I found Robotic Nation
to be a very good read. Fascinating and disturbing at the same time (particularly the portion about concentration of wealth, IMO). Even if you don't agree with what Marshall Brain presents, the information stirs one to think about the impact of technology on humanity. After all, in our time on this planet humans have never been anything but selfish creatures. We don't preserve things for their own sake, we preserve them for our sake. At the very lowest level humanity is the only thing that matters.
As in earlier tests by BMG and SunnComm, the copy protection on the Velvet Revolver disc can be simply disabled by pushing the "Shift" key on a computer while the CD is loading, which blocks the SunnComm software from being installed. The companies say they have long been aware of the work-around but that they were not trying to create an unhackable protection.
The FAA people will do their absolute best to be sure one of these craft don't hit anything but dirt and plants. For a shot of this altitude the FAA has the last word on the launch. If they so much as suspect there someone will be down range, that the weather might change, or that they just don't feel like letting the guy launch then it's a no go. The FAA won't risk a thing just for a bunch of "hobbyists". There's a reason they do these shots out at Black Rock, there isn't anything of economic or political value that can be hit for many, many miles around.
Having been associated with some folks who are trying for their own amature space shot I can attest that it is by the grace of the FAA that one of these rockets can get off the ground. In the face of all the other restrictions placed on our lives I congratulate the FAA for allowing these guys to launch. Thank you!
Yes, it does have scientific value. There a lot of small research payloads which could benefit from easier and cheaper access to the fringes of the atmosphere.
Speaking as an engineer I can tell you that any issues of conscience can be quickly disposed of in the face of working on such a righteously cool project. Stuff like this is crack for the unemcumbered engineering mind. Grades, sleep, money, relationships, and whatever else will be sacrificed just to feel the buzz of success. You see a project like this, you think about being a part of it, and you realize it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. And besides, just because you got your start on a military related project doesn't mean you have to do it for the rest of your life.
Perhaps Nikola Tesla put it best: "I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success... Such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything." - Nikola Tesla
Been there, done that, would be up for it again. www.mach-sr1.org
You mean the same John Kerry who "... has raised more money from paid lobbyists than any other senator over the past 15 years, federal records show." Washinton Post
So the "For Sale" sign out front gets a little red "Under Contract" placard added to it, big deal.
Am I only one who watched the video, and thinks this guy was drunk on his ass? Since when does appearing drunk imply that one has, or is about to, commit a crime?
the gall?
King George's very thoughts.
And why is this on Slashdot?
It should be everywhere, everyone should know about this case. If Slashdot hadn't posted this item I wouldn't have seen it since I haven't read anything about it through my traditional news channels. Thank you Slashdot!
They'll forgive you eventually, and its probably for the best anyway.
Keyword: eventually
As a parent how long would you like to wait? Tick tick tick. That's the sound of old age waiting for the patience of youth. What if they don't forgive you by, say, 30? Will they ever forgive you? Who knows? The older you get the faster the clock will run.
There's a fine line between privacy and interference. I can see how it's good to know what you kids are up to but skip the details and apply force in proportion to the problem.
There are a lot of potential uses for these things, carrying weapons is just one. The fact that these things are silent and have longevity is key. Here's a lot of military uses for these things. Here's few that I've thought of:
Mobile sonophones, zero maintence and disposable. Weapon delivery, slow but effective against stationary targets. Remote observation of underwater currents and thermoclines, important to subs. Remotely deployable mines.
Keep in mind too that one reason these things are slow is that they are designed to last. If they are made to be disposable they can be much faster. (i.e. glide in slow from far off, lie in wait, then act). A fast glide to the surface could easily be accomplished with a one shot device that is held in reserve.
One reason why the credit card companies don't really have a problem with what you do is that they are still making money off you. They take your $20 charge, bundle it together with a gazillion other peoples charges and sell it as a bond. Your credit card charges are essentially secured debit.
Absolutely! One cannot over estimate the value of mental serenity in engineering school. When you have abusive work loads, abusive hours, and abusive professors getting some sure takes the edge off.
If you were late often, even 1 minute late, you deserve it.
Why? What difference does one minute make? That impresses me as typical managerial garbage. For some unknown reason most managers prefer things to look good over actually being good. Managers who are rigid about stuff like this are usually known as "hardasses" and those who aspire to the position are ususally known as "kissasses." Whether it's the beta or the final release, they both smell like ass and people will leave the area.
Complaining is the simply the last conduit for people to air their concerns. If the "come up with at least two solutions and present them" bit actually worked you wouldn't hear one tenth the amount of whining. Employees would actually enjoy their jobs and might even stay at a lower pay rate. The company I work for now is big enough that if it employed 10 superheros it wouldn't make a bit of difference, things are "because they just are." The company is going where it's going, my pissant proposal or otherwise. I'm staying there because I like my manager and I like my job. When I stop liking either one I'll take my services elsewhere at my earliest convience.
Managers who stifle critical views ought to know that the stongest venom against them is reserved for times when their employees are beyond their reach.
This topic might be associated with disability but there is one thing thing humans excel at is in their resilience. One thing I find amazing about humanity is that while life itself is quite fragile, it is also a source of amazing depth.
Fzz, if you got the time/motivation drop me a line. I am always interested in how people manage to overcome.
Unfortunatly many people think of Methamphetamine when they hear "amphetamine." Amphetamine drugs are not a singular, pure substance. The amphetamine molecule is always bound to some other molecule (hence the "meth"). This additional molecule helps regulate the rate at which the drug is absorbed by the body. Amphetamines used to treat ADD are teamed with other compounds that control the absorbtion rate. The problem with Methamphetamine is that it is absorbed by the body very quickly and it is believed that the steep onset of the effects contribute to its more addictive nature.
People also tend to think that ADD is restricted to mean that the person suffers from a lack of attention span. This is not always the case. I myself have ADD and I often have what can be considered an excessive attention span. In general my life bounces from being unable to concentrate on anything to being overly focused on something. It is not uncommon for me to be walking to the kitchen to get something to eat and while on the way there have something divert my attention. Next thing I know 6 hours has passed and I am still fiddling with whatever it was. Of course, by then I am really, really hungry because over those 6 hours I never did complete my trip to the kitchen.
I wanted to bring up something that I think a lot of people are missing here. A lot of people erroneously assume that if you somehow reduce the abnormal behavior, be it autism or anger, you will reduce that what makes them great. Referring to the case above I can say that Mike Tyson is not a great boxer because he is angry. In fact it's quite the opposite. Mike Tyson would be a better boxer if he learned to deal with his anger. Just because one treats the abberant behavior doesn't mean that the underlying talent is reduced along with it. Mike Tyson is the boxer he is because he is a natural, not because he is angry. If he was a pissed off yahoo he would have been beaten to a pulp a long time ago.
Now, supposing his problems with anger/agression/whatever were treated at some point earlier in his career I submit to you that he would have been a phenomenal boxer.
and Einstien was not a genius because he acted eccentricly.
"I think 99.99 percent of Americans will want these ID cards"
Hey Ellison, don't drop your crack pipe!
Next time, quote a remotely believable number; 99.99% means 1 in 10,000. This would make ID cards the most decisive decision in the history of mankind.
Hang on, oh now I get it, he must have left something out. What he was going to say was, "I think that 99.99% of Americans will want these cards... after we make them mandatory for obtaining any form of food, water or shelter."
Yet, even under these circumstances 99.99% is a stretch. Far more than more than 1 in 10,000 people would choose to die rather than get an ID just so they could survive. (This is very likely given that in 1999 0.01% of Americans were successful in their decision to not continue with life.) That 99.99% must also not include those whom were issued a faulty ID and slowly died of starvation while Ellison and Co. were busy trying to find and correct the error.
I submit that a national ID would, in the end, prove disasterous for Oracle. Does Ellison have any idea how much a universal ID would *reduce* the demand for databases? The database industry is as large as it is because of data redundancy. Every business or government agency that wants to store peoples' information has to store the same stuff such as name, address and phone number. With a national ID a lot of this redundant information would be eliminated. Does Ellison think he will make more money selling fewer, albeit bigger, systems to the govenment? I can't think of a situation where the profit margin improves when more companies chase fewer customers. I would think data storage companies would oppose a national ID for the same reason. Conversely, one of the biggest benefactors would be the telco's and telecom equipment makers since everybody would now just "dial in" for the info they needed.
And finally, if we do get a national ID forced upon us, I'd really like to see somebody get a hold of Ellison's and Feinstien's ID number and post it all over the world. The next thing I'd like to see is myself sitting on the jury.
Count one. Not guilty.
Count two. Not guilty.
Slashdot Mirror
A highly recommended link!
I found Robotic Nation to be a very good read. Fascinating and disturbing at the same time (particularly the portion about concentration of wealth, IMO). Even if you don't agree with what Marshall Brain presents, the information stirs one to think about the impact of technology on humanity. After all, in our time on this planet humans have never been anything but selfish creatures. We don't preserve things for their own sake, we preserve them for our sake. At the very lowest level humanity is the only thing that matters.
Thanks to WillWare for the link.
As in earlier tests by BMG and SunnComm, the copy protection on the Velvet Revolver disc can be simply disabled by pushing the "Shift" key on a computer while the CD is loading, which blocks the SunnComm software from being installed. The companies say they have long been aware of the work-around but that they were not trying to create an unhackable protection.
Solid Engines = Cheap & Simple
Liquid Engines = Expensive & Complicated
The FAA people will do their absolute best to be sure one of these craft don't hit anything but dirt and plants. For a shot of this altitude the FAA has the last word on the launch. If they so much as suspect there someone will be down range, that the weather might change, or that they just don't feel like letting the guy launch then it's a no go. The FAA won't risk a thing just for a bunch of "hobbyists". There's a reason they do these shots out at Black Rock, there isn't anything of economic or political value that can be hit for many, many miles around.
Having been associated with some folks who are trying for their own amature space shot I can attest that it is by the grace of the FAA that one of these rockets can get off the ground. In the face of all the other restrictions placed on our lives I congratulate the FAA for allowing these guys to launch. Thank you!
Lee
Yes, it does have scientific value. There a lot of small research payloads which could benefit from easier and cheaper access to the fringes of the atmosphere.
Lee
>>This is how the real world works.. you arent worth a damned thing until you can prove yourself.
>I know a lot of college grads that prove you wrong Sir
College grads? Hell, I know experienced, proven professionals who can prove that first statement wrong.
Speaking as an engineer I can tell you that any issues of conscience can be quickly disposed of in the face of working on such a righteously cool project. Stuff like this is crack for the unemcumbered engineering mind. Grades, sleep, money, relationships, and whatever else will be sacrificed just to feel the buzz of success. You see a project like this, you think about being a part of it, and you realize it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. And besides, just because you got your start on a military related project doesn't mean you have to do it for the rest of your life.
Perhaps Nikola Tesla put it best:
"I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success... Such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything."
- Nikola Tesla
Been there, done that, would be up for it again.
www.mach-sr1.org
You mean the same John Kerry who "... has raised more money from paid lobbyists than any other senator over the past 15 years, federal records show." Washinton Post
So the "For Sale" sign out front gets a little red "Under Contract" placard added to it, big deal.
Since when does appearing drunk imply that one has, or is about to, commit a crime?
the gall?
And why is this on Slashdot?King George's very thoughts.
It should be everywhere, everyone should know about this case. If Slashdot hadn't posted this item I wouldn't have seen it since I haven't read anything about it through my traditional news channels. Thank you Slashdot!
Thank you for finally mentioning Iridium. I was amazed that it took so long for someone to bring it up.
They'll forgive you eventually, and its probably for the best anyway.
Keyword: eventually
As a parent how long would you like to wait? Tick tick tick. That's the sound of old age waiting for the patience of youth. What if they don't forgive you by, say, 30? Will they ever forgive you? Who knows? The older you get the faster the clock will run.
There's a fine line between privacy and interference. I can see how it's good to know what you kids are up to but skip the details and apply force in proportion to the problem.
Cool.
There are a lot of potential uses for these things, carrying weapons is just one. The fact that these things are silent and have longevity is key. Here's a lot of military uses for these things. Here's few that I've thought of:
Mobile sonophones, zero maintence and disposable.
Weapon delivery, slow but effective against stationary targets.
Remote observation of underwater currents and thermoclines, important to subs.
Remotely deployable mines.
Keep in mind too that one reason these things are slow is that they are designed to last. If they are made to be disposable they can be much faster. (i.e. glide in slow from far off, lie in wait, then act). A fast glide to the surface could easily be accomplished with a one shot device that is held in reserve.
Why not skip the solar cells altogether and make a battery using the seawater?
Feed them and they will grow.
One reason why the credit card companies don't really have a problem with what you do is that they are still making money off you. They take your $20 charge, bundle it together with a gazillion other peoples charges and sell it as a bond. Your credit card charges are essentially secured debit.
Absolutely! One cannot over estimate the value of mental serenity in engineering school. When you have abusive work loads, abusive hours, and abusive professors getting some sure takes the edge off.
Why? What difference does one minute make? That impresses me as typical managerial garbage. For some unknown reason most managers prefer things to look good over actually being good. Managers who are rigid about stuff like this are usually known as "hardasses" and those who aspire to the position are ususally known as "kissasses." Whether it's the beta or the final release, they both smell like ass and people will leave the area.
Complaining is the simply the last conduit for people to air their concerns. If the "come up with at least two solutions and present them" bit actually worked you wouldn't hear one tenth the amount of whining. Employees would actually enjoy their jobs and might even stay at a lower pay rate. The company I work for now is big enough that if it employed 10 superheros it wouldn't make a bit of difference, things are "because they just are." The company is going where it's going, my pissant proposal or otherwise. I'm staying there because I like my manager and I like my job. When I stop liking either one I'll take my services elsewhere at my earliest convience.
Managers who stifle critical views ought to know that the stongest venom against them is reserved for times when their employees are beyond their reach.
Your post is huge.
This topic might be associated with disability but there is one thing thing humans excel at is in their resilience. One thing I find amazing about humanity is that while life itself is quite fragile, it is also a source of amazing depth.
Fzz, if you got the time/motivation drop me a line. I am always interested in how people manage to overcome.
Now that one floored me!
Beautiful.
Unfortunatly many people think of Methamphetamine when they hear "amphetamine." Amphetamine drugs are not a singular, pure substance. The amphetamine molecule is always bound to some other molecule (hence the "meth"). This additional molecule helps regulate the rate at which the drug is absorbed by the body. Amphetamines used to treat ADD are teamed with other compounds that control the absorbtion rate. The problem with Methamphetamine is that it is absorbed by the body very quickly and it is believed that the steep onset of the effects contribute to its more addictive nature.
People also tend to think that ADD is restricted to mean that the person suffers from a lack of attention span. This is not always the case. I myself have ADD and I often have what can be considered an excessive attention span. In general my life bounces from being unable to concentrate on anything to being overly focused on something. It is not uncommon for me to be walking to the kitchen to get something to eat and while on the way there have something divert my attention. Next thing I know 6 hours has passed and I am still fiddling with whatever it was. Of course, by then I am really, really hungry because over those 6 hours I never did complete my trip to the kitchen.
I wanted to bring up something that I think a lot of people are missing here. A lot of people erroneously assume that if you somehow reduce the abnormal behavior, be it autism or anger, you will reduce that what makes them great. Referring to the case above I can say that Mike Tyson is not a great boxer because he is angry. In fact it's quite the opposite. Mike Tyson would be a better boxer if he learned to deal with his anger. Just because one treats the abberant behavior doesn't mean that the underlying talent is reduced along with it. Mike Tyson is the boxer he is because he is a natural, not because he is angry. If he was a pissed off yahoo he would have been beaten to a pulp a long time ago.
Now, supposing his problems with anger/agression/whatever were treated at some point earlier in his career I submit to you that he would have been a phenomenal boxer.
and Einstien was not a genius because he acted eccentricly.
"I think 99.99 percent of Americans will want these ID cards"
... after we make them mandatory for obtaining any form of food, water or shelter."
Hey Ellison, don't drop your crack pipe!
Next time, quote a remotely believable number; 99.99% means 1 in 10,000. This would make ID cards the most decisive decision in the history of mankind.
Hang on, oh now I get it, he must have left something out. What he was going to say was, "I think that 99.99% of Americans will want these cards
Yet, even under these circumstances 99.99% is a stretch. Far more than more than 1 in 10,000 people would choose to die rather than get an ID just so they could survive. (This is very likely given that in 1999 0.01% of Americans were successful in their decision to not continue with life.) That 99.99% must also not include those whom were issued a faulty ID and slowly died of starvation while Ellison and Co. were busy trying to find and correct the error.
I submit that a national ID would, in the end, prove disasterous for Oracle. Does Ellison have any idea how much a universal ID would *reduce* the demand for databases? The database industry is as large as it is because of data redundancy. Every business or government agency that wants to store peoples' information has to store the same stuff such as name, address and phone number. With a national ID a lot of this redundant information would be eliminated. Does Ellison think he will make more money selling fewer, albeit bigger, systems to the govenment? I can't think of a situation where the profit margin improves when more companies chase fewer customers. I would think data storage companies would oppose a national ID for the same reason. Conversely, one of the biggest benefactors would be the telco's and telecom equipment makers since everybody would now just "dial in" for the info they needed.
And finally, if we do get a national ID forced upon us, I'd really like to see somebody get a hold of Ellison's and Feinstien's ID number and post it all over the world. The next thing I'd like to see is myself sitting on the jury.
Count one. Not guilty.
Count two. Not guilty.
You bet I got one of those Safeway cards, and in exchange, Safeway got a fictious address and birthdate.