I think that Slashdotters should invoke a new rule that the moment someone mentions Luddites in a comment they forum should be closed. They are being invoked as a catch all for any unpleasant group that has an objection to anything even tangentially related to technology in the same way that Nazis are invoked in politics.
Take the groups in Katz's column. Are they objecting to the existence of computers? No. Do they want to ban the Internet? No. They object to the content being distributed over the Internet and through computers. If Katz's neo-luddites are considered thus for arguing against violent video games then anti-porn crusaders must be against the printing press and opponents of instant replay in football want to wipe video cameras from the face of the Earth. They are not Luddites -- jerks, perhaps, but not Luddites.
The only real Luddites in Americal are living in shacks in Montana. If the intent is to complain about censorship -- complain about censorship! Don't construct flimsy arguments out of inapplicable cliches.
The way patent law works these companies would be crazy not to sue. They have everything to gain (complete control of their buisness niche) and nothing to loose (why should a startup that's loosing millions of dollars a day anyway care about a few extra big ones for lawer fees?)
My last best hopes for clearing up the patent mess is either a clear patent policy dictated by the next president or some intelligent legislation comming from congress. Do I think either of these will happen? Of course not.
The problem with dialects is helped a bit by the fact they intend to translate text rather than spoken language. Most people leared how to write in a 'standard' version of their native language in school, that cleans things up a bit right there. Plus, if they know that what they are writing is eventually going to be translated, they can exercise a bit of self-control to keep their grammar literal.
Speaking of Chinese, it'll probably be the easiest language to translate. It has a fairly simple grammar and it is written more or less the same way for every dialect. *SPOKEN* Chinese, now that would be a nightmare to translate...
For instance, over the next 100 years, we are expected to lose our pinky toe.. Why? Cuz to be honest we don't need it.. As we geneticly broke away from the apes, who need all the toes for grabbing on to things,it became less of a need, and therefore, it's slowly being bred out... It will become more and more common until it is the "normal" and 5 toed people are the minority...
Traits don't come and go based on their use. How would a fetus know how much its parents used their toes when it came time to choose which ones to grow? It can't.
Rather, natural selection works by weeding out or promoting traits that affect the bearer's ability to breed. Think of Lamarkism vs Darwinian natural selection.
This raises an interesting question, however. Even if genetic manipulation only is used on a small group of people, might those people (and their decendants) become such popular mates that society at large will become benificiaries through normal breeding?
The word 'evolve' only implies that something changes over a period of time. I don't mean this to be a semantic flame, but if you have ever have to argue evolution (the Darwinian kind) then you will come to be very sensitive about the difference!
I wonder if the dearth of CS graduates may have something to do with the anti-geek mentality that pervades many high schools.
If the public views kids into math and computers as little more than future Unabomers and school mascare planners then we really shouldn't be surprised if some of the best and brightest are choosing more... respectable careers.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, it looks like they are just using the antennas from the defunct TV service, not the satelites.
In fact, if you read their site, they are using home-made and other types of antennas as well.
I think that Slashdotters should invoke a new rule that the moment someone mentions Luddites in a comment they forum should be closed. They are being invoked as a catch all for any unpleasant group that has an objection to anything even tangentially related to technology in the same way that Nazis are invoked in politics.
Take the groups in Katz's column. Are they objecting to the existence of computers? No. Do they want to ban the Internet? No. They object to the content being distributed over the Internet and through computers. If Katz's neo-luddites are considered thus for arguing against violent video games then anti-porn crusaders must be against the printing press and opponents of instant replay in football want to wipe video cameras from the face of the Earth. They are not Luddites -- jerks, perhaps, but not Luddites.
The only real Luddites in Americal are living in shacks in Montana. If the intent is to complain about censorship -- complain about censorship! Don't construct flimsy arguments out of inapplicable cliches.
I can't say definitively if this (or the previous post) is true or not, but, to my eyes, it looks like a 1950's era urban legend.
One quid is about $0.64 US.
.64 ritish Pound.
It is the other way around, I believe.
$1US is
The way patent law works these companies would be crazy not to sue. They have everything to gain (complete control of their buisness niche) and nothing to loose (why should a startup that's loosing millions of dollars a day anyway care about a few extra big ones for lawer fees?)
My last best hopes for clearing up the patent mess is either a clear patent policy dictated by the next president or some intelligent legislation comming from congress. Do I think either of these will happen? Of course not.
The problem with dialects is helped a bit by the fact they intend to translate text rather than spoken language. Most people leared how to write in a 'standard' version of their native language in school, that cleans things up a bit right there. Plus, if they know that what they are writing is eventually going to be translated, they can exercise a bit of self-control to keep their grammar literal.
Speaking of Chinese, it'll probably be the easiest language to translate. It has a fairly simple grammar and it is written more or less the same way for every dialect. *SPOKEN* Chinese, now that would be a nightmare to translate...
Erasmus
Traits don't come and go based on their use. How would a fetus know how much its parents used their toes when it came time to choose which ones to grow? It can't.
Rather, natural selection works by weeding out or promoting traits that affect the bearer's ability to breed. Think of Lamarkism vs Darwinian natural selection.
This raises an interesting question, however. Even if genetic manipulation only is used on a small group of people, might those people (and their decendants) become such popular mates that society at large will become benificiaries through normal breeding?
The word 'evolve' only implies that something changes over a period of time. I don't mean this to be a semantic flame, but if you have ever have to argue evolution (the Darwinian kind) then you will come to be very sensitive about the difference!
--Erasmus, noted psychopath
I wonder if the dearth of CS graduates may have something to do with the anti-geek mentality that pervades many high schools.
If the public views kids into math and computers as little more than future Unabomers and school mascare planners then we really shouldn't be surprised if some of the best and brightest are choosing more... respectable careers.
Erasmus, noted psychopath.