My googlation has prompted me to submit the following observations:
the value of the information presented is inversely proportional to the effort made presenting it
the accuracy of the data is inversely proportional to the effort required to collect it
I've noticed that the most useful pages to me are the ones that contain plain text, like mailing list archives, for example. Maybe that's just an artifact of the type of information I'm typically trying to collect (technical questions, etc).
The second point is just a general observation. When I was in school, the web was a wet-behind-the-ears DARPA project that nobody had heard of. To write a paper, I had to go to the library and look stuff up in books and periodicals. It took friggin' forever, but the results were pretty accurate. Now, I can type something in google and get a bazillion hits pretty much instantly, but I have to carefully search through the results to weed out lunatic fringe webpages (unless that's what I'm looking for), out-of-date webpages with no date on them, etc. I wonder how that affects kids today doing research papers? Imagine never having to go to the library, but, instead, having to hone your skills of scepticism.
As the election approaches, there's been a lot of discussion about e-voting, here on/., on the radio, newspaper, etc. All this is good and proper; the more public gets involved, the better the system will be.
Largely, the non-slashdot concerns about e-voting seem to center around unintentional inaccuracies, like those mentioned in the FA. In other words, the worst problem typically mentioned is about errors causing disenfrachisement or delays in voting. While I don't want to discount these problems, they are fixable, either by a paper backup system or timely software or hardware repairs, likely getting better and better as the machines become more widely used.
Personally, my real concern is about intentional vote fixing by the makers of the machines. I know this has been talked about at great length on/. and elsewhere, but I think it needs more attention in the real world.
I know I'm naive, but the thought that somebody would try to steal the election infuriates me. There is no pit deep and black enough for someone so unpatriotic and dishonest. We must fight to protect one of the greatest experiments in personal freedom in the history of humanity.
Agreed, but just as a curious side note, the US Atomic Energy Commision investigated using nukes to excavate a harbor in Alaska, along with other "peaceful" uses.
I wouldn't classify myself as a tough-on-crime reactionary, but I do believe that criminal acts should be punished, especially those committed by people who have more authority than ordinary citizens.
This fellow did repent his acts, but, it seems, only after he was caught, and, even then, only after he was convicted. He kept doing it, even after he was arrested!
It sounds to me like someone whose greed led him to a dark place. As much as I dislike our prison system, it seems like some time in the corner thinking about what he's done wrong is called for.
As a DISCLAIMER, the above is meant for AMUSEMENT and is NOT to be taken seriously. We take no responsibility whatsoever if you want to try some of these 'instructions'; do so at your own risk. Furthermore the pictures you see in this article are meant to illustrate what could happen with any of the instructions we provided, no hardware was damaged in the process.
Sigh, life would be so much better if this crap weren't necessary. I would rather let those who are too stupid to appreciate irony naturally filter themselves out of high tech, life, whatever.
I have to say it rather baffles me why people assume that, because cash dispension is obviously such an important function, that Microsoft will get serious and *really* test it this time. Why would collecting billions of $$ in selling their standard products not be important enough to them to guarantee high quality by *really* testing them?
It seems to me that Microsoft is no more likely to *really* test their ATM product than they would be to *really* test the rest of their products. A corporate mindset does not change that quickly.
Far be it from me to discourage some good union/construction humor (what's big, orange, and sleeps six? a CalTrans truck.). Just in case it's interesting and non-obvious (two stretches, I know), the article compares the hydrodemolishing robot to 15 people using 15 jackhammers, rather than 15 people sharing 1 jackhammer.
No doubt/.'ers are quite familiar with Lindows and Linux. Considering the article ran in the Washington Post, albeit online, I am a little surprised more emphasis wasn't placed on the fact that the OS was not any type of Windows product, and, if Joe/Jane Sixpack were to buy one thinking he or she could run M$ stuff on a $200 machine, he or she would likely be sorely disappointed.
I am a big fan of Walmart et al making this move, but I don't expect it to be a big hit just yet with the average Redmondite.
The article briefly mentioned it, but Chrysler (and others?) are working on using NaBH4 to carry the hydrogen. The NaBH4 can be induced to yield its hydrogen, leaving borax, a common element in laundry soap. The borax can be recycled to produce more NaBH4 (or Tide, I guess), essentially acting as transportation vehicle for the hydrogen.
I imagine NaBH4 has a lower energy density than fossil fuels, particularly gasoline, but it may be safer and easier to produce and ship around. IANACE (I Am Not a Chemical Engineer), of course.
This discussion is interesting in light of a recent/. posting about a series of essays by Martin Rhees. In particular, he suggests that, given a sufficiently powerful computer, the universe could be pretty realisticly modeled. So realisticly, in fact, that we, ourselves, could exist only in a computer simulation of a more complex universe made by more complex beings.
So, perhaps we should be careful how quickly we move to dismiss the value and interest of our own simulations of the universe.
Slashdot Mirror
Hear, hear. I'm just contemplating the heat increase in my little Kaby Lake-powered laptop. No thanks.
Seems like Tesla did pretty well against an aggressive target. I'm impressed, though I admittedly know next to nothing about the auto industry.
- the value of the information presented is inversely proportional to the effort made presenting it
- the accuracy of the data is inversely proportional to the effort required to collect it
I've noticed that the most useful pages to me are the ones that contain plain text, like mailing list archives, for example. Maybe that's just an artifact of the type of information I'm typically trying to collect (technical questions, etc).The second point is just a general observation. When I was in school, the web was a wet-behind-the-ears DARPA project that nobody had heard of. To write a paper, I had to go to the library and look stuff up in books and periodicals. It took friggin' forever, but the results were pretty accurate. Now, I can type something in google and get a bazillion hits pretty much instantly, but I have to carefully search through the results to weed out lunatic fringe webpages (unless that's what I'm looking for), out-of-date webpages with no date on them, etc. I wonder how that affects kids today doing research papers? Imagine never having to go to the library, but, instead, having to hone your skills of scepticism.
Is it just me, or could r84x actually be a very smart cow?
Largely, the non-slashdot concerns about e-voting seem to center around unintentional inaccuracies, like those mentioned in the FA. In other words, the worst problem typically mentioned is about errors causing disenfrachisement or delays in voting. While I don't want to discount these problems, they are fixable, either by a paper backup system or timely software or hardware repairs, likely getting better and better as the machines become more widely used.
Personally, my real concern is about intentional vote fixing by the makers of the machines. I know this has been talked about at great length on /. and elsewhere, but I think it needs more attention in the real world.
I know I'm naive, but the thought that somebody would try to steal the election infuriates me. There is no pit deep and black enough for someone so unpatriotic and dishonest. We must fight to protect one of the greatest experiments in personal freedom in the history of humanity.
Please, take the time to write your CongressCritters about e-voting in the House and Senate.
Write your CongressCritters!
Agreed, but just as a curious side note, the US Atomic Energy Commision investigated using nukes to excavate a harbor in Alaska, along with other "peaceful" uses.
I wouldn't classify myself as a tough-on-crime reactionary, but I do believe that criminal acts should be punished, especially those committed by people who have more authority than ordinary citizens.
This fellow did repent his acts, but, it seems, only after he was caught, and, even then, only after he was convicted. He kept doing it, even after he was arrested!
It sounds to me like someone whose greed led him to a dark place. As much as I dislike our prison system, it seems like some time in the corner thinking about what he's done wrong is called for.
Amen!
Oh, wait...
Check out this site for linux ATI drivers.
Ah, but the tax on the email would be prohibitive ;-)
Yowch! I hope he was at least, um, servicing the non-pointy end.
You get port 21 at work? Lucky bastard...
Sigh, life would be so much better if this crap weren't necessary. I would rather let those who are too stupid to appreciate irony naturally filter themselves out of high tech, life, whatever.
I have to say it rather baffles me why people assume that, because cash dispension is obviously such an important function, that Microsoft will get serious and *really* test it this time. Why would collecting billions of $$ in selling their standard products not be important enough to them to guarantee high quality by *really* testing them?
It seems to me that Microsoft is no more likely to *really* test their ATM product than they would be to *really* test the rest of their products. A corporate mindset does not change that quickly.
Far be it from me to discourage some good union/construction humor (what's big, orange, and sleeps six? a CalTrans truck.). Just in case it's interesting and non-obvious (two stretches, I know), the article compares the hydrodemolishing robot to 15 people using 15 jackhammers, rather than 15 people sharing 1 jackhammer.
No doubt /.'ers are quite familiar with Lindows and Linux. Considering the article ran in the Washington Post, albeit online, I am a little surprised more emphasis wasn't placed on the fact that the OS was not any type of Windows product, and, if Joe/Jane Sixpack were to buy one thinking he or she could run M$ stuff on a $200 machine, he or she would likely be sorely disappointed.
I am a big fan of Walmart et al making this move, but I don't expect it to be a big hit just yet with the average Redmondite.
The article briefly mentioned it, but Chrysler (and others?) are working on using NaBH4 to carry the hydrogen. The NaBH4 can be induced to yield its hydrogen, leaving borax, a common element in laundry soap. The borax can be recycled to produce more NaBH4 (or Tide, I guess), essentially acting as transportation vehicle for the hydrogen. I imagine NaBH4 has a lower energy density than fossil fuels, particularly gasoline, but it may be safer and easier to produce and ship around. IANACE (I Am Not a Chemical Engineer), of course.
Lizard Creature: Mmmmm, dead cat
This discussion is interesting in light of a recent /. posting about a series of essays by Martin Rhees. In particular, he suggests that, given a sufficiently powerful computer, the universe could be pretty realisticly modeled. So realisticly, in fact, that we, ourselves, could exist only in a computer simulation of a more complex universe made by more complex beings.
So, perhaps we should be careful how quickly we move to dismiss the value and interest of our own simulations of the universe.
Heh, guess you weren't *intelligent* enough to figure out the switcheroo... ;-)
...if you're going to commit to something, then commit yourself to doing the best job you can.
Absolutely! God knows, I cry when I don't get modded up to 5...
you'll shoot your eye out...
Hmm, I'm pretty sure Greece could claim prior art.
FWIW, while these cookies are mmmm tasty good, the provenance of the recipe is questionable. Here's what Neiman Marcus has to say about it.