the scenario. Hitler faced with almost certain defeat releases a virus that kills most people on earth- and of the few survivors- most of them are dying slow deaths. He hoped releasing the virus would deflect his enemies from attacking him.
OK- now that is complete fiction that obviously never happened. However, there could be a scenario where someone feeling there back is against the wall feels that the best solution is to make everyone suffer equally. People ask- why worry if North Korea or Iran have nukes- they won't use them they don't want to get nuked in retaliation.
Well- if you're facing certain defeat- you could go to extreme measures if you think you're going to lose anyway. There are quasi-rational reasons to release such a virus.
A deadly fast-spreading virus could be an easier to produce "weapon of last resort" than nuclear weapons. The evil imperialist capitalist dogs of America are preparing an invasion of your communist paradise- you have no hope of winning? What do you do? infect the major cities of your enemy with the "capitalist-swine flu". With millions at home dying- the evil US might turn there focus away from war. Sure- the virus will eventually kill most of humanity- even on your island...but it buys you a little time.
Or what about simply for revenge. If we're going down- you're coming with us. Release the Flu.
Ideological reasons- God will save the righteous- only the wicked will get the flu. Perhaps man has become too evil- it is time to start anew- release the virus that will send us back to medieval times.
There are any number of quasi-intelligent reasons to release such a virus.
Perhaps the "heat death" would kill us- most likely we'll be wiped out before then anyway... or perhaps our species would find a way to reverse the heat death or "block ourselves off in a sustainable habitat whilst the universe died around us". We've got trillions of years before that happened- look at how far technology has progressed in 1000 years- you think given such an unthinkable time available humanity would control the universe?
I agree- one way or another we will eventually die- nothing lasts forever. But- we can preserve the species as long as possible. It may be many more years than can be fathomed- but everything... everything... eventually ends.
Whether you agree with the TSA or not they do currently have the legal authority to grope you.
Petition government to change the law- but if you go into the airport- expect the TSA to have authority and expect them to use it. If you don't approve of their measures or don't plan to abide by them- stay out of the airport until you manage (if you manage) to restrict TSA power.
Experts Exchange got blocked within minutes of me finding out about Google Block.
OLD NEWS!
Of course there is life on Venus. I remember from my University days that this research was done a long time ago and one scientist discovered that Men are From Mars, Women are from Venus
Apparantly he is working on a new game called Happy Avians.
It's about smiling birds that build houses for friendly pigs.
Or I might be interested in making something that I can make myself, by myself. Something really small.
He's in the right country for making small things I guess.
I've read about this sale on 4 different sites toda and it isn't even noon yet.
I think it fair to say if it is getting this much publicity- no matter how hard I try- I will not have any success trying to get one.
Both should be provided free by the government. ;)